Berman's Bits Blog

Remember Me?

2011-10-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how time flies when one is having a good time, and I have been having a good time... just elsewhere. I compile a weekly column on the web (www.bermansbits.com), an every-other-week print column (www.northcountrynewsnh.com [p.4]), and have a Berman's Bits Facebook page, which you are welcomed to look up, follow, and like. As a result, I haven't been here for months. Much of what would show up here shows up in one of the other aforementioned places but usually more abbreviated. Taking up other time is researching colleges for my daughter, doing battle with a financial company, various paperwork demands, power napping, and the minutia of everyday life.

For now, check out the other sites. There's a lot to say, but not here right now. Thanks for reading.

Later.

It Wasn't Bill Gates!

2011-03-01T04:04:00.000-08:00

Worth a read (or reread).

Usually the email states: "Bill Gates (or another person of note) recently gave a speech at a high school about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept sets them up for failure in the real world." The statements below, in fact, come from Charles J. Sykes and were printed in the San Diego Union Tribune on September 19, 1996 and in a number of other publications since then. Sykes is the author of "Dumbing Down Our Kids", "50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School", and several other books.

Sharp readers will note that the supposed list of 11 things below contains 14 statements (or so). It is possible that every time the list passed through someone else, a tweak occurred.

These days, as I scan through the posts of my FFF's on Facebook which have appeared since the last time I checked, I remember thinking about the kids I had in class who knew they knew everything showing how little they truly knew. I would think to myself, "Your future will be your punishment." Based on the oh, so screwed up lives they are still living, I was right. The drama exudes from their posts, and these kids (still children but in large bodies) are in the same place they were when in high school. Karma? Payback? Either way, they didn't learn then, and they still haven't. Too bad, so sad... except we are paying for it on many levels.

Some rules kids won't learn in school
Text By Charles J. Sykes

Unfortunately, there are some things that children should be learning in school, but don't. Not all of them have to do with academics. As a modest back-to-school offering, here are some basic rules that may not have found their way into the standard curriculum.

Rule No. 1: Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teen-ager uses the phrase, "It's not fair" 8.6 times a day. You got it from your parents, who said it so often you decided they must be the most idealistic generation ever. When they started hearing it from their own kids, they realized Rule No. 1.

Rule No. 2: The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as much as your school does. It'll expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself. This may come as a shock. Usually, when inflated self-esteem meets reality, kids complain it's not fair. (See Rule No. 1)

Rule No. 3: Sorry, you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a Gap label.

Rule No. 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'til you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier. When you screw up, he's not going to ask you how you feel about it.

Rule No. 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grand-parents had a different word of burger flipping. They called it opportunity. They weren't embarrassed making minimum wage either. They would have been embarrassed to sit around talking about Kurt Cobain all weekend.

Rule No. 6: It's not your parents' fault. If you screw up, you are responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life," and "You're not the boss of me," and other eloquent proclamations of your generation. When you turn 18, it's on your dime. Don't whine about it, or you'll sound like a baby boomer.

Rule No. 7: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your bedroom.

Rule No. 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers. Life hasn't. In some schools, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. Failing grades have been abolished and class valedictorians scrapped, lest anyone's feelings be hurt. Effort is as important as results. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life. (See Rule No. 1, Rule No. 2 and Rule No. 4)

Rule No. 9: Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. Not even Easter break. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And you don't get a new life every 10 weeks. It just goes on and on. While we're at it, very few jobs are interesting in fostering your self-expression or helping you find yourself. Fewer still lead to self-realization. (See Rule No. 1 and Rule No. 2.)

Rule No. 10: Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs. Your friends will not be as perky or pliable as Jennifer Aniston.

Rule No. 11: Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them. We all could.

Rule No. 12: Smoking does not make you look cool. It makes you look moronic. Next time you're out cruising, watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's what you look like to anyone over 20. Ditto for "expressing yourself" with purple hair and/or pierced body parts.

Rule No. 13: You are not immortal. (See Rule No. 12.) If you are under the impression that living fast, dying young and leaving a beautiful corpse is romantic, you obviously haven't seen one of your peers at room temperature lately.

Rule No. 14: Enjoy this while you can. Sure parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now.

Rule No. 15: You don't get stupid in high school. (Added by yours truly)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho....

2011-01-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

I guess it's about that time - I promised myself that after the first of they year, I would look for a part-time job. The reasons are complex, but the short of it is (1) my health insurance went up $200 a month (bringing my share to $1100 a month), which effectively cuts my retirement "income" in half, and (2) my daughter got a car, and I got the payment. As her current job is to help reduce barn fees for her horse, besides the payment, I also have to kick in for gas and insurance. I also could use some structure in my life.

In a way, teaching spoiled me. While I often described teaching as jumping on a treadmill and not slowing down until it was over, I feel I was still organized enough to get 'stuff' done. Now, with all kinds of time, I often find it difficult to get motivated.

So, what am I looking for? I don't have a clue. I can probably list hundreds of things I don't want (including public school education), but I really don't know what I do want. I can offer a few guidelines. First, I would like something that doesn't have to replace me if I'm sick or unable to make it in. It was often more trouble to stay out than go in if I was sick when teaching. We had to send in lesson plans that sometimes actually got done (I heard that sometimes the sub nodded off). The subs meant well, but they couldn't know what was on my mind or needed to be passed along.

I would like a positive, collegial atmosphere - not a place that is run by fear and intimidation. I am comfortable working in a people-oriented atmosphere (as opposed to working with things or numbers). I am pretty good with the spoken and written word and am friendly and outgoing. I know I am not a corporate type!

Two possibilities are (1) a personal speech or writing coach (or editor, but I am not sure the demand exists), and (2) a PLC (Personal Life Counselor). That second one has some real possibilities. As one who currently spends too much time on FaceBook, I see a real need for such a calling. There are so many little children in grown-up bodies who don't have a clue about what it means to be a responsible adult. They need the wisdom and guidance they never received growing up - really. They let Life happen to them and have no control to make anything otherwise. As I just posted as a FB status: "God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest." J.G. Holland. So many have learned not to do anything because The System will give them what they need (and sometimes want). Not to be crude, they have mastered the art of sucking the public teat.

Usually people are wild in and just after their high school years, but sooner or later, they are supposed to grow up instead of continually being immersed in their "daily drama!" There are so many I feel I could help guide along. No, I am not a miracle worker, but I could help so many make their lives better.

It's late enough that I have to close for now. I will either add more later or edit this. Thanks for reading.

The Golden Rule and Scams

2010-09-09T05:27:00.000-07:00

The Golden Rule: "Them that's got the gold make the rules."

Over my many years, I have gone to concerts to see such performers as The Mamas and the Papas, The Association, Jim Morrison and The Doors, Three Dog Night, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, and so on. With the passing of the torch, my daughter recently let me know she wanted to go to a concert in Cambridge, MA, at a place called The Middle East Restaurant & Nightclub.

Trying to be a good father and earn some well-needed Father Points, I checked the website and found that members of the group's fan club could purchase advance tickets for $52 each (the price included some extra "stuff"). For the rest of us, advance tickets costing $17.50 each would go on sale at 10 AM that next Saturday; I only wanted two. Thinking I was a "savvy" consumer, I pre-entered my consumer information and sat in front of my computer waiting for 10 AM to arrive. At the right moment, I began refreshing my screen to be among the first to purchase tickets. In less than a second, a new screen appeared stating "Online Tix Have Sold Out." I did everything right, but I didn't stand a chance.

Massachusetts law does say basically that it is illegal to sell tickets at more than two dollars above face price, but that has been ignored and laughed at for years. Almost immediately, the tickets I tried to get for $17.50 showed up on reseller sites at prices ranging from about $80 to $160 each (as of this writing, I found some online for $95 to $270 each. I don't know if they are all the same, but the first one I looked at also added a "service charge" of an additional 18.5 percent). Does anyone else see something very wrong with this picture? How do these people sleep at night (probably very peacefully)? These are the same people who show up after a disaster and sell water for $10 a bottle and a flashlight for $100 because they can.

The short of it is that my daughter won't be seeing the group, and in spite of my best efforts, I didn't stand a chance. I looked up "collusion" ('a secret agreement between two or more parties for a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose') which seems to be what's going on, but it doesn't seem to be very secret. Anyone up for a class-action suit? Anyone?

Trade-offs

2010-08-04T10:59:00.000-07:00

Some 37 years ago (or so), my brother asked me what it was like living in rural New Hampshire. I summed up my existence by saying that if I wanted to buy a sweater, I could. If I wanted a long-sleeve navy v-neck, I probably have to order it from a catalog. Fast forward to today - some things are slow to change. (I do have to say, however, the Internet changes everything.)

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been to three hardware stores, one car dealer, and talked to a locksmith (who didn't follow-up on and return my call), and I am still without a spare key for my daughter's car. The good news is that there is a dealer who can help me; the bad, the dealer's an hour away - Road Trip!

Every so often, some need surfaces that reminds me I am still in rural NH, which isn't a bad thing - there are just trade-offs. Within ten miles, there is a Walmart and good sized supermarket. I take refuse weekly to the Transfer Station, which is fairly close. I have high-speed Internet and cable TV with 59 channels (of which I can actually get 57). Of those 57, there are perhaps 12 I like and actually watch.When I lived in and around Boston, I could eat out 24-hours a day. Here, the sidewalks are pulled in early.

On the plus side, I have been literally two feet away from various Presidential candidates. It is said if you haven't been, it's by choice. The good days are the best anywhere. The winters can be trying, but it's part of the package. We had one winter when day and night for three weeks, the temperature never went above zero. One winter we hit about 45 degrees below zero, and there have been winters with nothing more than a dusting of confectioners sugar snow. One Mother's Day, we had two feet of snow - it was gone the next day.

Many people are also among the best. In time of need, they can't do enough. I am lucky to be here.

There's much more, but I'm saving that for the book I'm working on.

Paying it Forward

2010-07-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

I guess "Pay it forward" means to pass along a good deed. I briefly met a couple yesterday who embody the concept, and I will pay forward their deed as I am able.

I officiated a wedding yesterday in Pawtuckaway State Park, a venue to which I had never been. The bride sent along directions, which I gratefully accepted. As I always try to be early, I left plenty of time to find the place. The short of it is, I sensed something wasn't right, but I did follow the directions correctly. At one point, after going back and forth a couple of times, I saw a man and his wife in their driveway. He raised his have and motioned me over. When I told him what my problem was, he went into his garage and brought back a sheet of directions he had previously printed out. The directions from the Internet were way off, and I guess he and his wife knew they'd be seeing many people. There must have been so many driving up and down his road, that he and his wife printed out numerous sheets to hand out to lost travelers. What a nice thing to do for strangers.

If anyone knows someone who knows someone who may know the couple, please extend my sincere thanks and let them know I will pay it forward.

Two Words

2010-06-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

In a recent column (www.bermansbits.com), I dropped in a personal quote along with others from some truly great names (Twain, Hayes, Carver, Reagan, Hoffer, and Badger). Quotes to me are among the ultimate literary forms because they say things so perfectly and precisely. When I was younger I used to think that if I could write like anyone, it would be John Steinbeck - he said things the way I would if I could, kind of like quotes.

Anyhow, in thinking about it and letting it percolate a bit, I realized the quote is something I truly believe in and is a quote that deserves to be shared with everyone in the world. EVERYONE! From someone on welfare to the average work-a-day person to those who inhabit the halls of the great palaces, hearing, understanding, and acting on the quote would change everything (it is that profound). No matter one's age, sex, nationality, political belief, personal credo, etc., the entire world would change for the better (except for those who don't follow it, which in turn would ultimately keep us just where we are).

The quote: “Two words that would truly make all the difference in today’s world: ‘Play fair.’” I mean, can you start to imagine what would happen if everyone simply played fair? From world leaders to businesspeople to politicians to bosses and workers, if everyone simply played fair everything would change. The search term "government fraud" brought me a quick 77 million returns. The government alone has wasted billions and billions of our dollars by not playing fair. Over the past couple of years, the word billion, which was once so hard to even speak, has been replaced by trillion, with no 'hope' or 'change' in sight.

I do have a solution: Play fair!

Mother Earth - It's Time!

