geniusbutmisunderstood

"ASTROMANIA"

2005-10-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SEE THE HOUSTON ASTROS GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES. AS A LITTLE BOY I USED TO LIE IN BED AND LISTEN TO THEM ON THE RADIO AT NIGHT. FOR OLD ASTRO FANS LIKE ME THIS IS GREAT!! GO ASTROS, WIN IT FOR ALL OF TEXAS!!

QUALIFIED OR NOT

2005-10-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

THE PRESIDENTS CHOICE FOR SUPREME COURT JUDGE HAS STARTED A FLURRY OF DEBATE ABOUT HER AND THE QUALIFICATIONS ONE SHOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE TITLE. SOON SENATORS WILL BE GRILLING HER IN THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ASKING QUESTIONS THAT WERE WELL CRAFTED BY THEIR STAFF UNDERSTANDING FULL WELL SHE (OR ANYONE ELSE) WILL NOT GIVE SPECIFIC ANSWER. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CAMPAIGNING FOR REELECTION AND FUND RAISING THE SENATORS WILL VOTE AND I PREDICT SHE WILL BE CONFIRMED.

HOWEVER, THESE HEARINGS ,AS WELL AS, OUR DEBATE WILL NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION OF QUALIFICATION. THIS QUESTION WILL ONLY BE ANSWERED OVER THE COURSE OF HER CAREER AS WE EVALUATE HER ACTIONS.

SINCE I HAVE NOT HEARD OR SEEN A LIST OF THE EXACT QUALIFICATIONS ONE NEEDS TO SIT ON THE SUPREME COURT THEY MUST BE FEW. MAYBE SOMEONE WILL LOOK THOSE UP AND FILL ME IN. ALL THAT I HEAR IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK SOMEONE NEEDS AND MUCH OF THAT COMES WITH BIAS. FOR INSTANCE, MOST PRO- CHOICE INDIVIDUALS WOULD NOT WANT A PRO -LIFE JUDGE (AND VICE VERSA) NO MATTER HOW THEY FELT ABOUT ONE'S QUALIFICATIONS. THOSE THAT DON'T LIKE BUSH WILL PROBABLY NOT SUPPORT ANY CANIDATE. IF THEY FEEL BUSH IS STUPID ANYONE HE PICKS MUST BE STUPID TOO. FOR ME A CANIDATE MUST BE SMART, A GOOD LISTENER, FAIR MINDED, A GOOD RESEARCHER, WILLING TO SACRIFICE, AND ABLE BODIED. I THINK MANY PEOPLE COULD FILL THE BILL.

THE SUPREME COURT IS CHARGED WITH DETERMINING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ACTIONS AND IF CITIZENS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED. THEY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS BY EXAMINING AND DEBATING THE CONSTITUTION. SINCE ORDINARY ( BUT SMART) MEN WROTE THIS DOCUMENT IT STANDS TO REASON THAT A ORDINARY (BUT SMART ) WOMAN COULD EVALUATE IT.

SHE IS MOST LIKELY NOT THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE JOB. NEITHER IS THE PRESIDENT THAT CHOSE HER OR THE SENATORS THAT WILL DETERMINE HER FATE BUT OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THROUGH ELECTION HAS PLACED ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS IN POSITION TO MAKE THIS CHOICE AND OUR NATION WILL CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.

HURRICANES VS. SUICIDE BOMBERS

2005-09-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

IN TWO EARLIER POST DURING SEPTEMBER I POSED THE QUESTION ,DOSE AMERICA'S PREOCCUPATION WITH MAJOR NEWS STORIES (KATRINA AND RITA) HAVE ANY EFFECT ON SUICIDE BOMBERS AND THEIR ACTIVITY?

OF COURSE WITH ONLY ONE MONTH OF STUDY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSSIONS BUT THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH ENTERESTING FACTS TO MAKE ME WONDER. I WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE SITUATION AND WILL RELATE ANY FINDINGS OF ENTEREST. THE FOLLOWING IS A DAY BY DAY LIST OF AMERICAN CAUSULTIES STRARTING AUGUST ,25 (THE DAY KATRINA ENTERED THE GULF) THRU SEPTEMBER, 28.

DATE DEATHS COMMENTS

AUGUST 25 3
AUGUST 26 0 KATRINA BECOMES CAT. 4
AUGUST 27 1 STORM GETS BIGGER
AUGUST 28 1 STORM HITS
AUGUST 30 1
AUGUST 31 3 ONE NON COMBAT CAR ACCIDENT
SEPTEMBER 1 2
SEPTEMBER 2 1
SEPTEMBER 3 1 NON COMBAT GUN ACCIDENT
SEPTEMBER 4 0
SEPTEMBER 5 3 ONE DIED NON COMBAT ACCIDENT
SEPTEMBER 6 3
SEPTEMBER 7 2 TWO NON COMBAT ACCIDENTS
SEPTEMBER 8 0 AMERICA STILL GLUED TO NEWS
SEPTEMBER 9 0
SEPTEMBER 10 0
SEPTEMBER 11 2 FEWEST ONE WEEK TOTAL
SEPTEMBER 12 0 TWO DEATHS BETWEEN
SEPTEMBER 13 0 SEP 8 AND SEP 14
SEPTEMBER 14 0
SEPTEMBER 15 1
SEPTEMBER 16 3 TWO WEEKS AFTER STORM
SEPTEMBER 17 1
SEPTEMBER 18 0 RITA COMES ON SCENE
SEPTEMBER 19 5
SEPTEMBER 20 2
SEPTEMBER 21 2 ONE ACCIDENT RITA HEADS FOR TEXAS
SEPTEMBER 22 3
SEPTEMBER 23 3 RITA HITS
SEPTEMBER 24 1
SEPTEMBER 25 1
SEPTEMBER 26 6 ONE NON COMBAT GUN SHOT
SEPTEMBER 27 0 VERY LITTLE RITA COVERAGE
SEPTEMBER 28 5

SEPTEMBER WITH 49 DEATHS HAD THE SECOND LOWEST TOTAL IN THE PAST YEAR . MARCH 05 HAD 35. SEPTEMBER 05 ALSO FOLLOWED THE THIRD HIGHEST MONTH SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. (AUGUST 05 HAD 85)

LESSONS IN THE WIND

2005-09-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF HURRICANES I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ONE SPINNING AROUND IN MY HEAD. THERE HAS BEEN MANY ACCUSATIONS, MUCH MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING AND A LOT OF POLITICAL JOCKEYING.

