The Prairie Rambler

Ophileia- A Candid Conversation With a 3 year-old

2017-01-06T21:22:00.001-06:00

This morning after finishing my work-out as I was making my back to my belongings I encountered a brutally honest 3 year ago. “Why are you walking with that stick,” she asked. “It helps me walk better,” I said. “So you can be really fast?” she said. As I pulled on my sweats she continued chatting away, “this is my nana,” motioning to a grey haired woman slightly older than I. “What’s your name” I asked ? “Ophelia,” she replied. “I know a song named Ophelia,” I said as I looked at Nana. Nana gave me a nod to affirm that I was correct Then Ophelia looked out at the men playing basketball shirts vs skins. “Why are they playing naked,” she asked. “Men can do that sweety, we can’t,” said Nana. “That man has boobies,” she said pointing at a chubby bball player. “He doesn’t” motioning at me,. “Mommy has boobies,” she continues, Nana stands up, hands Ophelia her coat and says “let this poor man finish getting his coat on.” I am so glad Ophelia didn’t say I had boobies. That would have shattered my frail male ego

Ophelia The Band

A picture is worth a thousand words

2014-01-11T22:24:00.000-06:00

Good photography and good writing are each, both an art and a craft, requiring intangible talents and learned skills. More often than not, endeavors in each medium require refinement before the piece is finally finished. Writers go through countless sheets of paper as they write, rework and rewrite. Photographers snap innumerable images and employ a myriad of techniques to capture the desired essence of an image.

I first began to dabble in photography my senior year of college. We studied basic camera functions as well as composition, lighting and darkroom techniques. The image to the left is that of a “Comparison” darkroom assignment, where the identical negative was developed numerous times using different processing techniques. Aside from requiring a darkroom and darkroom equipment the whole process was quite time consuming and you had to wait hours or days from time the picture was taken until you could actually view the end result.

Let me give you some examples: As I mentioned in my “Handcycle Diaries” blog on my rides in the summer I had spotted a couple spots that I thought would be provide ideal locations for fall foliage pictures. For whatever reason, the leaves of this past fall weren’t as vibrant as I had envisioned and I was a little let down with raw pictures I had taken.

There were a few that I liked but none that jumped out and screamed fall…but let me share with you two examples of ugly duckling photos that actually turned into pictures I am proud of.

This photograph was taken in early October on a ride at a nearby forest preserve. I liked how clouds and tree-line reflected on the water but there isn't any of your typical fall colorings. Some of the tress had already lost their leaves while others had muted colorings and many remained green.

My MacBook has HP PhotoShop as an editing program which I began to experiment with

Black & White and Sepia coloring

are shown here

These pictures are examples of some of the "special effects" options

The image shown below is the one that I chose to go with...by making adjustment to the color "saturation" levels (whatever the hell that means) I finally achieved a colorful fall image.

Since I was having trouble getting colorful fall pictures I turned my attention to the ground level and can up with these images.

"Cropping" the image tended to bring you in for a closer view and I felt the Black&White version was more striking.

An Olympus E420 was used for these pictures.

A Ford Man

2013-12-06T08:37:00.000-06:00

My late father was a Ford man. I never knew exactly why he had such an affinity for Fords: maybe it was the fact that his father liked Fords and he grew up with Fords on the farm. Perhaps he was impressed by the Henry Ford story and emulated Ford’s success. Maybe it was that in his youth, my father shared some traits with the young Mr. Ford. Like Mr. Ford, my father was raised on a family farm, and, like him, aspired to be a mechanical engineer. But as it did with the lives of so many others of his generation, the attack on Pearl Harbor forever altered my father’s life. He withdrew from the engineering program at the University of Illinois and enlisted with the Marine Corps where he eventually became a pilot.

Whatever the reason, over the course of his life, my father bought a lot of Fords. He also told me a lot of stories about his life on the farm before Pearl Harbor, and these stories were filled with Fords: Ford cars, Ford trucks. “Have I ever told you about what my brothers and I would do to the Model-A Ford before we headed in to town on Saturday night?” he would ask. Or, “Your Grandpa Wert had such a way with animals, he trained a crow to ride on the Ford tractor with him as he did his field work,” he would say. “That damned crow was so smart, he inched his way closer to the exhaust pipe for warmth as the air temperature dropped the later we got in the harvest season.”

Once he was in his story-telling mode there was no stopping him. He retold his stories, over and over, every time with the same words, cadence and inflections. Again and again he would recount his Saturday night exploits- how he and his brothers would mount the mud tires on the Ford truck backwards so the treads would create a loud rumble as they headed down the blacktop. He always ended that story with: “The town-folk called us the ‘Prairie Ramblers’ because of the rumble that truck made as we sped into town.” And Dad would always end his crow stories with a postscript, explaining how a hired-man brought on to help with the harvest shot the pet crow bringing about the family’s only war causality.

For some reason in the early 1960s my father broke from tradition and bought a Chevy. I don’t know whether he succumbed to Madison Avenue advertising, or if the decision was prompted by mid-life identity crisis. Maybe the analyst he and my mother were seeing suggested a new car as a way to spice things up. Evidently, the analyst himself was driving the coolest little Alfa Romeo, so maybe envy influenced my father’s purchase, because my father bought a Chevrolet. Not the sensible full-sized, four-door family car that you would expect for a father of three, but a snazzy little two-door Chevrolet Corvair.