2010-06-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

During the years I taught a course in Science Fiction, one allegorical story was probably my favorite. It was called "The Wound" and was written by Howard Fast. I hate spoilers, but as the story is hard to find and you probably won't read it, I'll tell you something about it. It had to do with drilling for oil deeper than ever before and setting off an underground atomic bomb to aid the process. When the deed is finally done after some protests, "they" get a gusher all right, but it turns out it's not oil but blood - great symbolism!

One point of the story is we can't irresponsibly just keep taking and taking from the Earth - there really is only so much she can give us and will until she can't anymore. I am not a full-fledged tree hugger, but I do like to hold hands (limbs). I understand responsibility. Big Business is driven with the cry, "More! MORE! NOW!" as are many consumers. There is apparently little or no thought about outcomes or the future.

Good Science Fiction extrapolates - examines and presents possible outcomes if nothing changes along the way. Not everyone is smart enough or concerned enough to see that we need to think more about what's happening and the possible consequences of our actions.

I thought about this in light of the BP disaster. Maybe you can think about it too.

Tim'rous Beastie

2010-05-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

As of this writing, there are still four kittens and two mother cats living on the porch. The day after the first kitten was placed in a good home and picked up, I went out in the morning, and there was the body of what I surmise to be a vole waiting for me. I went back inside to get gloves and paper towels to remove the creature, did a couple of other things, and went back out. The carcass was gone.

What got me thinking was why it was there in the first place. While I know our barn is an attractive birthing suite to cats, I doubt the step was an attractive place to end one's life; the vole didn't climb the step and expire; no, it had help. Knowing cats as I do, I know it was a cat that left it there for us. I think there are a couple of possibilities why. First, it could have been an offering, a thanks for finding a good home for the first kitten and an investment to assure we will do the same for the other three. Of course, I could be wrong and there is another possibility. It could be a warning that says, "Touch one of us again, and you could be next. This could happen to you!"

I like to think I know something about cats, but not that much.

Two Wrongs...

2010-05-13T03:59:00.001-07:00

"The relationship between President Obama and Afghan President Karzai has had its difficulties -- most recently exacerbated by Karzai saying continued pressure from the west to reform might lead him to join the Taliban. As evidenced by the red-carpet roll-out to Karzai this week, administration officials have clearly decided to change their attitude towards Karzai and are focusing more on carrot than stick." (ABC News 5/13/10) In other words, kiss his what?

You know what? Let him join the Taliban - every nation has the government it deserves (even the US. We elect those we do so the rich can keep getting richer and the rest of us be damned - do you think it matters one iota who gets in?). Let us pull out, return our troops to where they belong (here), and get on with things. We are dealing with civilizations that were around long before democracy (and will be around long after, the way we are going), and never the twain shall meet. If and when they are ready to change, let it come from them - we can't occupy and expect positive change.

We are again supporting a government rife with corruption (birds of a feather?). I am reaching the point where I may do something I have never done - not vote! I am sick and tired of feeling I have to pick the "better" of two lessers. In the last couple of elections, I found myself voting against someone rather than for someone. Maybe it's the nature of the beast, but as we keep electing "politicians," we are getting worse and worse off. Remember the old saying, "What if they gave a war and nobody came?" Maybe by not voting someone may sit up and take notice - but not if I am the only one. What would happen if people stayed away from the polls en masse? Remember the other saying, "If you don't vote, don't complain." Well, maybe that's been wrong all along! It seems to me that no matter who is elected, those who are owed (by those they own?) will get their due (many [most?] corporations donate to both candidates to hedge their bets). The rest of us? "So on we worked and waited for the light, And went without the meat and cursed the bread...."

Feh!

Go to snopes to verify

2010-05-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

I received the following e-mail, the content of which isn't at all important. What is important is the last line. I received this from a right-wing type who forwards anything that is anti-Obama and/or anti-liberal. It doesn't matter if there is not a shred of truth in it or how ridiculous it is - if it's anti-Obama/liberals, it gets forwarded.

There are actually about five or six people who do the same thing. Either these are people who do not think or question anything or they know the big lie technique in propaganda and are living it (tell a lie big enough and often enough, and people start to believe it). Whenever one of their e-mails says check it at snopes, I do! I'd say ninety percent are false, but these people don't care. I still glance at every e-mail I receive, but if it is from this group of people, as soon as I see it's political, I delete it. Trust me, I am no Obama cheerleader, but fair is fair.

No wonder the country is so messed!
------------------------------------------------------

"Please take a moment to read this and share with others

It could save a life.....

> THE RECENT TRAGEDY OF A YOUNG WOMAN BEING KIDNAPPED AND
> EVENTUALLY KILLED; AFTER SHE HAD REPEATEDLY GIVEN THE
> KIDNAPPER A WRONG PIN TO HER ATM CARD . IF SHE KNEW THE
> METHOD BELOW, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED. SO I THINK IT IS
> IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO LET YOU KNOW. HERE YOU GO.
>
> IF YOU SHOULD EVER BE FORCED BY A ROBBER TO WITHDRAW MONEY
> FROM AN ATM MACHINE , YOU CAN NOTIFY THE POLICE BY ENTERING
> YOUR PIN # IN REVERSE. FOR EXAMPLE IF YOUR PIN NUMBER IS
> 1234 THEN YOU WOULD PUT IN 4321. THE ATM RECOGNIZES THAT
> YOUR PIN NUMBER IS BACKWARDS FROM THE ATM CARD YOU PLACED IN
> THE MACHINE. THE MACHINE WILL STILL GIVE YOU THE MONEY YOU
> REQUESTED, BUT UNKNOWN TO
> THE ROBBER, THE POLICE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DISPATCHED TO
> HELP YOU.
>
> THIS INFORMATION WAS RECENTLY BROADCASTED ON FOX TV AND IT
> STATES THAT IT IS SELDOM USED BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT
> EXISTS.
>
> PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG!!!
> You can go on Snopes.com to verify."

Mission Accomplished

2010-04-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

I was never a cat person growing up; we always had dogs, even if the first was a Pomeranian-Spitz cross named Pudgy. Along the way, there were German Shepherds, Chinese Shar-Pei, Golden Retrievers, and a Doberman or two.

I had always been blissfully neutral toward cats until one fateful Halloween when I went across the street to our neighbors' house to show off my spiffy new sateen costume, the kind thatyou step into and ties in the back. The short of it is that when I sat on this lady's couch, at the same time, I also sat in a fresh pile of kitten, uh, leavings. There might have been an issue with a claw or two as well, but that afternoon pretty well cemented my opinion of cats!

Fast forward to somewhere about seventeen years ago (my wife knows time things like that) two kittens showed up in our barn. One got placed and the other stayed with us. Her name was Ayla, named, of course, after the character from The Clan of the Cave Bear. My wife had previously arrived with two cats, and I pretty much endured them, but this one was new - a kitten.

Although she said she doesn't remember, my wife told me that according to her reading in the cat Warrior series there are cats whose mission in life is to convince non-believers that cats are really okay. I suspect that was Ayla's job. For years, as soon as I sat down, she was on my lap, and as soon as she was on my lap, she ended up on the floor. That was our relationship. She never came into the bedroom because she couldn't just lie down - no, she'd have to walk and stick her face onto ours, which made it difficult to sleep.

A couple of years ago, more cats started showing up in and around our horse barn. Apparently our barn is an attractive birthing suite for felines. We somehow ended up with two new kittens about a year apart. Ayla must have decided I needed to be her friend, because she never gave up and redoubled her attempts to climb on me. Since she had no patience for the other new cats (but for some reason did have patience with me), I started letting her stay. It wasn't so bad. As a matter of fact, I have reached the point where I have fallen asleep in the recliner with three (count 'em) cats plopped down on me.

Without going into details, today was the day I had to say "Goodbye" to Ayla. A couple of weeks ago, she suddenly began losing weight and becoming lethargic. Perhaps I should have acted earlier, but it all seemed to happen so fast. We spent the morning today with her in my lap watching some TV and then we went for a ride. After a stop at the vet's, I came home alone. Already, there are the empty spaces around my desk and the house where I expect to see her. There's no jingle of the bell she wore.

With people I know recently having lost fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters, I know she was "just a cat," but she was nonetheless an important part of my life. I think I cried more for her than I did for Scarlett the Doberman who served as a major anchor in my life for fourteen years.

Anyhow, goodbye Ayla, and enjoy your rest - you earned it.

And, by the way, Mission Accomplished!

CENSORED!

2010-04-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

Sent to me by my friend Mardean:

Phillip Pullman commenting of the "offensiveness" of his book The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (and what he says goes way further)....

"It was a shocking thing to say and I knew it was a shocking thing to say. But no one has the right to live without being shocked. No one has the right to spend their life without being offended. Nobody has to read this book. Nobody has to pick it up. Nobody has to open it. And if you open it and read it, you don't have to like it. And if you read it and you dislike it, you don't have to remain silent about it. You can write to me, you can complain about it, you can write to the publisher, you can write to the papers, you can write your own book. You can do all those things, but there your rights stop. No one has the right to stop me writing this book. No one has the right to stop it being published, or bought, or sold or read. That's all I have to say on that subject."

And that's all I have to say....

A New Appreciation

2010-04-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Last night, for the first time, I watched "Undercover Boss," a show in which a company's big boss goes undercover to work in the trenches and learn what life is like at the bottom (figure of speech especially considering the episode featured the Chief Operating Officer of Roto-Rooter).

As the show unfolded, Rick (posing as Hank) did various jobs and got to know some of the front-line workers. At the end, he called the workers in, introduced himself, thanked them, and helped them with personal things he learned about that were happening (someone with medical issues; someone else behind on her mortgage; etc.). It's one of those feel-good, get all misty at the end shows. Even Rick lost if a few times.

Today I happened to stop by a fast-food store, and I looked at the employees in a new light. They may not realize it, but they are on the front line and fully represent that company to the public. If the company hires some SFB (don't ask if you don't know), one bad experience may set the customer against that company for life. I don't know how someone found out, but it has been said that if you like or love a company, you will tell six people. If you hate it or have a bad experience, you tell 75.

Anyhow, to the workers, keep your heads up and be proud of what you do. You are far more important than you know. Be the best (whatever) you can.

To the customers, respect these folks putting in all that time to sometimes just get by (and today, sometimes not even that). We all have bad days, but sometimes we have to pretend not.

2010-03-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

He's Baaack!

As of Friday (March 5th), a new column of mine ("Berman's Bits") will be appearing in The North Country News, an every-other-week publication well worth picking up or reading online if you are not in the NH area (http://www.northcountrynewsnh.com). I am excited about appearing in actual print once again and will do my best to entertain you and yours. Woo-hoo!

The Black or White Fallacy

2010-01-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

There seems to be quite a bit of ink (actual and virtual) being spread around about the upcoming election in Massachusetts to fill the late Senator Kennedy's seat. As news and opinion (haven't they really become the same?) are reaching a fever pitch, it seems most appropriate to mention something called the Black or White Fallacy. The fallacy simply presents something in an Either/Or format pretending those are the only two choices when if fact, there are many shades of gray in-between.

After eight years of Bush-Lite bringing us to the brink (of what I am not sure), the country decided we had had enough and it was time to pull back, that Hope and Change were needed, so Obama was elected. The vast majority of the electorate had spoken saying they Hope for Change, but I don't see much of either.

Well, a year into the new President's term (a year is a year), I have pretty much lost hope for positive change. I feel like we are being nudged (shoved) closer to the edge, and we are starting to teeter with arms waving to stave off our fall just a moment longer... and that gets me to the point of this entry - Democrat or Republican... they're really all the same - they're all POLITICIANS! We accept TWO choices only. We are made to feel we are wasting a vote if we leave the well-worn path and vote for someone who really may be different (Ron Paul, Mike Gravel, Harry Browne).

If I run for office, do I have a snowball's chance? I may have some ideas that may appeal to some people, but I am not a recognized POLITICIAN (which should actually be a good thing. I have no one to answer to or "take care of" except the People! I am not a black or white - I am a gray that most people won't even acknowledge exists. I am an outsider, and the only way for me to even make a blip on the radar is to have one person tell two people who will tell two people, etc. If that happens just 30 times and everyone spoken to votes for me, I would receive 1,073,741,824 votes, which is something like 3.5 times the population of the United States! My ideas are at: http://www.bermansbits.com/politics.html. You don't have to like them, but at least compare them to what else is out there now

To vote for the lesser of two evils is still to vote for evil, and that's what we have to choose from... time after time after time....