MUCH TALK HAS CENTERED AROUND WHAT WENT WRONG, THINGS LIKE
1. WHY DIDN'T BUSH FORTIFY THE LEVEE SYSTEM OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
.
2. WHY DIDN'T BUSH IMMEDIATELY HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER THE SITUATION .

3.BUSH'S TAX CUTS TO THE RICH CAUSED THE POVERTY IN NEW ORLEANS WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS TO GET OUT.

4. BUSH SIMPLY DOSE NOT LIKE BLACK PEOPLE.

5. BUSH CAUSED GLOBAL WARMING CREATING THE HURRICANES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

6.A WEATHER MACHINE OWNED BY THE RUSSIANS CAUSED THE STORMS.

7.THE MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE.

8. GOD IS PUNISHING AMERICA..

LOOK PAST IDEAOLOGS AND NUT CASES AND DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS. IF WE DON'T LEARN FROM THESE TERRIBLE STORMS WE WILL NEVER LEARN. HERE'S A LITTLE OF WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.

1.TRUSTING IN GOVERNMENT(NO MATTER WHO'S IN CHARGE) IS NOT A SAFE BET.
ALL LEVELS FAILED. THE CITY, STATE AND YES THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
THIS CRISIS DISPLAYED HOW TOTALLY INEPT GOVERNMENT REALLY IS. I CAN'T BELIEVE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WANT TO TURN EVEN MORE OF OUR LIVES OVER TO IT. THESE DISASTERS SHOWED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE AS SELF SUFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. IT DEMONSTRATED THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED WITH NEIGHBORS, CHURCH OR CIVIC GROUPS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. DO NOT DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT.

2. IF NECESSARY, WELL RUN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BEST BET TO GET THINGS DONE. CITIES SUCH AS DALLAS, HOUSTON, FORNEY ,GARLAND AND MANY OTHERS ALL DID REMARKABLE JOBS HANDLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE .

3.FREE SOCIETIES GIVES PEOPLE THE CHOICE TO MAKE BAD CHOICES. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY. I BELIEVE THESE FREEDOMS ARE WHAT MAKE US SO PROSPEROUS AND SO ENVIED AROUND THE WORLD. FREEDOMS ALSO GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO FAIL OR IN RECENT HISTORY DIE BECAUSE OF POOR DECISIONS. AS THE FLOOD WATERS RECEDED HUNDREDS OF CARS WERE REVEALED. WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THE PEOPLE STRANDED IN NEW ORLEANS HAD NO WAY OF ESCAPING. NOT ALL BUT,MAYBE NOT EVEN MOST BUT MANY PEOPLE CHOSE TO STAY EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO MAKE BAD CHOICES.

4. SO MANY PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE LIVING ALONG OUR GULF COAST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ATTRACTS SO MANY PEOPLE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, SALT WATER, SAND AND THE SMELL OF DEAD FISH BUT IT DOSE. ENTHUSIASTICALLY REBUILDING NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED. WE SHOULD NOT PUT HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, NURSING HOMES AND VITAL INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUCH DANGEROUS PLACES. I'M ALL FOR FREEDOM BUT NOT TOTAL FREEDOM. PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE ANYWHERE THEY CHOSE AND EXPECT THE REST OF US TO SAVE THEM AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN'T CARELESSLY ALLOW THEIR CITIES TO EXPAND IN AREAS THAT POSE SO MUCH DANGER. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS RISK EVERYWHERE BUT IT'S HARD TO HAVE OUR OIL REFINERY INDUSTRY DESTROYED BY A HURRICANE IN WEST TEXAS.

5.WE MUST DEVELOP OUR CAPACITY TO PRODUCE OIL AND REFINE GASOLINE WHILE WE COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES. WE ALL DEPEND ON FUEL. NEW REFINERIES MUST BE FUNDED AND BUILT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AWAY FROM THE GULF COAST. CRISIS LIKE THESE LEAVE US TOO DEPENDENT ON OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES, SOME OF WHICH CARE VERY LITTLE FOR US.

6. WE NEED TO REALLY START CONSERVING. CAR POOLING, CUT DOWN UNNECESSARY TRAVEL, TAKE A LOOK AT LARGE VEHICLES. PRESIDENT BUSH NEEDS TO START A CAMPAIGN OF CONSERVATION. NOW IS A GREAT TIME BECAUSE SO MANY ARE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE. THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE IN 2008 SO HE SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD NOW. ANY MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS WILL TAKE TIME TO TAKE EFFECT. BUSH NEEDS TO LEAD NOW!

7.TO MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN GAINING OR MAINTAINING POWER THAN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS . THEIR CONDUCT REINFORCES MY BELIEF IN THE NEED FOR TERM LIMITS .. MANY CAREER "PUBLIC SERVANTS" HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LIFE IN AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT. THEY HAVE SPENT THEIR ENTIRE ADULT LIFE RAISING MONEY , SHAKING HANDS AND PLANNING FOR THEIR NEXT ELECTION. WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME AND SERVE AND THEN GO BACK TO PRIVATE LIFE.

8.. FINALLY, HAVING TO EVACUATE A LARGE METRO AREA QUICKLY IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. MANY NEWS TYPES HAVE POSED THE QUESTION "ARE WE READY TO EVACUATE A LARGE CITY IN CASE OF A LARGE ATTACK?" ALL THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION HAVE AVOIDED THE ANSWER. THEY AVOID IT BECAUSE THE ANSWER IS NO AND NO ONE WANTS TO HERE THAT. THIS REALITY GOES BACK TO MY FIRST LESSON. CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE SAY GOVERNMENT CAN'T COMPLETELY TAKE CARE OF US AND DOSE NOT HAVE A PLAN FOR EVERYTHING. ANY POLITICIAN THAT SAYS GOVERNMENT CAN ,ESPECIALLY IF THEIR IN OFFICE IS A LIAR.

MAYBE FARE MINDED PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO DEBATE AND BEGIN TO SOLVE THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES . I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OTHER OPINIONS AND HOPE THAT WE ALL MIGHT BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

Missing from action

2005-09-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

i overloaded myself with all the hurricane coverage and have not taken time to share my insight. there are many topics to discuss but little time to discuss them. i do plan to take a final look at the news and how it might have effected casualties in iraq. if you haven't read my previous blogs about this topic you should to catch up. this will come shortly as the month ends.

the hurricanes unveiled much about our country, it's politicians and citizens and i know i will be plunging into that also. i have had several comments about blogging in all caps. i've been told its like i'm yelling or talking loud. being a computer novice i had never heard that before but i hope those that mentioned this ARE HAPPY!! that i got in step with everybody else AT LEAST FOR THIS POST.