His venture away from the Ford family was short-lived. Almost as soon as my father purchased his first-ever and last-ever Chevy, all sorts of negative news concerning the safety and performance of this car became public. Because my father was very safety conscience, it didn’t take him too long to recognize the folly of buying a Chevy….As a form of penance perhaps, to trade it for a Ford Custom, the most stripped-down, back-to-basic, no-frills Ford available.

I think the only features the Custom had that weren’t available on the Model-A of his youth were an electric starter, a heater and an AM radio. Aside from those upgrades, this car was basically four wheels and an engine. No power steering, no power windows, no air-conditioning, no decorative trim, no padded dashboard.

He justified this Spartan purchase by calling it his “airport car”: because the car had nothing worth stealing, it would be safe to leave it unattended while he was away.

As an expression of our distaste for this new purchase, we children nicknamed the car “the Ford Dog" and as a joke, would sometimes chain it to the flagpole in front of the house with a bowl of water and a bone near the front bumper.

"By the people...not Buy the people"

2013-02-23T17:25:00.000-06:00

At the start of this year I joined the environmental ministry team at my church. I really wasn’t sure what they did exactly, but with what I see occurring around me vis-à-vis drought, record heat waves, super storms, hurricanes & melting icecaps, I felt I had to do something. At the very least I would like my children to be able to say, “Dad tried to do something.”

Joining at mid-year there were already many projects that were already under way, but somehow I found myself volunteering for the letter writing aspect of our mission. (Go figure)

At the time I didn't really understand what types of letters we were trying to write. But being the political maven that I am, an article I read on Huffington Post or Think Progress, jumped out and grabbed my attention. A resolution calling for the end of corporate personhood was introduced on to the floor of the US House of Representatives in early February.

We all know how Mitt Romney’s, "corporations are people too, my friend" snippet resonated on the campaign trail, but surprisingly enough, the statement is true. Back in 1886 the Supreme Court declared that corporations were “persons” and they enjoy the same rights as human beings.

Although not your run of the mill “Save the Whales” issue, I explained to my other team members how the Citizens United decision regarding money, “freedom of speech” and corporate personhood affects EVERYTHING: Analysis of the 2012 Presidential elections by the Illinois Public Interest Research Group found that the presidential candidates raised $310 million from 3.7 million small donors. This same research showed that the top 32 Super Pac donors, who gave an average $9.9million apiece, raised almost $317million; This 02.20.2013 Think Progress article by Josh Israel Illustrates how corporate money is another illustration of how special interest groups are able to influence public policy.

After seeing all of this they understood the relevance of my interest in the

“We the People Amendment & http://www.represent.us/citizens-united-2/ We are still trying to work out the kinks of how to package and deliver this message to our congregation but I thought I would go ahead and share this message with you.

I don’t think that the BIG GUY up there will mind too much

So please do yourself and me a favor and sign these petitions:

http://movetoamend.nationbuilder.com/petition

http://www.represent.us/citizens-united-2/

If you are really motivated you can write to your US Congressional representative here:

US House: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

US Senate http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

I am reluctant to use my blog to air this bit on American dirty laundry, because, believe it or not, the www. really does mean world wide web and readers from around the world have “enjoyed” my postings. If you think about it, we “America” should be embarrassed by this display of the “American Way.” Our democracy is supposed to be “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Not this “of the Inc., BUY the Inc and screw the people” deMOCKracy thing that is going on now.

Anyway, peace be with you my friend

New Dawn

2012-12-21T10:52:00.004-06:00

Mayan Long Count Calendar Reset
5,125 More Years
USPS Forever Stamps Save the World
<;-)

PREPPERS BE DAMNED

2012-12-20T09:21:00.000-06:00

USPS Forever Stamps Supersede Mayans
Long Count Calendar Reset to Day #1

Oh Really!!??? A Three Shell Limit for Duck Hunting... WTF!!??

2012-12-18T19:16:00.000-06:00

I just heard something on the Thom Hartman show that really, really, really bothered me.

A caller asked Mr. Hartman if he was familiar with the 3-shot duck plug rule. Mr. Hartman said that he didn't hunt so he wasn't familiar with hunting rules and regulations.

Apparently the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has the following rule:

No person shall take migratory game birds: With a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells.

In deference to waterfowl, hunters are only allowed three shots because the birds would probably be out of the kill-range of the shotgun blast after 3 shots.

I typed the following in my browser: (Why is there a 3 shot duck plug rule?)

and the following was one of the answers;

....in the land of the free we think conservation is a good thing. The 3 shot cap for sporting guns gives a little edge to the birds we hunt. Makes it sporting... rather than laying down a anti-aircraft barrage when a bird passes by.

So what does that this about us? Out of our concern over “sportsmanship” duck hunters can only take 3 shots before they have to reload. But a paranoid concern over protecting ourselves and our 2^nd amendment rights somehow makes it ok for some HUNTERS/SPORTSMEN/GUN ENTHUSIANTS to own a semi-automatic gun with a 110 round magazine.