Moving the Money

2010-01-12T05:04:00.000-08:00

$$$$$ to $$$$$

Okay, I have a new cause. Since Washington is not capable of bringing about any real change to watch out for "we the people" (they have too many special interests to watch out for), it has to fall "to the people." There is a current movement called "Move Your Money" (check out: http://moveyourmoney.info/). Can one person make a real difference? It would be like a gnat on an elephant. How about a million gnats? They could be like the straw that broke the camel's back. I see this movement the same way. When we have banks too big to fail, something's wrong when people are failing. It's called Wall Street vs. Main Street. As long as things remain the way they are, guess who's going to come out on top....

I have two major credit cards. With my good credit, one is charging me 25.24 percent - that is usury (defined as "The practice of lending money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate." That's my "reward" for mainting a good rating and being responsible? I don't think so!

I am going to check out my local credit union, which appears to have a rate of 9.9 percent. That's a bit more reasonable! I am one person, but if millions of "one persons" moved their money, that would be noticed and felt. One drop of water may be insignificant, but millions can start a flood.

Let it begin.

(Edit) I did apply for and should receive a new credit card with a rate of 9.9 percent! That’s a lot better than 25+ percent. Not all will qualify, but the money stays local.

The More You Hear...

2009-12-24T17:14:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week there was a news story about a Vermont church that was going to sell its most prized possession - a Tiffany stained glass window - so it could keep its homeless shelter open. Once the story was aired by ABC Evening news, contributions began to pour in to help. I don't know as of this writing if the goal of keeping the window and helping those in need was met, but it seemed the church was well on its way.

Tonight on the news was a story of a Wisconsin man whose wife was undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. He wasn't there to accompany and support her because he had lost his job and to continue insurance coverage, he joined the army... at age 39! I wonder how that story will play out. Once the public hears of something and there is publicity, often there is often an outcry and a favorable outcome. There are many such examples.

Finally, what we don't hear or see on the news is how many of our brave soldiers are being injured or killed in two wars somewhere else. It's not easy finding accurate numbers of those wounded or killed. During the Vietnam Conflict, there was a daily announcement of numbers with film at 11. There's been quite a blanket of silence these days, these months, these years about Iraq and Afghanistan. Every so often, there is an inspiring news story about a veteran who has overcome his (usually) adversity. He had been a strapping 6'4" 225 pounder who lost both legs and almost his life. The focus was on his turnaround. The story concludes: "'Whatever the Army decides I can do best, I will do it,' Karcher said. 'The moment they give me a job that I look at as charity, I'll walk away from it. As long as I'm still making a contribution, serving soldiers, I'll stick with it until I die.' For now, he looks forward to seeing the soldiers he commanded return from Iraq. Lt. Colonel Tim Karcher is determined to stand and greet them when they arrive." A truly touching story!

That last story is an example of making lemonade out of lemons. Tim Karcher is one of the inspiring success stories that make us all proud.

BUT, we need to hear more, much more about all the others. Maybe we should re-read and think about Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est...."

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.

GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.*

*It is sweet and honorable to die for one's country.

There may be "good" wars. These are not.

More on Christmas!

2009-12-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to my first-ever gospel concert. The featured main act was The Praise Brothers (http://www.americangospel.com/praisebrothers/index.asp). Opening the evening for them and joining in along the way was Brother Rick Clogston (http://www.blogger.com/profile/11221078603492597383).

The evening for me and the small group that attended was enchanting and truly delightful! I left impressed with the commitment and belief these musicians share as well as the basic message. As there was little for me to do but listen and enjoy the music, I did have lots of time to think and reflect on the words, something that is missing in too many people these days. In my last blog entry, I mused on the meaning of the Christmas season. After last night's concert, I'd like to go further.

The concert was presented by the Plymouth (NH) Lions Club and served a two-fold purpose. First was purely an evening of truly inspirational entertainment. Also, we wanted to introduce who the Lions are and what we do. We have been called "New Hampshire's best-kept secret. We quietly help others and don't toot our own horns, which is why not everyone has even heard of the Lions.

(Sudden switch of topic) When today's paper arrived, it was chock full of ads for Christmas gifts - one ad was kind enough to list the "must-have gifts" while most of the others touted the newest, hottest items - at least that's what the ads say, and people must feel better than others when they get the newest latests (I mean, isn't that why people will fight over items?). You often guess at something someone wants, and maybe they do. If not, you have at least fulfilled the gift-giving obligation, which is what the Christmas season is all about, right?

WRONG! Without wanting to insult anyone, there really are a lot of stupid toys and waste-of-money gifts, yet year after year people keep repeating the same behaviors. I would like to propose something new: how would you like to give someone the gift of sight? If you are reading this, you take your sight for granted. A gift to the Lions Club will buy someone an eye examination and a pair of glasses or help with the purchase of a hearing aid. Unlike most other charities, with the Lions, a full 100 percent of money raised from the public goes back to the public.

Give a gift this year that really matters and makes a difference. Consider supporting your local Lions Club or sending along a gift in someone's name to The Plymouth Lions Club, PO Box 1821, Plymouth NH 03264. Whatever you send is not something that will be used for a few minutes and then tossed aside. It will change someone's life.

Remember the true message of the season.

Merry Christmas to All!

2009-12-10T06:15:00.000-08:00

It's almost that time again - the time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Actually, maybe I should say, Merry Christmahanukwanzaakah" so I cover most bases and no one feels left out.

Regardless, I got thinking (as many others have) about what Christmas really means (or should mean). When I hear stories of people camping out all night in all kinds of weather to be among the first to get into a store to buy the newest, latest, hottest gifts, and people getting trampled and injured in the rush ("I want mine!"), it's a wonder so few see and understand what's really happening. So few people step back and ask what's really going on. As Trung Bui wrote online: "It's that time of year again. When the shopkeepers groan, the mom and dads moan, and the kids scream their little lungs out for you to comply with their demands. It's Christmas. The time of the year that has ranged in so many meanings that it seems like people just make their own stuff up as they go. Over the years, traditions included crying, yelling, apologizing, and probably falling over dead drunk after making a regrettable mistake with your friend's girlfriend." Woo-hoo!

Christmas is supposed to celebrate the birth of Christ. Trung Bui goes on to add: "For a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, people sure do show it in a rather strange way, what with the sales, the constant red and green shoved into my retinas, and about ten thousand shows dedicated to the events leading up to that single day that a baby who was the son of God was immaculately conceived by a lowly girl named Mary. OK...I guess I can get behind that, but what's the deal with the fat guy in the red suit with this list of EVERY single kid in the world? Also, can someone please explain to me why there's a rabbit hiding painted eggs when Jesus is resurrected?"

I used to feel a deep sense of inner peace as people walked around smiling, thoughtfully shopping, and saying a sincere hello to each other and quietly and sincerely wishing all they met a Merry Christmas. The buzz words used to be "Peace on Earth" and" Goodwill to Men" (meaning not just men but all people, of course). Now, everything's changed and I miss those old feelings about the way it was. People are stressed today and hurrying everywhere. Others have said it, and I say it here: Let's get back to understanding and acting appropriately about the real meaning of Christmas. If I can understand that, you should be able to as well.

And I'm not even a Christian.

B.A.!

2009-12-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

To me, it's "B.A." Those of you who were aficionados of "The A-Team" will understand the reference. B. A. Baracus was the character the kitten was named after; given the kitten's attitude, it was a good choice if I say so myself.

Unfortunately, my wife didn't quite see eye to eye with me and felt that "Barnabas" was a good choice (we both watched "Dark Shadows" earlier in our lives). As in any good relationship, we compromised - I mean, it's not like cats really know their names... although T. S Eliot might disagree. Anyhow, the compromise involved the name "Barnabas Atticus." The "Atticus," of course, was a tribute to perhaps the ultimate cinematic father-figure of all time - "Atticus Finch" from To Kill a Mockingbird (it also referred to the fact the kitten was found in the attic of our barn - gee, we're clever). That kept the B. A. You know, this is getting confusing. The final name we ended up with was "Barnabas."

It all should have ended there except for one small detail - Barnabas, it turns out, is a female. Surprise!
I suggested maybe "Barnabess," but that didn't carry the right sound.

As of today, it's still Barnabas (or "B. A.").

Just thought you'd like to know all that.

Now, tell me you still have trouble sleeping...

Here's Looking at You, Kid...

2009-11-14T17:48:00.001-08:00

It started last night. We had just left a play from my old high school, and I started to notice arcs of dark light in the corner of my vision when I shifted my eyes from side to side. Then this morning, I saw a couple of dark "floaters." They looked like small spiders hovering before me. I called my ophthalmologist's office to see if he has hours and if I should be looked at. He wasn't in, but he was set up for a few hours at the area Senior Center. I found him, he took a look, and told me to meet him at his office. He didn't have hours today, but I guess it was that important. He numbed my eye and took a look around inside. Turns out I am undergoing what's called a vitreous detachment, common for my age. He said by age 80, 80 percent of the population would have experienced such a detachment. He added that there was a 90 percent chance of no serious issues with me, but if he saw any tears in the back, it was laser surgery right then! Bottom line, while there was a little capillary bleeding, overall I was okay. He will check me regularly over the next several weeks to make sure things remain routine. No exercise or heavy lifting for me (as if I would) - I also shouldn't read the paper because of the rapid back and forth motion of my eyes. I can use the computer and read books, but I have to do so slowly. Ah, the joys of growing older.

It's that simple... really!

2009-11-13T04:56:00.000-08:00

Two thousand or so pages of a health care bill! These clowns in Washington are going about it all in the wrong way. I say we should work backward! The bill self-states it is "To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes" (those last four words are disturbing. They allow anything else to be slipped in, but that's another story).

If the folks in our nation's capitol just took the rest of the words and said, "Okay, this is what we want to create - affordable, quality health care. How do we get it?" we might just do okay with it. It's that simple... really. The way it is now, I believe they are saying, "How can we take care of big business first?"

Give the people affordable, quality health care! Is that too much to ask? I don't think so.

Wal-Mart Let Me Down

2009-11-10T17:39:00.000-08:00

ARRRGH!!!!!

It is not often that I get truly excited anymore. Maybe a month or two ago I read that Stephen King had a new novel on the horizon - it was supposed to hearken back to his earlier style of writing, which was what I really enjoyed. It was also his longest work to date (1,088 pages), even longer than the uncut The Stand. I love long books. The scheduled date of release was today, November 10th.

Meanwhile, along the way, Wal-Mart got into it with Amazon - a price war of sorts on some of the more popular book titles. The short of it is that King's book was selling in both places for just under $9! The companies hoped that people who bought one book would buy others. Wal-Mart made a big deal of being a place consumers could always count on for having the lowest price even if it was by a penny (the CEO himself said so in an interview I heard just a few days ago [at least I think that's who it was {and when}]).

Soooo, I thought about camping out by the Wal-Mart door this morning to be one of the first to get and start the book, but I had other things to do (like sleep [never quite enough]). Besides, I knew the store'd have plenty of copies, so I would still get one no matter when I got there. I had other errands to run, so I waited and got to the store around 11:00 AM. I took a deep breath and headed to the book rack... and there it was! Unfortunately, the price sticker was just under $24! I thought there was a mistake.

When I got home, I went online and found the price online at both Amazon and Wal-Mart had risen to $17.50. I didn't know the $9 price was for pre-order only! Arrrgh! There was no way I was going to spend $24 for a book, so when I went back to the store later in the day, I asked a manager if they matched their online price. "No." I tried to look pathetic, but it didn't work. If I wanted the book TODAY, I had to fork over $24. I have to admit that I thought about it.... I did end up buying a Lee Child paperback to hold me over.

When I got home, I did order it... from Amazon along with a couple of other books (free shipping). I gotta save a few bucks where I can.

I don't know if I should send Wal-mart HQ in Arkansas an e-mail or not. Usually all that happens is someone down there has the store manager up here call me, which I don't like (I am sure the manager doesn't like it either). However, the next time I get one of those surveys....

2009-11-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

Tonight I spent four hours watching a movie that was just under three hours (less if you count parts that might have been cut). "The Godfather" has to be one of the best movies ever! Virtually everything about it is great! It aired on AMC, which touts its philosophy of "story matters here."