GENIUS TOPS 1000"

2005-09-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

SOMETIME IN THE EARLY HOURS OF SEPTEMBER , 17 MY FLEDGLING BLOG SITE RECORDED IT'S 1000 HIT. ( OF COURSE, MAYBE 200 OF THEM WERE ME)

IF YOU HAVE READ MY BLOGS (AND YOU SHOULD) YOU HAVE NOTICED I'VE FOCUSED ON MORE SERIOUS TOPICS AND HAVE NOT REVEALED MUCH INSIGHT ON MY PERSONAL LIFE. PERHAPS IN TIME , MY GROWING BLOG FANDOM WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM MY GREAT WISDOM CONCERNING LIFE AND IT'S MANY PATHS.

FOR NOW I HAVE TO GO. THERE'S MUCH TO DO........... LAUNDRY, FIX A BED, FIX A CEILING FAN, HANG SOME MINI BLINDS AT MY MOM'S, CHANGE THE CAT LITTER, MOW THE YARD......................................................MAYBE MY PERSONAL LIFE ISN'T THAT INTERESTING.

DID KATRINA IMPACT IRAQ PART TWO

2005-09-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

IN MY PREVIOUS BLOG I EXAMINED THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ENORMOUS NEWS COVERAGE OF KATRINA AND IT'S POSSIBLE EFFECT ON DEATHS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS. I STATED THAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE SITUATION AND KEEP THOSE INTERESTED INFORMED WITH MY FINDINGS. I BELIEVE NEWS STILL RULES.

COVERAGE OF THE STORM HAS OBVIOUSLY WANED BUT COVERAGE OF THE AFTERMATH AND WHO'S TO BLAME IS STILL GOING STRONG. TELEVISION NEWS,AS WELL AS, THE PRINT MEDIA ARE STILL DEVOTING MUCH TIME AND ENERGY ON THIS ASPECT OF THE DISASTER. THE THURSDAY DALLAS MORNING NEWS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

TWO OTHER DEVELOPING STORIES HAVE CAPTURED MUCH OF AMERICA'S ATTENTION. THESE STORIES ARE THE HURRICANE ON THE EAST COAST AND THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR JOHN ROBERTS

DEATHS AMONG US SOLDIERS REMAINS LOW WITH THIRTEEN TOTAL FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ( FOUR NON- COMBAT) WITH ONLY FIVE SINCE KATRINA. THIS FOLLOWS AUGUST, THE THIRD DEADLIEST MONTH SINCE THE WAR BEGAN.
(AUGUST, 2005 85 CASUALTIES)

THE BOMBERS HOWEVER , DO NOT SEEM TO LETTING UP WHEN IT COMES TO CIVILIANS. THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BLOODIEST OF THIS CONFLICT WITH MANY KILLED. THESE RECENT BOMBINGS HAVE RECEIVED COVERAGE BUT NOTHING LIKE THOSE THAT INVOLVE MILITARY PERSONAL.
THESE BOMBINGS SHOW THERE ARE STILL MANY WILLING SUICIDE KILLERS.

I BELIEVE THEY ARE STILL BIDING THEIR TIME TO MAXIMIZE THEIR NEWS COVERAGE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DID KATRINA IMPACT IRAQ?

2005-09-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

AT THE END OF LAST WEEK I SUDDENLY NOTICED I HAD NOT SEEN REPORTS OF US SOLDIERS DEATHS. I THOUGHT MOST LIKELY THE UNFOLDING KATRINA STORY HAD JUST DOMINATED ALL NEWS. AS I READ THE FRIDAY PAPER I BEGAN SCANNING TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY STORIES CONCERNING AMERICAN SERVICE PERSONAL AND COULD NOT FIND ANY.

NOT SATISFIED, I TURNED TO THE NET AND AGAIN FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED SEARCHING AND FOUND A WEB SITE CALLED CASUALTIES OF WAR. THIS SITE CONTAINS UP TO DATE ACCOUNTS OF ALL DEATHS . I RECOMMEND VISITING THIS SITE ,IT HAS VERY INTERESTING DATA CONCERNING IRAQ BUT ALSO AMERICA'S HISTORY OF WAR FARE AND RELATED DEATHS.

I SCANNED THIS DATA BACK FOR SIX MONTHS AND COULD FIND NO OTHER TIME PERIOD THAT COMPARED WITH THE PAST TWO WEEKS WHERE SO FEW AMERICAN CASUALTIES HAD OCCURRED. A THEORY STARTED TO COME INTO MY MIND BUT I NEEDED MORE EVIDENCE.

I BROKE DEATH RATES DOWN BY DAYS OF THE WEEK AND DISCOVERED THAT FRIDAY HAD THE FEWEST NUMBERS OF DEATHS. SUNDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY ALL LED THE WAY ABOUT EQUAL.

I PROPOSE THE HANDLERS OF THE SUICIDE BOMBERS WANT TO GET MAXIMUM EFFECT FROM EACH BLAST. BY EFFECT, I DON'T MEAN JUST THE DESTRUCTION ITSELF BUT THE MORE IMPORTANT NEWS COVERAGE . THEY DON'T WANT TO WASTE A PERFECTLY GOOD VOLUNTEER IF THEY FEEL AMERICA WONT HEAR ABOUT IT.

PRIOR TO KATRINA I BELIEVE FRIDAYS HAVE REMAINED LESS DANGEROUS BECAUSE MANY AMERICAN'S ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE WEEKEND MAKING IT A LESS DESIRABLE NEWS DAY. I BELIEVE WE ARE ENGAGED WITH SOME VERY CRAZY PEOPLE BUT NOT AT ALL STUPID. THERE ONLY HOPE OF VICTORY IS TO WIN THE WAR IN THE MEDIA.

AS THE COVERAGE OF KATRINA BECOMES LESS DOMINATE I WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHING TO SEE IF BOMBINGS INCREASE. I BELIEVE THEY WILL.

NOT SIGNED ON YET

2005-09-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

DALLAS, LIKE MANY CITIES ACROSS AMERICA HAVE AGING INFRA-STRUCTURE. CITIES ALL ACROSS AMERICA GREW RAPIDLY IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY. FOLLOWING WORLD WAR TWO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RETURNING GI'S GOT MARRIED,STARTED FAMILIES AND BOUGHT CARS. ALL THESE NEW CARS NEEDED ROADS TO DRIVE ON AND MANY ,IF NOT MOST, OF OUR BRIDGES ARE FROM THIS ERA. THESE FIFTY TO EIGHTY YEAR OLD STUCTURES NEED TO BE REPLACED.