I don’t know, but if you need more than 10 shots to protect yourself you should either: 1) get your eyes examined or 2) move to a safer neighborhood…

Call your representatives and urge them to back the Senate bill introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and the House bill introduced by Rep Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) & Diana DeGette (D-Co) that would prohibit the manufacturing of high-capacity magazines.

Find Your Representative Here

Find Your Senator Here

Melt The Guns by XTC 1982 After thirty years, this song is still relevant.

Or Lynard Skynyrd's "Saturday Night Special" from 1976
Hand guns are made for killin'
Ain't no good for nothin' else
And if you like your whiskey
You might even shoot yourself
So why don't we dump 'em people
To the bottom of the sea
Before some fool come around here
Wanna shoot either you or me

Follow Up On "It's A Wonderful Life"

2012-12-04T15:45:00.000-06:00

In a follow-up to my last post here a few of the things that I have read about so far this week:

From the New York Times

With Carbon Dioxide Emissions at Record High, Worries on How to Slow Warming

In a nutshell although world leaders agree that steps to reduce harmful emissions need to be implemented, but little has actually been done to meet these goals.

From the Washington Post:

Fossil-Fuel Subsidies of Rich Nations Five Times Climate Aid

According to “Oil Change International” industrialized countries subsidized fossil-fuel industries five times greater than climate-aid efforts

On the positive side of this issue:

From Businessweek:

Obama Plans for Climate Deal as Fiscal Cliff Talks Rage

Although the Obama failed to implement a cap-and-trade program as promised in his 1^st term in office, the administration has set forth new greenhouse-gas rules for vehicles and power plants. The use of renewable power has doubled and Obama has also made a call for 80% of electricity in the US to come from “clean energy” by 2035

From The Guardian:

US government announces opening of Atlantic coast for offshore windfarms

For the first time the US is to offer offshore leases for windfarms

On the Fiscal Cliff Front:

1)The GOP is still insisting that the deficit can be closed by closing nebulous tax loopholes and the improving economy would provide additional tax revenues.

2)Taking a lesson straight from Hollywood Grover Norquist is calling for a Tea Party II

The Fiscal Cliff-Climate Change- It's a Wonderful Life

2012-11-30T14:10:00.000-06:00

I assume that you all remember what key issues were debated in the 2012 Presidential election held on November 6^th. Both parties had completely different views on both the causes of our dilemma and the policies to rectify the problems. But on Election day, the American people (you know, the ones that live and breathe and have a pulse) spoke by electing President Barack Obama for another term. They agreed with his vision of letting the tax-cuts expire. Hell, although Pres. Obama had 51% of the popular vote, exit polling showed that 60% of all voters thought that the tax-rates for the wealthy should revert to the old levels.

Here we sit, almost one month later, watching politicians wrangle over an issue that we, the people, have already expressed our opinions on. Ignoring nonpartisan studies that show a lowing of income-tax rates does not spur economic growth they press on with their effort to "protect the job creators". The argument that higher taxes would choke off investments was lampooned by legendary investor Warren Buffett. Appearing on the “Daily Show with Jon Stewart” Buffet asked if he (Stewart) would care about his tax rate if Buffett came to him with an investment idea… Who would say, “I don’t want that $1,000,000 gain if my tax rate is z% instead of y%”? A gain, is a gain, is a gain. Period.

By now it should be apparent to everyone that players like Rove, Norquist, Boehner, McConnell, Cantor et al are acting as shills for a number of ultra-wealthy people who aren’t very civic-minded. This cabal of Henry F. Potter types (see “It’s a Wonderful Life’) want control of everything. You know, shrink government down “to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub”, let the “free market” take care of things and don’t tax the job creators. All they care about is boosting the bottom-line. Advances in automation, computerization and robotics have increased profitability but has done nothing to help the employment outlook.

Unfortunately there is a more pressing future burden that has far more dire consequences than the fiat currency problem we face with our government debt. The victims of Katrina know about it… Hurricane victims in Vermont know about it. (I mean really, hurricane damage in Vt?) New York City flooded (I mean really?) Record heat waves and droughts (I mean really …)About the same time we were all laughing at the images of Carl Rove trying to cope with Fox News calling Obama the winner in Ohio the rest of the world was reading about dire climate predictions from the World Bank and the UN…

UN Climate Report

World Bank Climate Report

Hello GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL

The US should go from being a reluctant player to a key driver on this problem…

The US government could devise a modern day set of initiatives along the lines of the

WPA , Tennessee Valley Authority and the Rural Electrification Administrationhttp

Have it become a combined effort to improve the efficiency of renewable energy sources but also include work on infrastructure projects of not only schools & roads, but coastal protection work as well.

There is a upfront price tag but the benefits will far outweigh the costs.

A Midwest Research Institute report from 1971 detailed the positive impact the NASA program had economically, technologically and socially.

Using his best George Bailey impression, President Obama should go on his stump tour to lay out his plan to help tackle the climate change issue and be accompanied by Warren Buffet as Clarence sell his tax policy

White House Luncheon Menu for 11.29.12

2012-11-29T14:05:00.003-06:00

"Sorry Mitt, The girls had the last of the milk for breakfast this morning...
Can I get you some of my home-brew?"