Unfortunately, I was struck by a few things. First, I found myself really getting into the story and characters, but throughout the viewing experience were incessant commercial interruptions (hence the extra hour). I found myself thinking how much they hurt the flow of the story. When there weren't actual commercials, there was the constant network logo in the lower right hand corner of the screen and intrusive ads for the network's other shows in the lower left corner, which actually was big enough to cover several inches of the movie. I may be wrong, but I believe at one time the promise of paying for cable TV was no commercials - that by paying a premium for TV stations, commercials wouldn't be needed. Silly me.

I think everything became clear to me years ago during a basketball game I happened to have on (I don't watch basketball, so I am not sure of the circumstances - maybe it was the end of a game and I was waiting for the news). Anyhow, the thing I hate most about basketball is it often takes three hours to play the last two minutes, but that's another story. In one of the end zones (or whatever the area outside the end of the court is called), there was a long low box-like device that featured an ad for something or other. Then, right before my eyes, the ad slid up into the box and another ad appeared for something else! I don't know why that bothered me so much, but it did!

If I didn't know better, I'd say that TV shows are just filler between the ads, which are really what's important. When I was a local DJ (many years ago), in the weeks before Christmas the ad load picked up so much that I really wanted to say, "We'll be back with more ads right after this short musical break!" It was that bad.

On TV, group them if necessary, but leave the picture alone! Too much is too much!

xxx

Hey, we'll be back for more ranting right after this message: "Be sure to catch the latest edition of Berman's Bits, updated every Sunday, which can be found at www.bermansbits.com." (One thing I can promise you is there are no ads there.)

Shhh!

2009-11-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

Don't Ask! Certainly Don't Tell!

In my weekly column (not coming out until next week [so don't bother looking for it until after November 8th]), I have juxtaposed two Bits that deserve a closer look and a bit more comment! Denial is a powerful force and allows certain things to continue unabated. The two issues in question are (1) how broken our schools really are and (2) how broken our military really is. They are not broken to the extent that they have stopped functioning (they're close), but neither is functioning well or coming anywhere even close to their potential.

Both institutions produce some fine, more than competent people, but it that because of or in spite of the systems that are in place? Without going into excruciatingly boring details that cite numbers and statistics, trust me when I say the public doesn't have a clue. All so many people care about is their latest tattoos or piercings or which Brad Pitt haircut looks best.

Schools are producing workers barely capable of getting and keeping minimum wage jobs and the military is asking an overstretched body of people to deploy multiple times to fight and risk all in unpopular wars that existed long before we got involved and wars that will continue long after we finally realize much more than military might is needed and we finally disengage. The first (suggesting there may be more to follow) high-ranking US government official recently quit because he has "...lost understanding of and confidence in the strategic purposes of the United States' presence in Afghanistan" and has "... doubts and reservations about our current strategy and planned future strategy, but my resignation is based not upon how we are pursuing this war, but why and to what end." At least someone gets it, and if there is one, more will eventually follow.

The solution to return us to the status of producing the best and the brightest will only come when more of the current best and brightest stop following like sheep and admit there is a problem. Then, and only then, can we move forward.

The Things We Do For... PIZZA!

2009-10-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

PIZZA!

So, how far would you drive for pizza? When I finish here, I will twitter that I met a friend for pizza. That's plain enough, but I wouldn't be writing this if there weren't a story behind the story, and there is.

My friend who joined me rode his motorcycle through rain and snow flakes for over four hours to join me for a pizza in Lincoln, NH. He came down from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, to have pizza. That's 233 miles each way (approximately374.977 152 kilometers in Canadian measurement). We spent about an hour and a half eating and talking before he remounted his bike and headed back north as he wanted to be home before 6 PM (that's 6 PM in Canadian time). Fortunately, the weather for him was better on the way back than on the way down. He said he was coming down for pizza, and that's what he did.

One thing I hadn't factored in was the fact that there was foliage, which brought out the leaf peepers from all over - we saw license plates from Texas, Georgia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and, of course, Massachusetts (many of whom I was glad I saw before they ran into me). Once I saw and approached the exit (maybe 1/3-mile away), it took me longer to get off the highway and to the pizzeria (maybe a mile) than the whole rest of the trip getting there (it's usually about 35 or 40 minutes for me). Cars waiting to exit queued up in the breakdown lane as the stop light on the main street let through five or six cars at a time before changing. It reminded me a lot of heading to the Weirs during Motorcycle Week.

Anyhow, it was great to see him, and we may do it again before year's end. I think next time he'll drive his car and maybe stay a bit longer. Of course, if I ever get my special card that allows me to travel in and out of Canada, maybe one of these months I can try some Canadian food.

So tired, tired of wating...

2009-10-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

("Well, there you go again," spoken in a Ronald Reagan voice.)

("You often end up buying the salesperson not just the product!" spoken in a Dave Berman voice.)

So here I am having a house rehabbed, and as we are progressing, it's getting to be time for new appliances for the new kitchen. Whenever I have a sizable expenditure, I shop around a bit. In this case, I was looking for a refrigerator, stove and hood, and small under-counter dishwasher. About a month ago, I asked for and got bids from three area stores: Sears, Home Depot, and a place called Major Brands. All things considered, I decided on the latter. I had shopped there some years ago and vowed I'd never go back because of the amount of time I stood and waited without even being acknowledged, but that was years ago. This time, the store was empty and the saleslady came right over, spent time with me, helped me narrow, printed out spec sheets, etc. She won my business.

Well, when it was time to buy, I called and asked the saleslady if the information was still in the computer (it was) and if the products were readily available (she'd find out), so I said I'd be down in a couple of hours. I eventually got to the store (maybe 40 minutes away) and it was again empty... except for one couple talking to my saleslady, so I waited and looked around. After about five minutes, a man who had been on the phone asked if I needed any help (I am sure my friends will have some comment here). I said I had spoken to the lady before; he told me since I had already spoken to her, I should stick with her - she would just be a few more minutes. She wasn't. When she wasn't talking to the couple, instead of coming over to me to get the ball rolling, she went over to her computer and stood there concentrating on something there (probably was playing a Madden game). The couple kept coming back to her with more and more questions. After about fifteen minutes of standing there, I started getting edgy. When I had been waiting a full half hour, I finally gave up and walked out. I know, I know. She gives her customers (of the moment) her full attention. However, my time (and money) should be worth something. There wasn't even a look or an, "I'm sorry - I'll be with you as soon as I can." That might have tipped the scales and kept me there.)

Anyhow, I ended up checking out Lowe's on a whim. The store and salesman totally clicked with me! It all fell into place - quickly. I was (somewhat) happy to give them my money. They earned it!

Much ado over nothing? I don't know. Maybe. My brother always told me you need three things for a successful business: selection, price, and service but you can only have two of the three. Price is nice (especially these days), but I'll take the other two.

Oh, and by the way, I saved $400! Not too shabby! Not too shabby at all. Maybe I did get all three.

More Random Ramblings and Recurring Themes...

2009-09-03T04:32:00.000-07:00

*Last night, my wife called me outside to watch bats flitting about. Pretty neat especially considering all the insects they eat.

*Former "Manson Family" member Susan Atkins, who stabbed actress Sharon Tate to death more than 40 years ago and is now terminally ill with brain cancer, has been denied parole. Atkins was 21 when she and other followers of Charles Manson participated in a two-night rampage that left seven people dead in August 1969. This is in contrast to the compassionate release of the "man" who was convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988, killing all 259 people on the plane and 11 people on the ground below in Lockerbie, Scotland. The difference? There are allegations that a deal was made in the latter case involving OIL!

*Interesting debate I have been having online about Ted Kennedy. Is he to be defined solely by Chappaquiddick, or should people consider all else he did? In a posthumous memoir, Kennedy says his actions on Chappaquiddick on July 18, 1969, were "inexcusable." He says he was afraid and "made terrible decisions" and had to live with the guilt for more than four decades. Too bad he couldn't say so while he was alive.

* Federal prosecutors hit Pfizer Inc. with a record-breaking $2.3 billion in fines this week and called the world's largest drugmaker a repeating corporate cheat for illegal drug promotions that plied doctors with free golf, massages, and resort junkets. Terrible... but how is that any different from what happens with politicians and their special interest groups and lobbyists?

*Acting on our impulses. A Georgia man allegedly slapped a toddler at a Walmart store because she wouldn't stop crying, authorities said. The man was arrested and charged with first-degree cruelty to children. According to the arresting officer, the child's mother said her daughter was crying as they walked down one of the aisles. The mother said a stranger later identified as Stephens approached them and said, "If you don't shut the baby up, I will shut her up for you."

*This offereing is sounding a lot like my weekly column (www.bermansbits.com)

*About that "person" who kidnapped the 11-year-old girl and held her for 18 years.... In 1976, he kidnapped a woman and raped her in a specially created chamber in Nevada not unlike the backyard warren he set up for Dugard. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Yet, incredibly, a parole board set him free after just 11 years! Take the small criminals out of prison and keep those in who should be there!

*I have 58 available channels, and for the umpteenth time, this morning contained an hour in which there was nothing I wanted on in the background! There are two movies coming on at 8AM I have to choose between.

*Speaking of movies, I decided on "Something Beneath," a horror movie. I love a good horror movie and can watch almost anything. However, in the news over the past couple of days, there was a story and video I couldn't watch. Chicago-based Mercy for Animals says its undercover videotape at Hy-Line North America's hatchery in Spencer, Iowa, "exposes one of the industry's best-kept secrets — that the egg industry tears male chicks' bodies apart in grinding machines while they are still alive." According to Mercy for Animals, male chicks are of no use to the industry because they can't lay eggs and don't grow large or quickly enough to be raised profitably for meat. That results in the killing of 200 million male chicks a year. The full story and lots of interesting comments can be found at: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/09/01/eggs-hatchery-male-chicks-grinder-killed.html

*Later.

Random Ramblings and Recurring Themes....

2009-08-17T05:10:00.000-07:00

Any time we enjoy wasting is not wasted time! (Mafia Wars, Bejeweled Blitz, Chain Rxn)
The only James Bond to me is Sean Connery. Probably the one I least see as 007 is Roger Moore.
How much do drug manufacturers spend on TV and other advertising? What could drug prices be without all that advertising?
It's nice to be old enough to remember what good customer service is and should be, so when I don't get it, I can spend my money elsewhere. More people should and not adhere to blind obedience.
I think as a country the US has lost its way (or is at least off the path). I also think politics is too important to be left in the hands of the politicians. They owe too much to too many special interests. The philosophy should be People First.
I am going to miss "Monk," one of my favorite (yet sometimes irritating) characters.
One sign I am getting (or already am) old - I don't understand the lure of texting. I also can't understand why some people can't understand the concept of "Don't text and drive!"
I was a bit dismayed when I saw in these tough times that someone made a 1,224-pound triple vanilla cupcake with pink frosting to set a record as the world's largest - woo-hoo! Then I saw that slices of the cupcake were served in exchange for donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization. It's all good!
Boy, it's hazy, hot, and humid - it's an official heat wave, but it comes with the territory.
I am wondering if I should seriously run for office - I am disgusted with who we have for politicians. My basic credo would be to support what's best for the most people.
Comedy that is vulgar and in-your-face isn't comedy to me.
I wish I had been able to meet Jerry Orbach.
It's naive, but wouldn't it be nice if country A could say to Country B, "Look, we have something you need. You have something we need. Let's talk. We're all passengers on the spaceship Earth."
If you can count all your true, dear friends on your en fingers, you are doing very well (good food and good friends make me very wealthy indeed)!
I miss Peter Jennings and Elizabeth Vargas (and Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley). They don't make 'em like they used to (ABC's Charles G. and George S. are up there, though.)
I am getting closer to cleaning out my study area! (I've said that for years.)
That's it for now.

Ruh-roh, Raggy! We're in real trouble now!

2009-07-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

The following news article means trouble! The short of it is that students are now going to be graded on their ability to demonstrate certain skills and abilities (competencies) rather than just on a numerical average and their ability to take tests (or freeze up during them). The article below explains the details. Can you imagine that... students passing because they are competent! What a novel concept.

New Gilford (NH) grading system intended to raise the bar

By HARRISON HAAS
hhaas@citizen.com

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Students at Gilford (NH) High School will be graded a little differently than years past. Rather than being graded strictly on averages, every student will now need to demonstrate certain skills and abilities before receiving credit for classes (what a novel concept).