DALLAS, BEING NATURALLY SPLIT BY THE TRINITY RIVER, HAS MANY SUCH BRIDGES . AS ONE WHO WORKS IN OAK CLIFF, I KNOW BECAUSE I FREQUENTLY PASS OVER THESE STRUCTURES.

MY CONCERN IS NOT IF THESE BRIDGES SHOULD BE BUILT BUT HOW THEY ARE BUILT. THE GROUP LEAD BY MAYOR MILLER BELIEVE THAT DALLAS SHOULD BUILD WHAT THEY CALL"SIGNATURE BRIDGES". THEY CONTEND IF WE CONSTRUCT BRIDGES WITH GREAT EMPHASIS ON DESIGN AND AESTHETICS PEOPLE WILL COME TO DALLAS JUST TO SEE THEM.THEY WOULD ARGUE THE REVENUE GENERATED BY VISITORS AND PEOPLE THAT DSESIDE TO RELOCATE TO DALLAS AFTER THEY WERE AWESTRUCK BY THE BRIDGES JUSTIFY THE PROJECT. SUPPORTERS BELIEVE THESE BRIDGES WILL BE WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF DALLAS ,THUS THE TERM SIGNATURE BRIDGES.

LIKE MOST LARGE MUNICIPAL PROJECTS , BOND ELECTIONS WERE PASSED SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO HELP FINANCE THESE PROJECTS. THESE FUNDS ALONG WITH STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR CONSTRUCTION..

THE PROBLEM IS MONEY HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION NOT WORKS OF ART .DALLAS SHOULD BUILD AS MANY UPDATED FUNCTIONAL BRIDGES AS POSSIBLE WITH THESE FUNDS .

I MIGHT SIGN ON TO THIS PROJECT OF BEAUTIFUL SIGNATURE BRIDGES GOING ACROSS THE TRINITY INTO OAK CLIFF AFTER WE FIRST ADDRESS OUR AGING STREETS, SCHOOLS, SEWER LINES, WATER LINES, GAS LINES, DETIORATING PARKS, AGING POLICE CARS, LIMITED FIRE EQUIPMENT, CRIME, CORRUPTION, HOMLESSNESS, HOUSING......I COULD GO ON.

OTHER THAN THAT.............SIGN ME UP!!!!!!!!!

"UNDER" THE RADAR

2005-09-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

ON THE WAY HOME LAST NIGHT FROM A SHORT PERSONAL TRIP OUT INTERSTATE TWENTY I SAW HUNDREDS OF KATRINA REFUGEES ALL ENJOYING A HUGE MEAL AT A REST STOP. I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE BUT IT GAVE ME MY FIRST PERSONAL LOOK AT THE FALLOUT OF THIS DISASTER.

ALONG WITH THIS BIG MEAL BEING SERVED I SAW MANY BUS LOADS OF PEOPLE HEADING MOST LIKELY TO DALLAS, AS WELL AS, CONVOYS OF TRUCKS, TRAILERS, ARMY PERSONAL ECT.. HEADED EAST.

THIS MORNING WHILE WATCHING CABLE NEWS A REPORTER MADE MENTION OF A SPECIFIC NEED FOR NEW MEN'S, WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S UNDERGARMENTS. PEOPLE DONATE LOTS OF OLD CLOTHES AND SHOES BUT UNDERWEAR USUALLY (AND RIGHTFULLY SO) GOES TO THE TRASH.

I WANT TO START A DRIVE CALLED UNDER THE RADAR . WE WILL SOON HAVE UPWARDS OF TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE HERE IN THE DALLAS AREA MOSTLY IN SHELTERS. LAUNDRY WILL BE A MASSIVE PROBLEM. LET'S HELP THEM WITH NEW CLEAN UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS!!!!

TO HELP CONTACT ME AT DONAROSE@AIRMAIL.NET

THE BLAME GAME

2005-09-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

THE MEDIA AND POLITICAL RIVALS HELD OFF LONGER THAN I THOUGHT BUT NOW COMES THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION SURROUNDING THIS CATASTROPHIC DISASTER, WHO'S TO BLAME?

THIS MORNING ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA CHARLIE GIBSON GRILLED FEMA DIRECTOR MIKE BROWN SAYING, "YOU KNEW THERE WAS A CATEGORY 4 OR 5 STORM OUT THERE FOR THREE DAYS AND YOU DID NOTHING." I WONDER HOW GIBSON WOULD HAVE REPORTED IF FEMA OR OTHER AGENCIES OF THE LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD FORCIBLY REMOVED ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE.

SOME ARE BLAMING PRESIDENT BUSH FOR NOT STOPPING GLOBAL WARNING. I GUESS THEY BELIEVE IF BUSH HAD SIGNED A ENVIRONMENTAL BILL HIS FIRST WEEK IN OFFICE MANDATING MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CARS BY 2005 KATRINA WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST A SMALL STORM.

BUSH AGAIN GETS BLAMED BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY SOLDIERS IN IROC. I GUESS I SEE THEIR POINT, IF ALL THOSE SOLDIERS WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD INSTEAD OF BEING IN IROC THEY COULD HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING OUTSIDE THE CITY READY TO RESCUE EVERYBODY. WHAT WAS EVERYBODY THINKING, WE HAD TWO OR THREE DAYS NOTICE.

THERE WILL BE MORE . THE BLAME GAME HAS JUST STARTED. REMEMBER ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP AND YOU KNOW THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT.

NOT A BIG EASY SOLUTION .

2005-08-31T13:01:00.000-07:00

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ MY PREVIOUS POST, DO SO NOW . THIS IS A CONTINUATION.

LIKE MOST PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS HAVE GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR CITY. A VERY OLD CITY RICH WITH HISTORY AND CULTURE . THIS DEEP AFFECTION FOR THEIR HOME, COUPLED WITH MAN'S (AT LEAST AMERICA'S) NOT TO BE BEAT ATTITUDE IS GOING TO MAKE MY SOLUTION AT FIRST SEEM CRAZY. IT DID TO ME BUT THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT THE MORE SENSE IT MADE.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO INSURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. DO NOT REBUILD NEW ORLEANS OR AT LEAST NOT ENTIRELY. THERE ARE TWO AREAS IN NEW ORLEANS THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR NATION . WE SHOULD NOT SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HALF WAY SECURE THE ENTIRE CITY WITH BETTER LEVEES. THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT TO PROTECT THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS AND THE TERMINALS THAT RECEIVE THE OIL AND GAS FROM THE GULF.