Les salades amères d'hiver

(The bitter salads of winter)

Fried Crow

And for dessert…

Romney’s favorite

Obamacare Bill or Rights

2012-11-20T19:05:00.001-06:00

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2012

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

Obama administration moves forward to implement health care law, ban discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions

The Obama administration moved forward today to implement provisions in the health care law that would make it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. The provisions of the Affordable Care Act also would make it easier for consumers to compare health plans and employers to promote and encourage employee wellness.

“The Affordable Care Act is building a health insurance market that works for consumers,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Thanks to the health care law, no one will be discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition.”

“The Affordable Care Act recognizes that well-run, equitable workplace wellness programs allow workers to access services that can help them and their families lead healthier lives,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Employers, too, can benefit from reduced costs associated with a healthier workforce.”

The Obama administration issued:

A proposed rule that, beginning in 2014, prohibits health insurance companies from discriminating against individuals because of a pre-existing or chronic condition. Under the rule, insurance companies would be allowed to vary premiums within limits, only based on age, tobacco use, family size, and geography. Health insurance companies would be prohibited from denying coverage to any American because of a pre-existing condition or from charging higher premiums to certain enrollees because of their current or past health problems, gender, occupation, and small employer size or industry. The rule would ensure that people for whom coverage would otherwise be unaffordable, and young adults, have access to a catastrophic coverage plan in the individual market. For more information regarding this rule, visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2012/11/market-reforms11202012a.html.
A proposed rule outlining policies and standards for coverage of essential health benefits, while giving states more flexibility to implement the Affordable Care Act. Essential health benefits are a core set of benefits that would give consumers a consistent way to compare health plans in the individual and small group markets. A companion letter on the flexibility in implementing the essential health benefits in Medicaid was also sent to states. For more information regarding this rule, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2012/11/ehb11202012a.html.
A proposed rule implementing and expanding employment-based wellness programs to promote health and help control health care spending, while ensuring that individuals are protected from unfair underwriting practices that could otherwise reduce benefits based on health status. For more information regarding this rule, visit:http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2012/11/wellness11202012a.html

Link to US Department of Health & Human Services

Romney & Ryan Used Cars

2012-11-16T10:27:00.000-06:00

Romney & Ryan Used Cars

Names You Can Trust

v You tell us what you want to hear & we will tell you what you want to hear

v We specialize in cars made from 1/1981-1/1993 & 1/2001–1/2009 (THOSE WERE THE YEARS)

v We provide un-audited repair work history going back 1 year

v You buy the car and then we will tell you the details

v We cater to angry old white males

v Have binders full of potential women , too!!!

v sí hablamos español

v We will sell to other kinds of Americans, too!!! (as long as you have “In God We Trust” US $$, or Swiss Francs)

v Provide “Voucher” Warranty Protection Program (Up to $50)

v We hire only US citizens (except for jobs that REAL Americans don’t want)

v Rove, Koch Bros & Adelson approved

Locations from coast to coast

Except for Blue States & WI, MI, OH, and FLA

I VOTED TODAY YOU SHOULD TOO

2012-11-06T11:04:00.000-06:00

Ignore what you are hearing about the long lines, voter suppression and voter intimidation....

PEOPLE need to get out and vote

Except for CORPORATIONS

Information For Undecided Voters

2012-11-05T13:58:00.001-06:00

Most commentators and political pundits are of the opinion that this election is the hands of the “undecided” electorate. Governor Romney has proven himself to be the ultimate “undecided” candidate…. Throughout his public service career he has clearly shown how flexible he can be on a number of issues…

The Ultimate Mitt Romney Flip-Flop Collection

A Big Romney Flip Flop...Just Watch This Video

Mitt Romney Caught in Multitudes of Lies

Ask Mitt Romney Where He Stands on Raising Your Taxes

Mitt Flop Romney vs Mitt Flop Romney

If, after watching these Youtube.com clips, you are still not sure of whom to vote for, maybe these clips might help you

The Road We've Traveled

Mitt Romney versus Reality

Blueprint for an America Built to Last: President Obama's Osawatomie Speech

Faces of Change: Lilly Ledbetter's Equal Pay Story

Faces of Change: Emily's Health Care Story

Chris Rock's Message For White Voters

I hope this helps to clarify where the two candidates stand on the important issues facing our country

GOP Tries to Hide Congressional Research Service report on Tax Cuts

2012-11-01T19:25:00.001-05:00

Those pesky facts......