Earlier this year, GHS Principal Ken Wiswell approached both the Gilmanton and Gilford School Boards explaining the new grading that will start in the fall of the upcoming school year.

"What we're trying to do is tell the students this is important," said Wiswell at the June meeting. "It's not about just what [students] can produce and do while in the classroom."

Traditionally students in high school have been graded on a point scale and by the end of the year have an average with a letter grade corresponding with that number. With the new system, there is no overall average to be factored in, which will require all students to complete all items of work (another novel idea). Each subject will have a list of competencies, or list of skills and abilities, in which students will be given a number grade for each competency (we've written and rewritten them for years and years - no one ever really tested them). Students will be evaluated based on their ability is to perform a specific task, their work related skills in each subject along with behavior during classroom sessions. The average of those totals would then be taken and that would be the ending grade.

"There will be no more blowing off a test, having students say, 'If I fail this, I still pass the class'," Wiswell said. (Right, and if 30 percent don't make it under the new program, then what?)

Each department will have a list of standard abilities and skills, ranging from a list of three in basic courses and up to possibly six or seven in more advanced. GHS will be writing their own list of skills and abilities required for courses since every school is different (why? I still say we need a national Core Curriculum with local supplementation) that has this grading system, making each school write their own.

There are four different tiers mapped out in the mission competency rubric (buzz words), which explains the grading and what is expected of each student. The four tiers are similar to the state's standardized testing formats: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and below proficient (it sounds to me like only the top two tiers matter).

"Not asking students to have their hand up all day," said Wiswell. "We're going to evaluate students every two weeks." (Teachers have nothing else to do.)

Wiswell said that if the rubric is read over completely, there is nothing that any student can't do (so everyone passes? Is that raising or lowering the bar?). Minimum grade that a student can earn with be 59, which differs only one point from the previous 60. In order to receive credit for classes, students must master each one of the competencies per class (so now every student will be a good hire). Students not fulfilling all skills and abilities in a required course, will have to attend "competency recovery" classes after school or over the summer (but it was said there is nothing that any student can't do). Any student unfulfilling (must be admin-talk) more than one item on the skills and ability list will not receive credit for the course and will have to repeat the course. The additional time needed for competency recovery will be provided by the faculty who will be paid in a stipend based system.

Teachers will need to actively evaluate students every five days throughout the year. One of the purpose of the delayed opening Wednesdays for next year will help teachers adjust to the new grading system and provide them with education development time (if meeting after meeting isn't scheduled instead).

"This is setting all the students up to being better citizens, " said Derek Tomlinson in the June meeting. "I really like this, and I'm glad we're bring this in." (I really would like to hear the results after the first year.)

This past year, the school was asking teachers to give information about students who did pass, but would have failed one of the competencies. That information will be evaluated before the start of the next school year.

"I think it makes for a better product over the long run," said Wiswell. "It's not your grandfather's high school." (Yeah, it was a lot more rigorous then.)

He said it can be overwhelming at times for our teachers changing over to the new system. (Gee, you think? Maybe there will be time left over to prepare and correct.)

"The more we talk about these things, the more we'll be successful in doing things," Wiswell said.

Superintendent Dr. Paul DeMinico commented at the meeting that this system "really personalizes every student and follows them through."

Complete information about the new grading system will be available online before the 2009-2010 school year and in the next year's school handbook.

Do You Think Maybe It's Time...

2009-06-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Do you think maybe it's time...?

The two stories below were in today's news. I hope there's a wake-up call here: (1) "Chastity Turner, 9, was sitting on her grandmother's porch washing her dog when someone opened fire from a van in the 7400 block of South Stewart Avenue on the South Side.

Chastity was shot in the back or neck and later died at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital. Three other people, including her father, were wounded in the shooting.

A 31-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County with gunshot wounds to the back. The victim's grandmother, Tanya Turner, says that shootings happen constantly in the neighborhood.

"She told me this morning, she said, 'grandma, I'm going home, it's not safe around here,'" said Chastity's grandmother Tanya Turner. "I said, 'baby, it's not safe no place now.'" (http://cbs2chicago.com)

The grandmother was right, but some places are safer than others. Gangs are a scourge! The First Amendment includes "...the right of the people peaceably to assemble," which includes the word "peaceably." With the average lifespan of a gang member reaching something like 21 years old, maybe it's time to do away with them and take the cities back. If gang members see them as their family, maybe it's time to do something to get back the real concept of family - we should have real fathers and mothers instead of sperm donors and baby incubators. I get so #@!&*%# frustrated. That's a great goal in life - to flash finger symbols and kill someone on a perceived slight or whim. The movie "Logan's Run" offered a "perfect existence" until age 30, at which time people were "renewed" (executed). Very few of my former students would accept that, which in a way is almost exactly what gangs are offering (except many don't make it to 30).

(2) From the Columbus Dispatch: "A Columbus firefighter admits that he took his two dogs to the basement, tied them up and blasted them with a rifle so he and a girlfriend could vacation without paying to board the animals.

"I think it was the thrill of the kill for him. He has shown no remorse for this."

Firefighter David P. Santuomo, 43, pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a criminal tool -- for taping a 2-liter plastic bottle onto the gun as a makeshift silencer.

He was convicted of 'needlessly killing ... a companion animal" on Dec. 3, according to the charges filed 10 minutes before the hearing in Municipal Court. One dog was shot six times in the head.

Santuomo, who did not give a statement in court, will spend 90 days in jail, pay $4,500 to cover the cost of his investigation and serve five years' probation, Judge Harland H. Hale ruled.

'This is a travesty and abhorrent behavior to those in this community who work to save the lives of animals,' said Jodi Buckman, executive director of the Capital Area Humane Society."

And here we are, policemen for the world and we can't even tend to our own gardens! Interestingly, I don't see guns as the problem but "people"! Who in his right mind would do something as above?

I don't have the answers, but I sure have lots of questions....

Later.

"It's Company Policy...."

2009-06-18T04:32:00.000-07:00

(SEE UPDATE FOLLOWING ENTRY)

"It's company policy!"

Those words go hand in hand with "zero tolerance" (which, in turn, goes hand in hand with zero common sense), and when there is no common sense, we're in big trouble! Anyone can do anything without thinking and excuse it by saying, "It's company policy" (or "I was just following orders.")

In what has to be any business's nightmare, a recent news story caught my eye, and I guarantee you that from the resulting negative publicity, amends will be made! I will let the article from The Grand Rapids Press speak for itself (bold areas are mine):

Family angry when paralyzed Marine Joshua Hoffman is denied free entrance to Michigan's Adventure

by Ted Roelofs | The Grand Rapids Press

Quadriplegic former Marine Joshua Hoffman waited in a van at Michigan's Adventure, hoping to see fiancee Heather Lovell in the park for an hour or two. Her father, Rockford resident Joel Lovell, explained to park staff that Hoffman is paralyzed and cannot talk. He assumed Hoffman would be admitted free.

But Lovell was told he would have to pay admission for Hoffman and the nurse tending to his medical needs. No exceptions.

"He went to Iraq for all of us and took a bullet in the neck. He sacrificed everything for his country," Joel Lovell said.

"I was just kind of stunned."

According to Heather Lovell, she and Hoffman planned to rendezvous from their home near Middleville on May 29 at the Muskegon County park, before heading to Reed City for the high school graduation of Hoffman's stepbrother.

Lovell had gone ahead to act as chaperone for a niece and others on a school outing. Joel Lovell picked up Hoffman and his nurse and headed for the park.

But Heather Lovell said she got a call from her father telling her to come to the park entrance.

"It was really just outrageous," she said. "He is not physically going on any rides. To me, this is very personal."

Hoffman, 27, was paralyzed from the chest down when he was hit by a sniper's bullet in Iraq in January 2007. He spent more than a year in a Virginia Veterans Administration hospital before coming home in March 2008.

He and Lovell, 22, share a specially equipped house with 24-hour nursing staff to assist Hoffman.

Camille Jourden-Mark, general manager of Michigan's Adventure, said park policy does not allow any non-participants in free.

"We just can't be in a position of picking and choosing. We have grandparents (who pay admission) that come in our park every day that have no intention of ever going on a ride.

"It's not based on the level of participation."

On Tuesday, Jourden-Mark offered complementary passes for Hoffman and a guest to Michigan's Adventure in response to the issue. Lovell said she has not decided whether she and Hoffman will use the passes.

"You want to be appreciative of it, but it took a lot of people complaining to them to realize what kind of mistake they had made," Lovell said. "We weren't looking for a free trip. It's just a problem with the policy."

Jourden-Mark said company policy is meant to shield employees from accusations of discrimination, but added "there are times when we make exceptions and this is definitely one of those times."

She noted the park offers one free admission with a paid admission for service members each Memorial Day. Jourden-Mark said park staff were unaware of Hoffman's condition.

"I don't think anybody was really aware that he was a veteran."

That's not what Joel Lovell, 54, recalled.

"I told (a park official) it is really a crummy policy. I explained that he is an Iraq veteran. He got shot in the neck and can't eat or talk. I thought they were joking."

Lovell said he initially was told he would have to pay the adult admission fee of $25 each for Hoffman and the nurse, then was offered a student discount.

Heather Lovell's sister, Belding resident Rebecca Lovell, said she contacted the park Friday to complain.

"I explained the extent of his injuries, that he was simply going for an hour or two.

"(A park official) said there was no proof of his injury. He could be faking it. She said if we let him come in for free, then we have to change our policy."

"I was absolutely blown away."

-- Press reporter Jacob Carpenter contributed to this story.

UPDATE:

The following e-mail was received by me today

Dear Mr. Berman,

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments about the recent story of Marine Joshua Hoffman and Michigan’s Adventure.

I apologize for the situation that Marine Hoffman encountered when he attempted to visit the park on May 29. I was only made aware of his request two days ago. Once I learned of the situation that day, I offered him the opportunity for a complimentary visit to the park.

At no time would I ever tolerate disrespect to any member of our active or retired military. Our company is very proud of our military and their service to our country.

Our policies at Michigan ’s Adventure are in place to provide fair treatment to all our guests. At the same time, we do review special requests individually. In this case, we made a mistake. I definitely feel we could have handled the situation better.

Again, please accept my apologies for your disappointment, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

Sincerely,

Michigan ’s Adventure

Camille Jourden-Mark

Vice-President and General Manager

Being an Adult

2009-06-03T04:38:00.001-07:00

What is it to be an adult? When the topic presented itself in class, I always told students that part of being an adult is doing what you don't necessarily want to do.

A couple of personal cases in point: (1) When one of my fellow Lions unexpectedly passed on, I went to his funeral. I was lucky enough to never have seen a dead body until then (I was in my 40s), and even then, I didn't expect to see one. I had been told it would be a closed casket. When I got to the funeral home, I quickly glanced into the room where the casket was on display and saw it was wide open (and under spotlights) - my stomach sank. The short of it was that when it came time, I walked in with my fellow Lions, walked past the casket, looked at my friend, said a small prayer, paid my respects to the family, chatted for a few minutes, and left. I had faced my fear and did what I felt I should do as an adult (and survived). Since then, the scene has repeated itself too many times, but I did (and still do) the adult thing.

(2) Just a few days ago, another situation presented itself. I had left Wal-Mart and while putting "stuff" into my car, looked over at the car parked next to mine. There was a man slumped in the driver's seat; in his hand was a foil-wrapped sandwich. He looked asleep, but.... I stared for a moment and saw his stomach rise a bit, so I knew he was breathing. I knew him, so I called his name through the open passenger window but got no response; he must be sleeping (maybe). I took my cart back down to where they go back into the building, got into my car, and started it. In seconds, I turned it back off, got out, and went around to his driver's window, spoke his name again, and again got no response. I poked his shoulder and said his name again. His head came up and he looked at me. I apologized for waking him and said, "I couldn't just leave...just in case.... I had to know you're okay." I felt bad for waking him, but I would have felt worse if something had been wrong and I didn't say or do something.

After I left, I felt fine. I had done the adult thing (the right thing). I wondered how many others would have. I want to think everyone, but....

(Check out the Kitty Genovese story from 1964, in which some 38 people allegedly heard her being stabbed and didn't do anything.Called the bystander effect, it is a social psychological phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present. The probability of help is inversely proportional to the number of bystanders. In other words, the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that any one of them will help. [Wikipedia])

An Oral Guarantee is Worth....