THE HARDEST STEP TO THIS SOLUTION IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW. THE CITY IS BEING EVACUATED. MANY PEOPLE WILL SIMPLY NOT RETURN. THEY WILL FIND NEW LIVES ON HIGHER GROUND. THOSE THAT WANT TO RETURN WILL BE FORCED TO STAY OUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME . THESE TWO FACTORS WILL MAKE THIS IDEA MORE ACCEPTABLE AND THUS MORE DOABLE.

THE REST OF THE AREA ,AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE IS DEMOLISHED AND ALL REUSABLE MATERIAL SAVED CAN PARTIALLY BE RECLAIMED BY NATURE CREATING A LARGE WILDLIFE HABITAT AS WELL AS A BUFFER ZONE TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE STORMS . I BELIEVE A NEW ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT COULD BE ESTABLISHED. THOSE WANTING TO OWN AND OPERATE SUCH BUSINESSES SHOULD DO IT AT THEIR OWN RISK. NO FEDERAL MONEY TO REBUILD THEM IN THE FUTURE!!
.
NEW RESIDENTIAL AREAS COULD BE BUILT NORTH TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AWAY FROM THE LAKE ON HIGHER GROUND. CONSTRUCTION FROM SCRATCH COULD BE DONE MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH BETTER END RESULTS THAN TRYING TO REPAIR EVERYTHING IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE MOVED TOWNS BEFORE. MANY SMALL TOWNS WERE MOVED AFTER THE MASSIVE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOODS TWENTY YEARS AGO. I KNOW THIS WOULD BE ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE BUT POSSIBLE. REMEMBER, IF NEW ORLEANS DID NOT ALREADY EXIST NO ONE WOULD ALLOW IT TO BE BUILT NOW.

OF COURSE IT WILL BE REBUILT, AND YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY.

MOTHER NATURE ONE, MAN ZERO

2005-08-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

LIKE MANY, I'VE WATCHED THE TRAGEDY UNFOLD ALONG THE GULF COAST. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT THE CONDITIONS MUST BE LIKE AND HOW ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE FEELING ABOUT THIS DISASTER. ALL OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS SHOULD GO TO THESE PEOPLE AS OUR NATION COMES TO THEIR AIDE.

IN AN EARLIER BLOG ENTITLED"GLOBAL KILLER" I STATED THAT "IT'S NOT IF A LARGE OBJECT FROM SPACE WILL STRIKE THE EARTH BUT WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN.
WE ARE WITNESSING ANOTHER EVENT THAT EVERYBODY KNEW WOULD HAPPEN WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. NEW ORLEANS A LARGE METRO AREA TWELVE TO TWENTY FIVE FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL ON THE COAST BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ALL HELD BACK BY MAN MADE LEVEE'S IN THE CENTER OF THE MOST HURRICANE PRONE AREA ON THE PLANET. WHAT WAS MAN THINKING??

AS SOON AS WATER STOPS RISING MAN WILL EMBARK ON ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF IT'S ARROGANCE. THE CITY WILL BE DRAINED, ALL THE DEBRIS WILL BE SHOVELED UP, ROADS, HOUSES, SCHOOLS, WALLMARTS ETC.. WILL BE REBUILT AND WE WILL ALLOW THE CITIZENS AND TOURIST TO REENTER THIS MAN MADE DEATH TRAP,
BIG CELEBRATIONS WILL FOLLOW. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE FIRST POST KATRINA MAUDI GRAS.

THEN ONE DAY A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL QUIETLY MOVE OFF THE WESTERN COAST OF CENTRAL AFRICA. THE WEATHER CHANNEL WILL MAKE MENTION AND SAY " WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THIS". THE STORM WILL MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND GAIN STRENGTH AS IT ENCOUNTERS THE WARM WATERS OF THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN. BY THIS TIME IT WILL BE A MINIMAL HURRICANE , IT WILL ENTER THE GULF OF MEXICO WITH IT'S REAL WARM WATERS. THE STORM WILL QUICKLY BUILD AND WITHOUT TOO MUCH WARNING WILL TAKE A RIGHT TURN AND HEAD DIRECTLY FOR THE NEW BIG EASY. BUT UNLIKE KATRINA WHO SLIGHTLY MOVED EAST AT THE LAST SECOND THIS STORM WILL MAKE A DIRECT HIT MAKING THE CURRENT SITUATION SEEM MILD.

TENS OF THOUSANDS , IF NOT, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DEAD , ALL DROWNED IN A BOWL WHILE THE REST OF US WATCH ON CNN.

STAY TUNED MY RADICAL SOLUTION WILL SOON FOLLOW.

BORDERING ON INSANITY

2005-08-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME CANDLE OR LANTERN LIT WINDOWS AND LARGER BUILDINGS POWERED BY THEIR OWN GENERATORS JOHN STARED MOSTLY OUT INTO DARKNESS. THE BLACKOUTS HAD BECOME MORE FREQUENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS HOT AND THIS HAD BEEN A VERY HOT SUMMER.

FORTUNATELY, TONIGHT THERE WAS A COOL BREEZE WHICH MADE THE LACK OF POWER AT LEAST TOLERABLE. AS HE SAT BY THE LARGE OPEN WINDOWS HE REMEMBERED THE FIRST TIME HE SAW THAT INCREDIBLE VIEW. IT WAS THAT VIEW THAT SOLD HIM ON THE HOUSE , AND HE HAD CALLED IT HOME FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.

IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 2005 AND JOHN, A SUCCESSFUL SOFTWARE DESIGNER, WAS ABOUT TO REALIZE A LIFE LONG DREAM. HE WAS PURCHASING A HOUSE IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS. BECAUSE THE HOME WAS BEING SHOWN AND SOLD BY THE OWNER HE HAD TO SUBDUE HIS EXCITEMENT WHEN HE LOOKED OUT THOSE WINDOWS. HE KNEW THIS WAS THE ONE BUT HE WANTED THE BEST PRICE. AFTER A WEEK OR SO OF NEGOTIATING THE DEAL WAS DONE AND EXACTLY SIX WEEKS LATER HE SPENT HIS FIRST NIGHT IN HIS NEW HOME. JOHN SPENT THAT HIGHT MOSTLY GAZING OUT THOSE WINDOWS AT THE WORLD BELOW. TEN'S OF THOUSANDS OF LIGHTS, HOUSE LIGHTS STREET LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS ALL TWINKLING AS IF HE WERE GAZING UPINTO TO THE STAR FILLED NIGHT.