Congressional Research Service Report On Tax Cuts For Wealthy Suppressed By GOP (UPDATE) http://huff.to/Y8xL1d via @HuffPostPol

Concluding Remarks
The top income tax rates have changed considerably since the end of World War II. Throughout
the late-1940s and 1950s, the top marginal tax rate was typically above 90%; today it is 35%.
Additionally, the top capital gains tax rate was 25% in the 1950s and 1960s, 35% in the 1970s;
today it is 15%. The average tax rate faced by the top 0.01% of taxpayers was above 40% until
the mid-1980s; today it is below 25%. Tax rates affecting taxpayers at the top of the income
distribution are currently at their lowest levels since the end of the second World War.
The results of the analysis suggest that changes over the past 65 years in the top marginal tax rate
and the top capital gains tax rate do not appear correlated with economic growth. The reduction in
the top tax rates appears to be uncorrelated with saving, investment, and productivity growth. The
top tax rates appear to have little or no relation to the size of the economic pie.
However, the top tax rate reductions appear to be associated with the increasing concentration of
income at the top of the income distribution. As measured by IRS data, the share of income
accruing to the top 0.1% of U.S. families increased from 4.2% in 1945 to 12.3% by 2007 before
falling to 9.2% due to the 2007-2009 recession. At the same time, the average tax rate paid by the
top 0.1% fell from over 50% in 1945 to about 25% in 2009. Tax policy could have a relation to
how the economic pie is sliced—lower top tax rates may be associated with greater income
disparities.
(Source:
Taxes and the Economy: An Economic
Analysis of the Top Tax Rates Since 1945
Thomas L. Hungerford
Specialist in Public Finance
September 14, 2012)

BING.com search on Congressional Research Service on tax cuts

Romney - FEMA

2012-10-30T08:56:00.000-05:00

Romney and FEMA

June 2011

Romney at June 2011 Debate

"Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction. And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that's even better."

Now

Romney Speaking At An Imaginary East Coast Press Conference

“As the first responders, states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities, and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most. This includes help from the federal government and FEMA.”

“A lot of people are going to be facing some real tough times as a result of Sandy's fury. And so if you have the capacity to make a donation to the American Red Cross, you can go online and do that. If there are other ways that you can help, please take advantage of them because there will be a lot of people that are going to be looking for help and the people in Ohio have big hearts, so we're expecting you to follow through and help out.”

Enough said…

Bing.com Search "Romney on FEMA"

Some Things to Think About Before Voting for Romney

2012-10-17T12:04:00.000-05:00

Just In: Romney Pants on Fire

View the Romney/Ryan Tax Plan Here

Did FDR call it or what

See Why Republicans Say You Shouldn't Vote For Romney Here

What One Small Town Has to Say About Romney

All graphics and links are from "The Daily Share". A service provided by
Moveon.org. Pants on Fire brought to you by Politifact.com

Sir Gurdon and My First Essay

2012-10-09T23:24:00.000-05:00

I found hope and inspiration after reading press reports concerning the 2012 Nobel Prize for medicine. Two scientists, Sir John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka, helped to prove that adult cells can be reprogrammed back into embryonic-like stem cells. This finding will help ease some of the controversy surrounding stem cell research. It is thought these “new” stems cells could be used in treating diseases like Parkinson’s and , my favorite, Multiple Sclerosis.

I mentioned that these news reports gave me new found hope and inspiration, but not for reason’s concerning my MS diagnosis. Sure this discovery is a step in the right direction, but I realize that it will be years before these findings make their way from the laboratory into new medical treatments and they won't impact my MS prognosis.

What is inspiring to me is Sir Gurdon’s perseverance. Back in 1949, when Gurdon was just 15 years old, a professor wrote the following:

"I believe Gurdon has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing this is quite ridiculous; if he can't learn simple biological facts he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part and of those who would have to teach him."

Sir Gurdon stuck with his idea of becoming a scientist and has a copy of the school report hanging on the wall of his laboratory . He I guess he proved that educator wrong.

I too, had critics when I was younger. (Mrs. Steiner, my sixth grade teacher, who labeled me as an under-achiever, and my mother). They formed their opinions about my writing ability when I was in middle school, producing pieces like the one I have posted below. "The Perfect Age is 24" is the earliest example of my writing that has been unearthed from my mother's basement.

The Perfect Age is 24

(Written circa 1971)

I think the perfect age would be 24. I have only lived 13 years. They were fun but I’ve heard people talk about it. It sounds fun.

I would like to be anything over 21 so I could vote but I chose 24.

At 24 I could vote for the laws and people I want and I could voice my opinions. I could be on my own and do what I like to do.

I might be out of collage (sp) so I wouldn’t have to worry about going to collage (sp). If I didn’t have a job I could just ride around on a cycle and see the country. If I had a job I could still ride on weekends.

I would be free to go somewhere and drink and maybe even sometimes get kind of happy. I could go out with girls any time and not have to be home at any special time.

I could grow my hair to any length I want. I could have a mustace (sp?) too.

If I was marryied (sp) I would still have a good time with my wife and maybe some kids running around the house.

Some of the bad things about being 24 are that I would have more responsibilities than I used to. I would have to spend my money carefully and not spend it foolishly.

I still would like to be 24 years old all of my life.

Original Transcript

Page 1

Page 2

After reading this piece, with all of the spelling errors, omitted words and punctuation miscues, I can understand why they had misgivings about my literary prowess. But maybe if I had been more perseverant and if my critics had worked with me on the importance of the 3 R’s (Rereading Revising & Rewriting) I might have chosen a different career path. Who knows, I might have had a book published by now.

But wait, Sir Gurdon is 79 years old, so that gives me 24 years to achieve my goal. And we know all about my affinity for 24 years

It is up to me to add in a fourth R.