2009-05-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

'Oral contracts are not worth the paper they are written on.'

Caveat emptor!

I have a couple of warranty stories to share. First, when my wife and I finally broke down and bought a Sears riding mower (Craftsman lawn tractor), I asked the salesman about the extended warranty he offered to us. We both remember the salesman saying that once a year, a technician would come to the house, check the machine over, replace necessary parts, and be sure it was ready to go for the new season. We really are not stupid people, and we both remember what was said. I am no mechanic, so those words were beautiful music to my ears.

Following the first successful year (no problems or breakdowns, we endured the winter, and when spring came, we called for a maintenance appointment. Yes, you know what's coming. "Oh, no, you must have misunderstood. We don't do that." Arrrgh! Yes, I should have known better and read the warranty before the purchase, but I don't believe there was one available in the store. That was lesson one.

Lesson two came with the purchase of my daughter's Apple computer (Mac). We all headed south to Salem, the only official listed Apple store in New Hampshire. Yes, we bought the extended warranty as I was advised that Apple repairs can be expensive (that was a surprise - Apple? Expensive? Hah! Surely you jest.... [and don't call me Shirley]) I remember asking our personal consultant (salesperson) about the warranty; he told us everything (yes, everything) would be covered. If you know me, you would know I asked one more question: I said, "I mean, I wouldn't do it, of course, but suppose the day before the warranty expired I put the computer on the driveway and drive over it. Would that be covered?" Again, the reply was "Of course; everything is covered." (He knew he had a live one.)

Some months later, the screen broke when the machine was bumped or dropped. When I took the computer to the local "authorized reseller")he noted there was no sign of trauma on the outside of the machine and a replacement might be covered. He sent it off to Apple, and, yes, you know what's coming. "No, it's not covered." So for the price I could buy a brand new PC laptop with great numbers, we replaced the screen for $775 because my daughter loves her Apple Mac.

Since then, a key cover popped off. With times the way they are, she's using her Mac without it (I am not sure I qualify for a loan anymore).

(By the way, my daughter has run out of storage space in her computer [we had even bought her extra memory]. It's too bad Apple doesn't make an external hard drive. Now I have to get one at Wal-Mart. I doubt I'll need a loan for that.)

Before you buy anything, read the warranty for yourself. Don't believe what you are told! It's been an expensive lesson for me!

One Typical Day

2009-05-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

You should have been there! I was out today riding around the yard on the riding mower doing just fine, thank you. With each pass I got closer and closer to a blue basketball-sized toy the dog plays with (it has a handle, so he can't dribble it). It's supposed to be filled with air (which, of course it is either way - you'll see what I mean in a moment); it's a sealed unit, so it's supposed to not give; it is supposed to keep its shape. Anyhow, apparently the dog had punctured it somewhere along the way (it was still filled with air, but it also had "give" as the air rushed out when it is squeezed - an important fact with what's coming).

So, as I was getting really close to the ball, I did what I always did before - I nudged it with the front wheel to push it out of the way so there wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, with the aforementioned hole in it, it "gave." It didn't bounce to the side but went under the machine, was immediately caught up in the blade, and caused a problem. The engine suddenly came as close to screaming as any inanimate object can and white smoke started pouring out from underneath the mower. There were no shredded pieces that were spit out, so I knew I had a problem. The smell in the air was getting quite unpleasant (an understatement), so thinking quickly, I turned the engine off and sat watching the smoke continue to billow from beneath.

I couldn't lift the behemoth, so I went to the car and got the jack (a story in itself but for another time). I finally figured out how to make it lift the mower and did... it took about three seconds after it had reached its apogee for it to fall. I was on grass, and I thought it might, so I kept my distance. Thinking desperately, I had an idea - I lifted the plastic discharge chute, and there, wedged in the opening was the blue toy! With deft adroitness, I worked it out, put it on a plastic lawn chair, and said a small prayer of thanks and hope. When I tried to restart the engine, it actually worked, and I finished the job.

Not a big story but typical in my ongoing struggle with machines.

Rho Delta Omega (or Pee Triangle Horseshoe)

2009-05-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

I believe I have a lot in common with Senator John 'Bluto' Blutarsky. If he is like most senators, today he wears a dark suit and red power tie and has lots of money, no or very short sideburns and when he speaks publicly, he is, quite frankly, bo-ring! Except for the part about the suit, tie, money, and sideburns, that pretty much describes me... today. But, I wasn't always this bo-ring. Noooooo (said in a drawn-out gravelly Belushi voice)! There was a time when I walked the streets of Boston and men trembled and looked away and women locked up their daughters (to no avail). I was a Rho Delt!

While on Facebook, I found a group of brothers from my old fraternity - even though I have never met any of them (yet), they are still my brothers - that's what fraternities are all about. I need to find out about what can be shared publicly, but I can say for now that we were the template, the model for the movie "Animal House" (except they had to tone it down for the screen). You take one look at me today, and I know it's hard to believe (almost as hard as "Change" and "Hope" in politics), but it's true. Unfortunately, as Doug Neidermeyer said in the movie, "...we have received more than two dozen reports of individual acts of perversion SO profound and disgusting that decorum prohibits listing them here." As a result, I will not list specifics here and you will have to accept my word (still worth something, I trust) that that's the way it was.

Having taught in a public high school for 31 years, I had to behave (well, i didn't have to, but if I wanted to keep working...), and when one accurately pretends for any extended length of time, the make-believe world subtly and gradually morphs into the new reality, and I have become quite bo-ring! It's like an undercover policeman who enters the depraved world and becomes depraved himself. I entered the boring world, and, well, you know the rest.

Today, the frat no longer formally exists although some upstart sorority (a sorority) Alpha Kappa Alpha has absconded with the name and started a Rho Delta Omega chapter in Palo Alto, California - no connection to us, of course!

Anyhow, perhaps with intense therapy and the chance to talk with and rub shoulders with my brothers, who knows what will happen? The same body that scored twice in our 85-0 victory in fantastic fraternity football final (nice alliteration, Berman) is now pretty much shot, but my mind is still somewhat intact (although fraught with more holes than a fine aged Swiss cheese). As I have rarely ever sworn aloud in the past 38 years, maybe even that will change (let me try now to see if I can do it: uh, doo-doo, poopie, ca-ca). Well, it's a start. Is it too late to save me? Time will tell!

Later.

Surprise!

2009-04-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

April 15th - tax time. Is that a surprise to you? It shouldn't be, but I guarantee the news will show Post Offices open until midnight and lines of people waiting patiently to get their returns in the mail so they won't be penalized. It's not like the date changes every year - it's always April 15th!

Why do I say this? Because it appears the TV stations I watch will, for the next 59 days be incessantly running ads for the transition to digital TV - you know what I am talking about. I believe the original date was to be February 17th, but it also appears not enough people were "ready"! Even after constant ads which put political advertising to shame in sheer volume. not enough people were ready, so the date was pushed back to June 12th. If I could embed the song, I'd have "People Get Ready" playing in the background.

People get ready, damn it! I really don't want the date pushed into September...!

Violent Times

2009-04-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it's the times in which we live, but there seems to be quite a rise in violence being reported. There is a mounting frustration amongst the people, and instead of seeking help, more and more people seem to be lashing out at others and going out in a blaze of vainglory - let's see how many people I can kill before I kill myself. I expect it won't get better for a while.

I don't want to be any part of such happenings, but something disturbing (or maybe not) happened today. When the news arrived online that Captain Richard Phillips had been rescued and three of the four pirates had been killed, I thought to myself, "Good." I was beginning to get edgy and wondering why three warships and attending personnel were unable to deal with four men. I am sure at this point that everything was being done to assure the safety of the captain, which really answers my concern; I guess I am just too impatient these days. Why don't ships have armed security; that has to be cheaper than millions in ransom... doesn't it? These pirates have been acting with impunity for way too long. Of course, the current policy of shipping companies easily paying ransoms has contributed to the situation. Other Somali pirates have vowed revenge against the U.S. This time, unlike the boondoggle in Iraq and the next one in Afghanistan, I say, "Good. Bring 'em on!"

Ch...ch... ch... changes!

2009-04-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am hopeful change will come, but I am patiently reserving judgment on President Obama for at least a while. Unfortunately, my inbox is regularly inundated with anti-Obama emails from a few hardcore haters (locksteppers who walk in darkness - Republican = good; Democrats = bad [black Democrats = really bad]). They don't seem to understand that it took many, many years to royally screw up the country especially during the past eight years under President Bush. Regardless of when the roots of the problems began taking hold, instead of making anything better during his administration, we continually spiraled down and further down under Bush.

Obama has since taken the reins and is working to get us back to some sense of normalcy. It can't be done overnight, however. Why can't some people understand that? Believe me, if Obama can't improve things after more time has passed, I will be changing my tune, but for now, all I am saying is give the guy a chance! Is that so hard to understand?

When the moon hits your eye...

2009-04-02T10:06:00.001-07:00

Quite simply, there's no great pizza near where I live; there's not even any really good pizza - there's... pizza. I am spoiled because in my formative years I was brought up with places like Tony's Italian Villa, Pino's, Dino's, and the best of 'em all (the creme da la creme), Pizzeria Regina. They all set a standard for me that is hard to come close to in my area of central New Hampshire. In a say twelve mile radius, there is no shortage of shops; it's just that to me they're all pretty similar with a thicker, usually pre-made crust.

Frozen pizza is, well, frozen pizza. If you buy Red Baron, Tony's or Freschetta's, you're buying pizza made by Schwan's. If you buy DiGiorno, Tombstone, California Pizza Kitchen, or Jack’s, you're buying a Kraft foods pizza. I don't know who makes Wal-Mart pizzas, but to my taste, they're no worse (or better) than any of the aforementioned brands (but they are less expensive).

Today, everything changed. I visited a accountant (CPA) for the first (and I hope last) time - she was a former student of mine. When we were done, on the way home, I stopped off at Elvio's Pizzeria and Restaurant up in Lincoln. It was the best I have had in a long time! The taste and texture of the pizza today almost brought a tear to my eye (don't tell anyone, but I had four slices thinking I could store up the experience [I think I will be storing it around my waist area]). I guess there is hope. I still have plans to try a place called Sal's, which I am told is also good. I rarely travel for food, but maybe Lincoln really isn't that far.

Drama!

2009-03-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

:-) :-(

The images above are supposed to represent theatre masks (comedy and drama).

Last weekend, my wife and I volunteered to help out with Plymouth Regional High School's hosting of the state Drama Festival. Unfortunately, I only got to see half of the twelve offerings, but what a wonderful half they were. Only two will go on to the New England competition (two more were selected as alternates). The two days were long, but they were fun!

The big question I have is why 'theater' is written 'theatre.' I went to a site called theaterhelper.com and found the following, which clears everything up nicely for me (and you, if you are still reading): "The word theater can refer to a theater building, the art of theater, or even a home theater system.

"The word theatre should always refer to the art form and only the art form. (I had wanted the domain for this site to be theatrehelper, but it was already owned, so I took the next best option.) A 'home theatre system' is a travesty to the art of theatre. Unfortunately, evolution caused largely by capitalism is slowly causing the word theatre to be drained of all its meaning. Once completely drained of its meaning, why have the word theatre at all? This evolution could cause the death of the word theatre altogether."

Ya gotta love the Internet - it has the answers to pretty much everything, everything... even a picture of Coke in a Pepsi machine (http://citynoise.org/article/5338)

2009-03-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

You know, I found out I have been so wrong about my vehement opposition to the bailout! I have been rabidly against it from the start and absolutely outraged at the concept of 'bonuses' as a reward for failure (when I left teaching, I got a kind of bonus for years served [sounds like prison but that's another story] and unused sick days. My 'bonus' was enough to carry me for several months and maybe then some.

I found a story online today that explained to me why these poor folks desperately need those bonuses, and that's what changed my mind. Apparently a 36-year-old Swedish countess from Connecticut is getting a divorce from her husband and signed a post-nuptial agreement specifying what would happen in the case of their parting ways. She allegedly agreed to a settlement of $43 million dollars, but she has discovered she can't live on that amount. Instead, she's now asking for around $100 million in cash and stocks, $53,800 a week for expenses, and alimony of $130,000 a month. The poor woman said, "I'm just very sad that we are where we are. I hope we resolve this soon so everybody can move on with their lives." The woman has filed court papers showing she has more than $53,800 in weekly expenses, including for maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden. Her weekly expenses also include $700 for limousine service, $4,500 for clothes, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, and $8,000 for travel.