AS QUICKLY AS HE HAD BEGUN TO REMEMBER THE PAST HIS MIND REFOCUSED ON HIS PRESENT SITUATION, JOHN WAS FORTUNATE,HE HAD MADE A GREAT LIVING BETWEEN 2000 AND 2015 AND HE HAD BEEN WISE WITH HIS MONEY AND BECAUSE OF THIS HE ENJOYED A BETTER THAN AVERAGE LIFE STYLE. BUT LIFE IN 2025 CALIFORNIA WAS CHALLENGING AND GETTING HARDER EVERYDAY.

OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS THE POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA , ESPECIALLY THE LARGE URBAN AREAS, HAD GROW TREMENDOUSLY. LOS ANGELES, A METROPOLITAN AREA OF TEN MILLION IN 2005 HAD SWOLLEN TO AN OUT OF CONTROLL CITY OF TWENTY MILLION. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CONFINED TO JUST CALIFORNIA. MAJOR METRO AREAS ALL OVER WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS.

THE ENORMOUS POPULATION GROWTH COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED EVEN THE BEST RUN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. CITIES AND TOWNS TURNED TO THE GOVENORS AND THE GOVERNORS TURNED TOWARD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT DECADES OF POLITITIANS UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS A GROWING PROBLEM ALMOST MADE THE TASK NOW IMPOSSIBLE. THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS HAD BEEN STREAMING ACROSS OUR BORDERS FOR DECADES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE VAST MAJORITY FROM MEXICO AND POINTS SOUTH ALL TRYING TO FLEE THE CORRUPT MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS THAT MANY CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES HAD BECOME. THE WAVES OF NEW ARRIVALS CREATED MORE DEMAND OF EVERYTHING. MORE PEOPLE MEANT MORE HOUSING, MORE SCHOOLS, MORE FOOD, MORE WATER, MORE CRIME, MORE EVERYTHING AND TONIGHT MORE ELECTRICITY.

SO ON THIS HOT SUMMER NIGHT IN CALIFORNIA IN 2025 JOHN QUIETLY SAT LOOKING OUT THOSE WINDOWS WONDERING WHEN THE SECURITY AND COMFORT THAT ELECTRICITY PROVIDED WOULD RETURN.

SOUNDS LIKE THE START OF A BOOK. MAYBE A FICTION OR SC-FI THRILLER....... OR PERHAPS JUST A GLIMPSE OF OUR FUTURE.

I AM TAKING A STANCE THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL FIND OFFENSIVE BUT A STANCE THAT I BELIEVE MUST BE TAKEN. LIKE MANY PROBLEMS THAT HAS FACED AMERICA BEFORE , IMIGRATION AND IT'S EFFECTS MUST BE REAVALUATED.

I KNOW THIS STANCE IS NOT POPULAR AND I COULD EASILY BE BRANDED A RACIST OR CHARACTERIZED AS SOMEONE WITH LITTLE COMPASSION FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN ME. REGARDLESS OF YOUR CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THIS BLOG OR IT'S CREATOR I WANT TO PUT FORTH SOME THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FOR IT'S READERS TO EXAMINE.

I BELIEVE THE ABOVE STORY IS INEVITABLE UNLESS WE START TO BRING SANITY TO OUR BORDERS.

WHEN THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS BEGAN ARRIVING SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THEY FOUND THE STORIES THE EARLIER EXPLORERS HAD TOLD TO BE TRUE. THIS NEW LAND WAS NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL BUT SEEMED TO BE RICH IN RESOURCES. THESE EARLY AMERICANA MUST HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB IN DESCRIBING THIS NEW PLACE BECAUSE WITHOUT THE USE OF CAMERAS OR COMPUTERS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RISKED THEIR LIVES TRAVELING ACROSS THE OCEAN TO GET HERE. WHAT STARTED OUT AS SMALL COLONIES OF PEOPLE QUICKLY GREW INTO A FLOOD OF PEOPLE ALL EAGER TO MAKE AMERICA THEIR NEW HOME.

AS THE POPULATION GREW SO DID THE DEMANDS FOR MATERIALS TO BUILD THE HOUSES,CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE NEW ARRIVALS. WITHOUT MUCH THOUGHT VAST AREAS OF FORREST WERE CLEAR CUT TO PROVIDE THE LUMBER . NO ONE LOOKED TOO MUCH TOWARD THE FUTURE AFTER ALL THERE WAS SO MANY TREES. THEY BELIEVED THEY WOULD NEVER RUN OUT. AT THE SAME TIME WASTE ,BOTH HUMAN AND EARLY INDUSTRIAL,WERE SIMPLY DUMPED INTO RIVERS AND STREAMS QUICKLY SPOILING WATER SUPPLIES FOR THE NEW LARGE TOWNS OF THE NORTHEAST.

THESE PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE IGNORED FOREVER AND LAWS WERE PASSED TO INSURE THE FUTURE OF TIMBER AND CLEAN WATER. AMERICAS HISTORY IS FULL OF EXAMPLES OF HOW WE HAVE HAD TO REEXAMINE THINGS WE ONCE TOOK FOR GRANTED OR SIMPLY GAVE LITTLE THOUGHT.

LIKE MANY TIMES BEFORE, OUR NATION FACES ANOTHER GREAT PROBLEM THAT LEFT UNADDRESSED COULD RUIN OUR FUTURE....ENERGY. TO CONTINUE , WE MUST FIND ALTERNATIVES AND PRACTICE REAL CONSERVATION. THIS IS NOT SOMTHING WE CAN SIMPLY DEBATE.

JUST LIKE THE USE OF TIMBER,WATER OR FUEL WE MUST COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT WE CAN NOT HAVE UNLIMITED GROWTH OF PEOPLE. I BELIEVE EVEN THOSE THAT WILL DISAGREE WITH ME MUST ADMIT WE CAN'T TAKE IN EVERYBODY .

AMERICA ,WITH ALL IT'S FAULTS AND MISTAKES STILL REMAINS THE WORLD LEADER IN GIVING. WE FEED AND PROVIDE MORE MEDICAL HELP THAN ALL OTHER NATIONS. IN ORDER FOR THIS HUGE DONATION PIPELINE TO STAY RUNNING AMERICA MUST REMAIN STRONG AND VIBRANT. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP THE POOR NATIONS OF THE WORLD IF WE TOO BECOME POOR.

I DON'T PRETEND TO HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THIS COMPLEX PROBLEM, BUT IT MAKES SINCE TO ME THAT WE NEED GET SERIOUS AND STOP THE FLOOD OF UNCONTROLLED ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WHILE WE COME UP WITH LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.

AMERICA WAS BUILT FROM IMMIGRANTS . ALL OF OUR ANSCESTORS BROUGHT THEIR UNIQUE LIFE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE AND BLENDED IT TOGETHER WITH OTHERS TO FORM THIS GREAT NATION. AMERICA HAS MUCH TO OFFER AND I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS A PEOPLE MADE UP OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

GOING! GOING! GONE!!!!!!!!!