REINVENT

Politics Haven't Changed Much Over the Years

2012-09-19T20:07:00.000-05:00

I hope that we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
-Thomas Jefferson, 1816, quoted in Lawrence Goodwyn, The Populist Moment

This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people no longer. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations.
- Rutherford B. Hayes, 1876

It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.

H. L. Mencken
US editor (1880 - 1956)

The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal - that you can gather votes like box tops - is... the ultimate indignity to the democratic process. ~

Adlai Stevenson, speech, Democratic National Convention, 18 August 1956

From Moveon.org the Daily Share

Politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money even to be defeated. Will Rogers

It is now quite lawful for a Catholic woman to avoid pregnancy by a resort to mathematics, though she is still forbidden to resort to physics or chemistry.

H. L. Mencken

“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”

Dwight David Eisenhower Excerpt of letter to his brother. 11.08.1954

http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1147.cfm

Are We Better Off Than We Were Four Years Ago?

2012-09-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

It should surprise no one that the GOP is returning to their tried-and-untrue playbook to help out in this election cycle. It has been long understood that Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan want cut taxes, cut spending (except for the military) and roll-back government regulations. But now they are going back to the Gipper’s “Are we better off than we were four years ago?” So after I finished running a marathon this morning… er I misspoke…after I walked the dogs to the corner I did a quick Google.com/Bing.com search for September 2008 headlines

Financial Headlines from 4 Years Ago

September 2008

09.02.08 More weak data likely (LA Times)

09.04.08 U.S. bankruptcy filing rate jumps (LA Times)

09.05.08 Ex-GOP lobbyist Abramoff sentenced to 4 years in prison (LA Times)

09.06.08 U.S. home woes mount (LA Times)

09.07.08 How Safe Is Your Bank? (LA Times)

09.08.08 U.S. seizes mortgage titans in multibillion-dollar rescue (LA Times)

09.10.08 Lehman fears sink Wall Street (LA Times)

09.11.08 Lehman posts $3.9-billion loss, moves to shore up books (LA Times)

09.12.08 WaMu plans another huge write-down (LA Times)

09.13.08 If Lehman fails, would you feel it? (LA Times)

09.14.08 Lehman Files for Bankruptcy; Merrill Is Sold (NY Times)

09.15.08 Wall St.’s Turmoil Sends Stocks Reeling (NY Times)

09.15.08 New York Allows A.I.G. to Lend Itself Money (NY Times)

09.16.08 Fed’s $85 Billion Loan Rescues Insurer (NY Times)

09.24.08 President Bush’s Speech to the Nation on the Economic Crisis (NY Times)

09.25.08 Talks Implode During a Day of Chaos; Fate of Bailout Plan Remains Unresolved

09.25.08 Government Seizes WaMu and Sells Some Assets (NY Times)

09.29.08 For Stocks, Worst Single-Day Drop in Two Decades (NY Times)

09.30.08 Republican Party, Having Brought You the Meltdown, Now Blames Obama (NY Times)

So go on, ask yourself, are we better off than we were four years ago?

My Pathway towards Creative Writing Enlightenment

2012-07-21T23:53:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to update everyone on my quest to improve my writing skills

Someone suggested that I apply to the Iowa Writers Workshop but I think that might be a tad premature. Instead I purchased a lecture series from the university entitled “Building Great Sentences.” There are 24 lectures in all, but I have to tell you, I was completely floored after the first 10 minutes of lesson #1. The professor referenced quotes such as: “Jesus wept.” from the Bible or this from Joseph Conrad, “And from right to left along the lighted shore moved a wild and gorgeous apparition of a woman…. She was savage and superb, wild-eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and stately in her deliberate progress.” (I might have to find a way to incorporate the Conrad quotation into my description of Diana.) How can I ever “learn” to write sentences like these? You can teach crafts and skills, but can you teach artistry? I have listened to the first nine lectures while puttering around the house but in order to really learn this stuff I need to sit down and take notes…

I am also enrolled in an on-line course entitles Creative Writing Workshop through ED2GO.com which I am finding very helpful as well as fun. The course is broken down into 12 lessons. Each lesson has a multiple choice quiz (which can be taken as often as necessary to pass) and a writing assignment.

My favorite assignment so far has been a point of view exercise.

We were told that Martha was waiting for the bus in a winter storm and the first person getting off the bus is Martha’s ex-husband. Write paragraphs from 3 perspectives (close, moderate or far).

I wrote: The Bus Stop Incident (In 3 POVs)

Inside Martha:

I love it when it snows. Why is the bus late? I hope that buzzard(1*) is the first person off the bus. He can afford to go to Vegas but he can’t pay child support? Did I click the safety off?

(1*) I used a word that was filtered out by a censorship function. My intended 7 letter word begins with the letter b and ends with the letter D

Outside Martha:

Martha elbowed her way through to the front of the crowd. The ground around the bus stop was covered by an icy slush. As Martha had expected, her ex-husband was the first person to step off the bus. He looked up when she yelled out his name. She fired a single shot when they made eye contact.