Now, think about it for a moment. Could you get by on such a pittance? These people need that money from the bailout and bonuses, and who am I to get in the way? I am so sorry I even said anything against the bailout. I may not even run for office in the future. Who needs people like me when you can have people like them?

(By the way, can anyone say, "Entitlement mentality"? Yeah, I knew you could [and should - over and over again]!)

No News is... Par for the Course

2009-03-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

While I do love living in New Hampshire, one of the things I miss desperately is decent news coverage. I mean, other states are so into their news that they even carry live police chases right on TV.

We do have a major TV station, which covers news in the morning, at noon, and in the evening at 6 PM and 11 PM (but we are usually asleep for that last one). It's okay, though, because most often the 11 PM newscast is pretty much a repeat of the 6PM show, which is pretty much a repeat of the noon broadcast, which is pretty much a repeat of the morning offerings, which are, of course, pretty much is what was carried the night before. One has to watch the news regularly and not so carefully to appreciate what I am saying. And if there is a major event like a snowstorm or flooding or someone loudly belching, the station devotes pretty much the entire half hour to that event (it's like on that evening there is no other news). Understand this is in a state where for perhaps two years people have been told about the conversion to digital TV, recently with more frequency that political ads a week before the election, but then the conversion date was delayed for several more months because people might not be ready. These are probably the same people who don't know what happens pretty much every April 15th! [Run clip of near-midnight shot of Post Office and the line of people outside waiting to file their tax returns...]).

I do have access to a LOCAL, weekly paper in which one would expect to find local election results; I emphasize the word 'local' because that's the word the paper used when it dropped my weekly column (now found at www.bermansbits.com - I was local but the content wasn't, but that's another story). Usually all I look at in the paper are the obituaries to make sure I am still alive and the not-every-week-but-should-be police and court reports to keep up with what my former students are up to. Beyond that, there's really not much. Interestingly, several years ago, the paper shifted from a Wednesday publication date to Thursday so it could more easily get election results in. That was underscored by this week's paper, which carried the announcement: "Attention readers! Due to deadlines, not all voting results were available at press time. Please check back next week...." The results I wanted to see I can't! I will have to wait an extra week.

On the Internet, I do have perhaps ten or twelve sites I swing through at least two or three times a day to see what's happening on the world's stage. With a click, I can see that, for example, the president of Madagasar has stepped down and handed power to the country's most senior military officer, but I can't find out who won the local school board race.

Sometimes Just Showing Up is Enough!

2009-03-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

(Update Below)
The last time I ran for office (2008), I ran for the United States Senate; I sent out four weekly press releases to about eight state newspapers, none of which ran any of them (would you?). In all honesty, all I wanted to do was see if I could even make a blip on the media radar and let the "mainstream" candidates know I would be watching from the wings and make a serious effort next time if they didn't get their act together. I called my campaign "One Man, One Month, No Money." I suspect I did receive a few votes as a few people said they would vote for me, but I didn't see any blip.

The time before that was for town Library Trustee as no other candidates had come forward, and I don't feel any position should go uncontested or unpopulated. Turns out another woman felt the same way, and there were two candidates. I lost by maybe 150 votes, but several people told me they were proud of the showing I did make.

Yesterday (3/10) was the most recent town election. As only sickness or other major problem would get me to miss an election, I went and voted as I do believe it's most important (how else can I complain in good conscience)! One office on the ballot had no candidates listed, so, yes, I wrote my name in! Today when I got home after work, there was a message from the town clerk that I had received a write-in vote and was I interested... I will call her tomorrow for details and make a decision from there. On the plus side, that would give me political experience in an elected office for my future resume. Until I hear details, I don't know what the negative side might be. I think I might just do it. I'll let you know.

In all honesty, I do have to tell you, it's an office people are dying for - Cemetery Trustee! I will keep you posted.

Later.

UPDATE: seems there were a few people who received write-in votes. After hearing what the position was all about, I told the town clerk to offer it to the others; I said if she got stuck, she should contact me.

Fiber or Fibber?

2009-03-07T19:27:00.001-08:00

Okay, let's get one thing straight - I don't need lots of fiber in my diet because I really do give a.... Well, anyhow, on with the story. Not long ago, my wife suggested I try a Fiber One bar because, quite simply, it had chocolate in it and tasted good. I tried one, and it was good - good enough for me to buy more. When I browsed the store's offerings, I found another flavor called "oats & strawberries with almonds." As I like strawberries, I bought a box, and the bars were pretty good. As I was eating the new bar, I did what I love to do - I read the label and was just a bit surprised.

As I am sure you all know, ingredients on a label are listed in order of the amount used in the product from the most to least. The first thing on the "oats and strawberries with almonds" bar was something called "Chicory Root Extract." A trip to Wikipedia revealed that chicory roots are roots that are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and additive. Okay; I guess calling the bar "oats & strawberries" sounds better than "chicory root and strawberries." Rolled oats was the next thing listed, so we're close there.

BUT, here's the problem. The next ingredient is (bear with me here) : "Natural strawberry flavored (my emphasis) fruit pieces (sugar, cranberries, citric acid, natural flavor, elderberry juice concentrate, sunflower oil)." In short, there are NO STRAWBERRIES in the bar! There are cranberries, but no strawberries. Besides what I just listed and a lot of other stuff that follows, there are no strawberries in spite of the bar's name! I am not amused! I feel cheated!

I just looked up contact information and sent an email to General Mills (personally, I think he should be reduced in rank to, say, Private Mills). I will let you know what the response is.

Later.

A Few Random Thoughts

2009-03-05T04:44:00.000-08:00

www.random.org

(That site's about as random as one can get.)

First, I am back at work; I am in the middle of a 14-day stint as a long-term sub at Waterville Valley Academy in NH, an educational training school for skiers and snowboarders. I am filling in for a history teacher who had long-standing plans to go to Mexico (Ooooooh, Mexico). While I really enjoy the students (most actually want to learn and do their work - a novel concept), I am not enamored with the idea of getting up at 5 AM (I know I shouldn't complain as the Ever-lovely Miss Kim is up at 4:30 to do the horses). The "workday" is actually fun even if it's long. And did I say it's only for 14 days?

Next, I have been stopping by regularly on Facebook, where manifold names and faces from my past are appearing. A few had changed their names (either married or are in the witness relocation program), so it took a bit of time and careful deduction to realize who they are.

Finally, as I now actually have a couple of followers, I resolve to do better posting here! If I can get a total of fifteen or more, I will try for virtually every day (pass the word).

Any more will have to wait as morning meeting is about to begin.

Later.

Comet-ose

2009-02-24T04:44:00.000-08:00

I got thinking this morning about a book I had read many years ago. It was called Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. In the book, a comet hits the earth and knocks out all technology. One reader, Alan Holyoak, described it as follows: "Imagine this...world-wide cataclysmic events wipe out the major governments on the planet -- national, state, and local governments collapse, and people are left to fend for themselves. What will they do for food, shelter, personal safety, information, etc.? It's a whole new ballgame out there!"

That doesn't even scratch the surface of what unfolds in the book, but that's the way I felt this morning when I found G-mail had gone down. I realized how dependent I have become on technology - it's my primary means of communication for the most part. Instead of making numerous phone calls to remind people of a meeting, for example, I just send out an e-mail to those who have it. There are a few people, however, I am making a point of calling. I am remembering that e-mail just isn't the same.

There is an e-mail going around that tells the recipient that all the forwards and jokes we send are a way of remembering and connecting with those people in our lives who are important, and that's true, but when was the last time you actually spoke to them? If you are like I am, probably not for a while. It may take a bit of an effort, but pick up the phone and call someone just to say "Hi." I am just starting, and it's a good thing. Try it.

2009-02-19T08:43:00.000-08:00

There is a price for everything.

After 29 years in my home and 29 years of shoveling the snows of New Hampshire winters, I finally broke down (figuratively and literally)and bought a snow thrower. My back isn’t what it used to be, and shoveling isn’t easy any more, even with a nice aluminum grain shovel with a generous shoulder (the shovel’s), head, and cutting blade (official names for shovel parts [I looked them up]). Of course, there has been no snow for three weeks, but this morning was the morning I got to take out the blower for its maiden voyage. I filled it (her?) with gas, and she started on the first pull! It was all good… until I came up behind my car.

The short of it is there is a small learning curve with anything new. The left hand runs the auger; the right, the forward motion. That shouldn’t be too hard to do, and, for the most part, it wasn’t… until I got to my car. I was moving confidently forward, gripping the handles like holding ape hangers on a Harley (with about the same noise), but before I knew what happened, I got hung up on a small pile of ice, which slid the growling machine toward my car. Before I knew it, the auger had grabbed onto the corner of the bumper and started pulling the car into the powerful rotating jaw of the blower.

Instinctively, I tried to pull back, but it was too late. The bumper, tailgate, rear light, and trailer hitch all got pulled in chewed up, and spit out all over the yard; even as I watched in horror, the whole car was relentlessly sliding backward into the auger. I stood rooted to the spot just watching in stunned astonishment. Finally, I shook my head, coming to my senses, sprang into action, and let go of the accelerator. It took a few more seconds until the auger finished chewing and stopped. I am not sure, but I think I heard a discreet belch.

I just stood and looked, unable to move. I am not sure what the signs of shock are, but I was shocked, if not in actual shock. It wasn’t supposed to be this way – it rarely ever is. I shut off the blower and started collecting pieces thinking I could duct tape or super glue them back on, but that’s like trying to put a scrambled egg back together.

Anyhow, I learned a lesson today. There is a learning curve for new things, and there’s always a price for everything.

p.s. Most of what’s above didn’t actually happen… except for the ice pile, the machine’s sliding sideways, and the resultant small scratch on the side of my car. Yes, it could have been worse.

Brushing Away the Cobwebs

2009-02-18T04:45:00.000-08:00

"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." Author Unknown

Since I (finally) signed up for a Facebook account, names and faces from my past are starting to show up, not necessarily in that order. What I find interesting is that my past students and other friends/colleagues fall into one of three categories: (1) the good, (2) the bad, and (3) the who? I tend to easily recall those students with whom I connected and respected; often they tell me of a lesson we did or a work they read that they remember that had an impact or made sense years later.

When I knew these students, most were teenagers between 14 and 18. Like the letter X (from the bottom up), our separate lives came together, connected for one or more years, and then moved apart, onward and, in most cases, upward to face whatever came next. Their stories are amazing! While I heard from one person who has been teaching for 21 years and another who spent years finding himself, I recall yet another who spent 15 - 25 years finding religion in prison.

If any of these people from my past read this, please feel free to nudge my memory a bit. I am middle-aged (if I live to 124) and need the occasional jog. Over the years, I have crossed paths with literally thousands of students, and those not in the first two categories above tend to blur a little. Physically, you change, so I may not recognize you right off - be gentle and understand. Interestingly, I usually recall with ease those from 20 or 30 years ago, but I have trouble recalling names from the past few years as the closeness we had with our students 'back in the day' has disappeared. It's like the more education "improves," the worse it gets.

Later.

Peanuts

2009-02-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

No, I am not talking about the comic strip or the 1957 song by Rick & The Keens (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSZ7autJ4Q8&feature=related). There is another version (perhaps the original - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM1JSa8r3XM). Even The Four Seasons performed the hit, but I couldn't find a video.

Anyhow, I am thinking about the Peanut Corporation of America. the actions of which absolutely explain to me why we are in the economic mess we are in. There are pages and pages of news coverage on the corporation (and the economy), but the media tends to over-analyze! Sometimes the best answers are the simplest - the rest is commentary. One small paragraph buried in a recent news story published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Even in the heat of the nationwide outbreak, (company president Stewart) Parnell seemed more worried about his company’s profits than with food safety, according to regulators and congressional investigators." I mean, doesn't that sum up most businesses' philosophy? Seriously! The people be damned, we need to make more money! It's all about GREEN GREED!

If nothing else, the economic crisis in the US (and world) may put things back in perspective (but I doubt it). IMHO, there is fair profit and there is obscene profit; let's get back to the former! There is no place in my world for corporate excesses (it should be that way in all our worlds).