2005-08-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

WELL IT'S THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, IT'S HOT, IT'S HUMID, SCHOOL ZONES ARE REACTIVATED, JERRY JONES IS TALKING ABOUT SOCKS AND JOCKS AND THE TEXAS RANGERS CHANCES OF HAVING A WINNING SEASON HAVE FADED FASTER THAN ASHLEY SIMPSON'S CAREER.

I'M A SPORTS FAN (NOT A NUT) WHO HAS BEEN WATCHING THE RANGERS EVER SINCE THEY ARRIVED FROM WASHINGTON THIRTY THREE YEARS AGO. WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED EXPECTATIONS WERE NOT VERY HIGH . THE RANGERS WERE ESTABLISHED WHEN THE WASHINGTON SENATORS FOLDED AND RELOCATED IN TEXAS. MOST REASONABLE FANS FIGURED IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO REBUILD AND BECOME A CONTENDER. THE THIRTY THIRD YEAR OF WAITING IS ABOUT OVER AS THIS SEASON QUICKLY COMES TO AN END.

INSTEAD OF WINNING OR PROVIDING MY SOLUTIONS TO THEIR FAILURE I THOUGHT I WOULD EXAMINE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME, STILL REMAIN LOYAL FANS.

1. BASEBALL PROVIDES HERO'S. I KNOW THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SCANDALS WITH PLAYERS OR FANS GIVING THE GAME A BLACK EYE , BUT IT ALSO GIVES US PEOPLE TO ADMIRE. PAST GENERATIONS WERE AMAZED BY BABE RUTH, TED WILLIAMS OR HANK AARON. SOMEDAY WHEN I'M OLD AND GRAY I'LL BE ABLE TO TELL STORIES ABOUT PLAYERS I SAW PLAY LIKE NOLAN RYAN OR ALEX RODRIGUEZ.

2. BASEBALL PROVIDES UNITY. IT SEEMS THE SMALLER TECHNOLOGY MAKES THE WORLD, THE FARTHER APART IT'S INHABITANTS BECOME. IF NOTHING ELSE, BASEBALL PROVIDES COMMON GROUND FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE NOTHING ELSE IN COMMON. STRANGERS ALL CHEERING GIVING EACH OTHER HIGH FIVES. NO POLITICS, NO RELIGION JUST A FEW HOURS TO CHEER ON THE HOME TEAM.

3.BASEBALL PROVIDES WONDERFUL MOMENTS. WHO COULD FORGET THE HOME RUN OFF JOSE CANSECO'S HEAD. HOW ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO CHICKEN KICKING DIRT ON THE UMPIRE BETWEEN INNINGS. OR MORGANA THE KISSING BANDIT AND HER 54 DOUBLE D'S BOUNCING HER AWAY ON THE FIELD TO KISS A STARTLED BUT SMILING PLAYER.

4.BASEBALL PROVIDES AN UNRIVALED ATMOSPHERE. THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT BASEBALL PARKS. . THEIR BUILT MORE ROUND, SO EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE HUGE THEY SEEM COZY SOMEHOW. THE GRASS(AT LEAST THOSE THAT HAVE REAL GRASS) IS AWESOME. IT'S SO PERFECT AND SO GREEN. IT'S CUT IN A MANNER THAT ALMOST RESEMBLE CROP CIRCLES. MOST PLACES THAT ATTRACT CROWDS HAVE VENDORS BUT NONE SEEM TO COMPARE TO THOSE SPECIAL ONES SELLING HOTDOGS AT BASEBALL GAMES. THE AROMA, THE SIGHTS, THE SOUNDS IT ALL SEEMS TO BLEND INTO THIS ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE THAT WE CALL BASEBALL.

IT ENDED EARLY THIS YEAR SO I GUESS IT'S TIME TO PUT MY HOPES FOR RANGER GREATNESS BACK ON THE SHELF FOR ANOTHER WINTER. YOU KNOW I'VE GOT FOOTBALL SEASON, BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY( WELL MAYBE NOT HOCKEY). BUT NEXT SPRING WHEN THINGS START BLOOMING AND FRESH COOL BREEZES RULE THE DAY THE RANGERS WILL BE BACK FOR SEASON THIRTY FOUR.......I THINK IT WILL BE THE YEAR.

TEXAS /OU WEEKEND GETS POLITICALLY CORRECTED

2005-08-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

There's alot of talk in the world of high school, collegiet and professional sports concerning mascots and particularly those that have to do with American Indians. This is certainly not a new issue , but it seems to have picked up steam in what I think are these politically correct times.

Many years ago, the Dallas Independent School District banned all school mascot's that had to do with Indians. I had attended one such school W.H. Gaston Junior High. Our mascot was the Warriors. Looking back I never remembered thinking anything derogatory about that name,matter of fact,I remember being very proud. Now the term Warrior seems very generic. There were Viking Warriors, Roman Warriors and Polynesian Warriors. I guess our drill team called the Shyannes with their plastic fringe Indian maiden outfits topped off by a headband adorned with a blue feather kind of gave away what kind of warriors we were. I do remember how much the girls wanted to be a part of that drill team and how hard they worked just as I did playing on the football team. We thought of our mascot with a since of pride, hard work and affection. I suppose there is another side to it and names like the Washington Redskins or the Cleveland Indians will soon be banned as well.

At this point (even though your likely engrossed with my commentary and insight) your probably wondering what all this has to do with Texas/OU. Well let me tell you!

As you may know this classic football game has long been known as the Red River Shootout. Because both states developed during the time of America's western expansion it is not unreasonable to assume that phrases or words from those earlier times might still find a place in our modern society, especial describing something as harmless as a football game. When the big weekend rolled around and I read or heard that phrase it never came to my mind that people might it literally start shooting.

I guess some are more sensitive than me as hard as that is to imagine. On obviously more sensitive group is SBC communication who has signed a three year deal with the schools with the right to rename this great battle(battle may be too harsh) to the RED RIVER RIVALRY.In an article in the Dallas Morning News on August11, an SBC spokesperson said the name is much better for our times and more marketable, As ABC'S John Stossel say's GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Where will all this end? Somday will we have a society like the one in the great underrated movie the Demolition Man. Will Tiger Woods not be allowed to SHOOT a five under par 67. Will you be able to SHOOT some hoops with your grandkids. I would hate to be that family that goes around the country shooting themselves out of cannons, there really out of step. Well it's time to go and I hope I have stimulated some thoughts. At least I gave it a shot.

middle age rocker

2005-08-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

.