From Afar:

Witness #1 reported that the suspect, Martha Smith, had rudely pushed the witness aside at the bus stop. Witness #2 reported that the suspect, Martha Smith, was muttering something about Vegas and the kids. The bus driver, Witness #3, recalled that he heard someone in the crowd scream out a name, (John, possibly) as the first passenger got off the bus. He then saw a bright flash, followed by a loud bang. At first, Witness #3, thought the passenger had slipped on the ice. Only after seeing the snow around the fallen body slowly turn crimson did he realize that the sound he heard was that of a gunshot.

Student comments:1) Awesomely crafted. We both new John to be a similar character. Unfortunately my Martha wasn't as strong as your Martha...but she didn't let him completely off the hook, either. Wish this truly was stranger than life. 2) Nice! Crime drama in your future? 3) In a word: AWESOME! Instructor: Good work on all three of your distance exercises!

My next favorite is called Galumphing (don’t ask me what that means, because I don’t know). You chose a 3 digit number between 000 and 999. Then pick the word from the three columns that corresponds to your chosen numbers.

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
0 = Map	0 = Comedian	0 = Museum
1 = Basket	1 = Traffic cop	1 = Golf course
2 = Car keys	2 = Science teacher	2 = Grocery store
3 = Wedding ring	3 = Foot doctor	3 = Hotel
4 = Umbrella	4 = Rabbit	4 = Thunderstorm
5 = Garbage can	5 = Car salesman	5 = Sandy beach
6 = Radio	6 = Gardener	6 = Bank
7 = Sculpture	7 = Scorpion	7 = Middle of a lake
8 = Man's suit	8 = Bride	8 = Airport
9 = Violin	9 = Auctioneer	9 = Sporting event

Rolling a dice 3 times I ended up with 2) car keys; 3) foot doctor & 2) Grocery store and wrote..

Car Keys-Foot Doctor-Grocery Store

Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis requires me to take extra care in planning my day. I need to avoid being out in afternoon heat (currently 107f @ 2:50pm on 07.05.12) and I try combine errands to conserve my energy. Today my schedule was fairly light; my first chore was to water the window boxes, hanging plants and the two tomato plants (I definitely needed to do that early because the plants were withered and were showing signs stress from yesterday’s heat); next on my to do list was a trip to Whole Foods (organic milk, organic whipping cream, organic frozen tortellini yada yada yada); and finally, I wanted to swing by the podiatrist’s office to have her look at the planter’s wart on the ball of my left foot. (I figured that I could do all that and be back at home by noon.) My only obstacle to executing this plan without a hitch was finding those darn car-keys. (Four drivers + one set of keys=mass confusion when 3 of the 4 drivers are under the age of 23 and don’t awaken before 10am)

Not my strongest piece. This heat really does drain me, both physically and mentally.

Student Comments: 1 Strongest or not, I really enjoyed this. You are very creative with the simplest of ideas. I love the way you used your three words, and your piece had a definite VOICE to it! :)

Instructor: Nice slice of daily life, Scott! The frustration and acceptance of life's common obstacles was entertaining. Loved the planter's wart--not a usual detail showing up here! But your creative side was functioning just fine. Good one.

Anyway, that’s what I have been up to. I have revised the intro to my story and I am going to create an outline for the rest of the it.

Strawberry Jam Photo Essay

2012-06-25T22:46:00.000-05:00

ANOTHER ENTRY FROM MY 1973 HIGH SCHOOL JOURNAL

2012-03-10T23:01:00.000-06:00

Nov. 3
I watched the best of Soul Train today.It was excerpts of performances by different stars.

They had "The King of Soul" James Brown on. He was pretty good. It was weird though seeing a 40 year old man dance around. I couldn't imagine any other 40 year old doing it. I mean a man 10 years younger than my dad acting like a 20 year old.
Watch James Brown on Soul Train Circa 1973

They had a lot of people that were ok but my favorite was on near the end on the show... Al Green the sex Machine. I love all of his songs. They are all soo good

He sang a song which wasn't one of his best so after the show was over I went upstairs and listened to the two albums of his that my sister has "Let's Stay Together" and his Greatest Hits album.

I read this on a desk...

I'm happy to be an American
I'm glad that I am free
But I wish I were a doggie
And Nixon was a Tree
End of Journal Entry

The More Things Stay The Same The More The Story Changes

2012-03-08T19:39:00.001-06:00

That was then....
2008 Fox News Reporting on High Gas Prices (by Media Matters)

Gasoline

Initially gasoline price fell by about 20% from the time Pres. Bush took office due to a 45% decline in the stock market. As the equity market improved, gasoline prices moved higher, gaining almost 290% before the bubble burst. At the end of his term gasoline prices gasoline prices were 35% higher than when he took office.

US Dollar

In 2001 and 2002 the USD posted 10% gains. The dollar was under pressure for the remainder of the Bush presidency, losing as much as 35% of it's value. There was a slight rebound but the USD lost 23% during the Bush year.

Gold

Gold prices rallied during the Bush years. By the summer of 2008 gold price were up more than 280% . When Pres Bush left office gold had gained about 220% over his presidency

In the first two years of his term stocks lost almost 45% of their value. At the beginning of 2008 the stock market was up by about 15% since President Bush took office, As the financial crisis expanded, equities plunged and for the second time in his term stocks had lost about 45% of their January '01value'

This is now...
2012 Fox News Reporting On High Gas Prices (by Media Matters)

Gasoline

The Fox News pundits are correct when they say they gas prices have risen almost 160% since Pres. Obama took office

US Dollar

The USD has remained under pressure, but is 13% higher than the Bush lows.

The bull market in gold has continued during Pres Obama's term, jumping as much 110% from when he took office January '09. Gold has pulled back from its high but it is up 83%.

The stock market was still in a free-fall when Pres Obama took office and stocks lost almost 20% of their value before the effects of the stimulus programs kicked in. Equities rallied until mid 2010 then had a small retracement. The rally resumed and stocks posted a new high for the move before pausing and pulling back once again. As of this writing, stocks are testing the post-crash highs of 2011.

Anyway, all I can say is...Thank Goodness For Organizations Like "Media Matters" as they continue to point out the fallacies that flow from Fox.

The Price of Gas is Too Damned High II

2012-02-28T15:46:00.000-06:00

10 year chart of Gasoline Futures

While sitting in the bleachers at my son’s soccer match on Saturday afternoon (They won 5 to 2 and N. scored a goal) parents were talking about two things: college search efforts and the high price of gasoline. After listening to all the confusion and misconceptions regarding the pricing of gasoline I decided I should revise a January posting from my http://futuresinsights.blogspot.com/ blog entitled “Oil Supplies, Demand and the Keystone Pipeline.” In that entry I attempted to show that the primary beneficiaries of the pipeline project would be oil industry companies like Koch Industries. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/05/koch-keystone-xl-pipeline

This entry includes updated data from my January posting, some new data points and comments regarding shifting market dynamics and relevant industry news that may have gone unnoticed by the public.

Relevant data from the EIA.org web site :

Domestic Production: In 01.01, domestic oil production was 5.9m bpd (barrels per day). In 01.09 production had fallen to 5.2m bpd. The latest EIA data shows that

production has risen 11% from 01.09 to 5.8m bpd.

Oil rig data from Baker Hughes, an oilfield servicer who tracks industry trends, shows a 29% increase in the number of rigs in the last 3 years.

Petroleum Imports: In 01.01, the

U.S.

imported 11.6m bpd. By 01.09 that amount posted a 13% increase to 13.2m bpd. The latest report EIA shows petroleum imports were running at a rate of 11.2m bpd, a 15 % reduction since President Obama took office.

Product Supplied: (Demand)

The combination of the economic slowdown and improved energy efficiency has energy demand at levels not seen since 1999. The latest product supplied figures show current usage is off about 17% from the 2008 high.

Petroleum Inventory Levels:

Gasoline inventories are tracking on the high end of their 5 year average.

Petroleum Exports: In 01.01, the U.S. exported approximately 1m bpd of petroleum products. By 01.09 exports had increased 48% to 1.5n bpd. By 2012 exports had more than doubled and the latest 4 week average was 3.2m bpd. In 07.11 the US became a net exporter of gasoline fuels. HuffingtonPost reports that at the end of 2011 energy products were the leading export of the

United States

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/31/united-states-gas-export_n_1177559.html

Taking a myopic United States centric view, one would think that US prices should be well contained. And it seems that many in the

ignore the rest of the world when it comes to energy pricing. Referring back to the US export chart, you can see that there is demand for “our” energy.

With US production increasing and demand falling, WTI prices are about 25% below the record highs set in the summer of 2008. Gasoline, on the other hand, is running about 15% below the summer of 08 prices. What is the disconnect between the pricing of “oil” and gasoline?

In the past West Texas WTI crude has been used as the world’s benchmark for oil prices and the prices of WTI and brent have closely tracked one another. but over the last few years logistical problems at the Cushing, Ok delivery point have crimped the accessibility to the oil to the marketplace and has limited the use of WTI as an accurate price indicator. This can be seen when viewing futures trading activity of the different contracts. In January ’11 10,681,994 Brent contracts trade on the ICE exchange and 17, 948,417 WTI contracts traded on the NYMEX platform. This January brent trading on the ICE increased by 7% to 11,208,911 while WTI trading fell by 30%, to 12,557,020.

As you can see the price moves in gasoline are closely following brent oil.

A couple of other facts to bear in mind: Most exports of US petroleum products flow from oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico where they end up in Mexico and Latin American countries like Ecuadoor (an OPEC member!)

Because various East Coast refineries have been idled, much of the gasoline needed on the Eastern Seaboard is imported from Europe.

More than 50% of US energy demand is met by domestic production.

Almost one half of what we do import comes from within the Western Hemisphere. Less than 20% comes from the Persian Gulf

Some other notable news items that you probably haven't heard in the media:

The US government sold leases for more than one million acres offshore Texas
The US and Mexico signed a treaty that makes 1.5 million acres of the US Continental shelf more accessible.
The US will offer 38 million acres for lease in an area that shows great promise.

(source http://www.platts.com/BlogDetails/oilblog of February 24, 2012

As you can see, President Obama does have an "oil" agenda. The only thing we could do differently would be to nationalize the petroleum industry and prohibit oil companies from selling their product on the "free market'. Hey that sounds like Socialism or something