. after nearly twentyfive years of not performing i'm doing something i never thought i would be doing again, playing and signing with WES NILES AND THE TEXAS SKEETERS. i really stumbled my way into this eclectic group of guys and it has proven to be very much fun. we play a wide variety of songs from stevie wonder to stevie ray vaughn and even some disco. more than just providing a fun hobby it also played a major role in a life changing event one year ago.

last july i was battling a bad upper respiratory infection . we had a gig and i felt terrible. i could not sing,. had no energy and felt like a very dull MIDDLE AGED ROCKER (and you know there's nothing worse than that.) the problem was i was a smoker. and that made getting over colds very difficult. smoking had also taken a toll on my breathing and singing . performing caused me to quit and now i feel better than ever. a genius but misunderstood word of wisdom. don't smoke!

as a MAR(middle aged rocker) my job is to try my best to make people have fun and make them forget their problems at least for three hours , or in the case of a special event like our last gig to make a wedding reception even more special than it already was. i do however, feel guilty sometimes when i find myself being entertained by the crowd of mostly MARF'S (middleaged rocker fans) trying to dance. i have a hard enough time remembering what to play and sing already and having an interperative dance performance directly in front of me makes that much harder.

it's not fair to just pick on older people. our last gig was a wedding and we had a twelve year old break dancing john travolta in front of us all night long. i'm against abortion, but he could have been an exception.

all in all this new chapter of my life is turning out to be interesting and hopefully entertaining. the skeeters,as we like to call ourselves, mostly play private function's but occasionally we play where our friends and family can come and try to dance. we will be at enchiladas on greenville just north of park lane on september the 10th at 8:oo. hope you can come i need some new people to watch.

In the dumps

2005-08-02T16:26:00.000-07:00

Just south of downtown Dallas off I45 there is a vast landfill . This enormous dump is the final resting place for most of the garbage collected . Take a moment and think about what you throw away......... now in your mind think of the ten most disgusting things that most likely wind up there and then multiple that by one thousand or even ten thousand. now imagine all that stuff baking under the hot texas sun mixing together becoming this one large smelly mound . if you have never been there i highly recommend it. you can learn a lot about people , a community or even a civilization by what they throw away.

Sometimes you wind up doing things you never imagined yourself doing. i'm a perfect example; my job leads to me that vast steaming pile of dirty diapers and rotting cabbage almost everyday, some days two or three times. you may be wondering why on earth is he sharing this ?

well it has to do with my son. you see he has recently made a lot of changes in his life .he moved out of his apartment, quit his job, moved in with me and my wife, and has gone to work part time with me. i have to say i'm glad to have him and hopefully he will stay long enough for me to get him straighten out and thinking clearly. wait i'm sorry we were talking about the dump and how it relates to my son.

over the past couple of weeks he has made quite a few trips to the landfill with me not only enduring the really unique odor but also the thirty minute drive where he mostly is forced to listen to me. on one particular outing as we unloaded our junk we began noticing those around us especially those that had much worse things to unload . this conversation sort of ended as we got back into my truck with him making what i felt like was a sort of a consoling remark to me like "hey there's a lot of people that have worse jobs than you"........... my reply was quick and simple i said "yah like you , your doing the same thing i'm doing for 80% less money." so if you know my son or if you meet him be kind, lately he's in the dumps..........

Global Killer

2005-07-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

You may remember the scene from the movie , "ARMAGEDDON" when Bruce Willis ask Billy Bob Thorton what NASA's back up plan was for dealing with the large global killer asteroid coming towards earth. When Willis' found out an alternative plan didn't exist he said," this is NASA, you have the smartest people in the world they should be sitting around just thinking about this stuff." I really enjoyed that movie and I remember thinking what would happen if an asteroid was coming. Like earthquakes, tornadoes, volcano's and other natural disasters , objects from space have certainly struck the earth numerous times. The question is not if this will happen again, but when will it happen again.

I'm not the type to be obsessed with things especially whether or not NASA knows of a large asteroid or comet possibly on a collision course with earth , but I believe it could be possible and I know there are many people who are convinced that we are doomed. If your interested, search asteroid's, comets or other such phrases you can read plenty purpose of this blog ,as well as, my future contemplations is to get you to think and provide interesting topic's of conversation.

So, could it be possible and what's going on to fuel thousands of conspiracy theorist imaginations. Let's explore a few of these widely talked about ideas. First, as I stated above, the simplest and most logical theory is they have struck before and will strike again. I suppose you could find someone who might dispute this fact. A Geniusbutmisunderstood tidbit of wisdom, if you find someone that dose dispute this theory stay away from them , their limited intellect could be detrimental to you if your over exposed.

Probably the most talked about event fueling controversy was NASA's Deep Impact mission that just recently successfully concluded on July 4th. The $350,000,000 project started in 1999 had the stated main goal of finding out what a comet was made of to help scientist determine the origin of the universe. What gets most theorist going is there has been very little discussed about how and what kind of information they were to obtain when the small craft made a suicide run at the comet in July.

On Sunday night, July 30th the Discovery channel aired a special concerning this project. And as all other news about this project the program focused entirely on the hitting of the object and nothing about the research hopefully gained from the impact. Look for reruns of this program as it was pretty interesting.

I did however find mention of another mission objective in an article in the July 1st issue of National Geographic News written by Steven Lougren. The article entitled Deep Impact Probe Temple 1 said this experiment could also help scientists plan on how to deflect a rouge comet or asteroid if one threatened the earth in the future. Recent developments fueling this wildfire of controversy was President Bush announcing a renewed interest in space resulting in a commitment of billions of dollars for research. Of course those fearing doom believe the real reason is to hide research dollars among other space programs to deal with the impending danger coming from the dark reaches of space.

Another event is the grounding of the space shuttle program because of more problems with foam damaging the shuttle. Asteroid crazed nuts would have you believe in order to start spending billions on saving our planet you must first stop spending billions on the space shuttle.

I don't really know what I think about all this, but I'll sleep well tonight and won't spend much more time thinking about it. Another helpful hint: if you do start talking about this you might come across a true believer. These people could be very paranoid and could use your help. One way to calm them thus allowing them to function is to assure them that unlike the movie Armageddon NASA really dose have the smartest people, and they do just sit around and think of this kind of stuff. Tell them they are some of the brightest people around like Owen Wilson. Just touch their shoulder and tell them everything will be alright.

coming to computer screens worldwide...

2005-07-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

intellectual enlightenment, incredible revelations, genius social commentary, and guaranteed to capture online audiences and render them speechless beneath the weighted glory of my superior being.