As an erstwhile hockey fan born and brought up around Boston, I happen to like the Bruins. If I want to attend a game, a box seat would cost me $189.50! Yes, there are binocular seats starting at $16.50, but I get nosebleeds and I really don't care to watch ants playing. Red Sox tickets are $325 a seat (I could sit in the upper bleachers for $12 or stand for $20, but...). The New Hampshire Motor Speedway sounds like a bargain at $110 for a good seat. Good New England Patriots seats cost $169, and you get the idea. When money for most of is tight, TV works - it has to.

More perspective - that's all.

Later.

2009-02-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

??????

Just a few questions about the near trillion dollar sellout, uh, sorry, I meant "bailout."

(1) Will this help me and the rest of the "average Americans"?
(2) How?
(3) Where exactly is the money going?
(4) Who will really benefit?
(5) How?
(6) Does anyone really know anything about what "they" are doing with the money?
(7) How will this stop such problems from happening again?
(8) Shouldn't we just let the chips fall where they may?
(9) Are "professional politicians" really the ones we want making the decisions?
(10) Is there any oversight and accountability?

Bonus: With people losing jobs, homes, savings, investments, etc., does anyone really think people are going to start spending again?

Time will tell.

As the old saying goes, "Hope for the best; expect the worst!

Just my opinion.

Later.

Pretty Petty?

2009-02-06T18:06:00.001-08:00

No, I am not writing of father Richard and son Kyle pictured to the left (their last name is Petty for those who are not NASCAR fans [their last name is still Petty for those who are NASCAR fans]).

I am speaking of Chrysler Financial. The Ever-lovely Miss Kim (my wife) was reaching the end of her lease on her Dodge Ram truck! We do need a truck to carry more than groceries (unlike some Escalade [Cadillac SUV] owners), so I called Chrysler to see if we could "discuss" the payoff after the lease. The first person I spoke with said he was authorized to offer me $2,900 off the price (woo-hoo). I thanked him and hit the Internet. All things considered, there was nothing comparable out there for the same price. Given the problems that Chrysler is having, I thought I could do a little better, so I called back. The lady I spoke with was pretty firm (an understatement) about Chrysler not offering any discounts, so thanked her and hung up, my ear still burning.

I called the first person back who did tell me the offered price was as good as they could do. Okay, I thought; he sent the paperwork to me after telling me the price was good until February 2nd. The short of it is we did the paperwork, made arrangements through our credit union (5.49 percent!), and sat back to wait.

On February 4th, Chrysler called to tell us our latest payment was overdue. I explained the situation, was told she'd "make a note in my file," and I thought we were good.

Apparently our payoff check was posted February 4th, so it turns out that we weren't fully paid off. Seems the two extra days resulted in our still owing an additional $19.19! Technically, I am sure that's probably legitimate, but insisting on $19.19?

On February 6th, Chrysler called again to tell me our account was overdue (hello right hand). I again explained the situation and another "note" was made in my file (I do expect I'll still get another "payment overdue" call on Monday). I know it will all work out, but to hold out for $19.19...? Pretty petty, I think, but I am sure you'll tell me if I'm wrong.

By the way, Kyle Petty drove a Dodge and his dad also drove a Dodge (among others).

George Whatshisname...

2009-02-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

I was just watching George Stephe..., uh, Stephi..., um, Stefan..., I was just watching "This Week" with George (the guy pictured to the left). The opening segment ran nearly twenty-five uninterrupted minutes and featured the CEO of FedEx, the CEO of Google, a couple of politicians, and someone else (possibly; so many of the talking heads sound alike and begin to blend or morph together [gray or navy suits, red or blue striped ties, etc.]). The discussion was all about the current financial crisis and bailout and was actually fascinating to me. I must be growing up because I voluntarily watched the show, and my eyes didn't glaze over when they began droning on.

While the palaver went on and on, I had an epiphany (no, I didn't get any on me). I learned something, something totally unintended and yet profound - it was a moment of practicing what I preached when I was a teacher. No one listened then, so I expect no one will listen now, but it confirms to me that I was right. I realized that I pretty much fully understood every word spoken by the commentator and each guest, but when the words strung together to form sentences that created ideas, my comprehension failed. Let me say that again: I pretty much fully understood every word spoken by the commentator and each guest, but when the words strung together to form sentences, my comprehension failed. All of the "common" words I heard had even more and deeper esoteric meanings than I knew. Because of that, I didn't understand any of the intent of the speakers. It is just like a student who knows every individual word in the text, but when the words work together to form larger, more complex ideas, the student is lost and doesn't get it. That's just the way I felt.

La Zona Muerta (My Inside Joke)

2009-01-28T02:44:00.000-08:00

Yes, I live in a Dead Zone, which is why I don't use a cell phone. I have a cell phone, which I know how to turn on, but I don't use it with any regularity. Usually the only time I use it is for 911 calls to report a dead animal on the side of the road or to ask my wife if she wants me to pick up sandwiches (that latter comment often spurred on by the former).

As a result, I don't need an expensive plan with all kinds of features (I don't text, forward, ID callers, play games, etc.). As a sometimes technophobe, I just want easy. Anyhow, I have been over-sold a plan in which I have been given 1,000 minutes to use - a thousand minutes, which means I can talk on the cell phone for some 16.6 hours every month (there are a actually bunch of 6's after the decimal point there, but I didn't want to upset any of those folks who get upset when there are more than two sixes together). Over 16 hours! Wow! To me, that's impressive! I mean, to be able to talk "free" for almost three-quarters of an hour every day without extra charge. Last month, a heavy month, I used a grand total of 37 minutes leaving 963 unused minutes. Wouldn't you think that would count for something?

To the point - the company, U.S. Cellular, has a new website called www.yourinsidejoke.com. Here's my inside joke: I don't think I have ever used more that 60 minutes a month out of a thousand, and I too-regularly find myself on the wrong side of some invisible line where I get hit with extra roaming charges! Once is too much, but it seems to happen whenever I travel more than 30 or 40 miles away (rarely); I never seem to be in a place I can actually use the minutes I am paying for. Funny, huh.

Some Random thoughts

2009-01-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

(Maya Angelou)

Well, it's been a while. We have recently endured temperatures as low as 24 below zero, have yet more snow falling as I write this, and the world goes on.

On the plus side, how about Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III, 58, and First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, 49, who set down their plane gently enough to keep it afloat while nearby ferries recovered passengers in freezing weather. Those are two guys who did their job to perfection. If everyone just did their jobs with such professionalism, can you imagine how much better the world at large would be! From Maya Angelou: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." By the way, following the American tradition of rewarding people for doing their job in a public way, there's talk of a statue of him and book deals (of course). By the further way, until he's cleared, he is officially under investigation (another American tradition).

On the other hand, both sides in the Hamas-Israeli conflict have declared a cease fire (as of this writing). To me, the short of it is with regard to Israel: "Damned if they do; dead if they don't." As long as we have fundamentalist anythings, we can't be the world we could (and should). Can you imagine is every country offered its surplus whatever to others in exchange for what it needed? Basic cooperation is what's needed!

The economy. There's no oversight to where the money's going. It's like airlifting billions of dollars to be put on the deck of the Titanic. If I were in office, I'd ask what happened and how can we be sure it never happens again! Of course, I'm not as knowledgeable as those currently in office, so....

Speaking of the economy, I'm torn on this one: Obama's inauguration festivities could cost the taxpayers around $150 million. That's 1.5 percent of $100 billion. Yeah, this one is a big deal, but.... He has raised some $41 million already; why not just limit it to that?

Another one! Arthur Nadel, a Florida hedge fund manager, has disappeared with hundered of millions of dollars. Big surprise there.

Serena Williams won $21 million in prize money but was seen at the Australian Open with a $12 handbag (oooh, the horror, the horror). She says that because of the economy she's not out there buying crazy things. Me? I'm trying to find the best thing to do regarding my wife's truck, which is coming to the end of its lease. I am thinking of starting The Davy Fund.... As there are still many people who can easily afford to contribute hefty sums, please do.

Later.

Breaking the Mold

2008-12-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

My daughter, who is on school vacation this week, and I, who am on permanent vacation until I find another job, were given the unenviable task of cleaning out some of the many shelves in our pantry (I think after a couple of hours, she'd rather be back in school). We spent probably a total of six hours pulling stuff down, checking it out, and either putting it back or tossing it.

Some of the "stuff" was easy - cans with bulging ends and once-powdered things that had turned into cement-like solids. There was even a bottle of bleu cheese dressing, the contents of which had turned totally brown (kind of like chameleons do except they do it quickly - this bottle took many years to try to blend in).

The problem we had came with the products that we didn't know what the shelf life was; I mean, I know salt doesn't go bad (even if it took a phone call to confirm it), but things like canned vegetables without bulging ends; what about those?

I applaud the companies who put things like: Best Until June 14, 1995 (we had a couple of those; I mean, if it were June 15th in 1995, I'd probably still use it - heck June 15th in 2008 would give me pause, but...). They are easy to figure out (I tried to tell my daughter they'd only been there 12-1/2 years, but she wouldn't buy my argument - she's a slave driver, she is). Other companies, however, put things like C6X12 P4. I couldn't just arbitrarily toss the product - I could still read the label, so I called a few of the companies to see if they sold a decoder ring or special chart so I could figure out what the letters and numbers meant. After a couple such calls, I felt like a real idiot! I didn't even know the first letter often stands for the month - A for January, B for February, and so forth except for September which is X (I suppose an 'I' might be mistaken for a '1' even if it were in the first position). The number after the letter could stand for the year - 3 is 2003 (but in our case, it could have been 1993) and so on.

So, what's my point? Why can't "they" just put ExpOCT2003 or MFGJAN2009? Really! Is that too easy or what? Well, why can't "they"? If I do run for office again, that is one of the things I will push for - clear labeling of expiration dates. I mean, that ought to get me some votes... well, oughtn't it?

Upping the Ante

2008-12-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've been plugging along here offering what I believe to be positive reading opportunities for the reading public, but as I have received few comments, I don't know how many readers I actually have or even how my offerings are accepted.

Therefore, I have decided to up the ante. I am taking steps to increase readership, the results of which will be overtly evident when they happen (it might be days or weeks). Regular readers will know when something different and special happens ("Like what, Berman? Quality writing?" *lol*).

What I am is doing is contacting a variety of prominent people whom I respect and admire for one reason or another and am asking them to be a one-time guest blogger; I will ask them to offer a "What's on your mind?" or a "What's Important to You?" entry - an almost-anything-goes piece. The only requirements are around 300 words (flexible) and family-appropriate. We'll see what happens...

Later.

2008-11-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

To add to my life experiences, I have just been appointed as a Bail Commissioner for my district, which encompasses some thirteen towns around me. That means I can be called to any of those police stations and, as a neutral third party, set bail for people who have been arrested and charged with a crime. There appears to be a bit of a learning curve, but it really doesn't look too difficult. I expect like most other things that once I have done a couple, it will become relatively routine.

Following an almost-two-hour instructional introduction, I was able to observe an actual occurrence of what I will be doing. A young man charged with two felony drug crimes had been brought into the courthouse , and my trainer did the bail-setting process. It was helpful to first learn about the procedure and then actually see it happen.

The only down side I see to being a Bail Commissioner is that calls will come in after normal business hours, but it comes with the territory; during regular hours, people are taken right to the courthouse. There are some twelve other bail commissioners in the district, and I was told that if I couldn't make it in, I couldn't make it in; someone else would be called. My guess is that officials work down the list calling those first who are closest.

Half-kiddingly, I told my trainer that being a Bail Commissioner is a good way to keep track of my former students... said half-kiddingly.

Anyhow, that's what's new. I will keep you posted if any interesting cases come along.

Later.

UPDATE (11/21): I had my first two calls today. I was out for the first, but I made it to the second. We were just finishing dinner with another couple when the police dispatch called with someone who needed to be bailed. It was a young man who was charged with possession of and transporting some marijuana. I left the house at 7:45 pm and was back in an hour. I am now a veteran Bail Commissioner!

Hello, Kitty

2008-11-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

(Shhh, don't tell the cats in my house, but I have never really been a cat person. Therefore, I find it strange that I am writing this. And whatever you do, don't call the house and read this entry to them; don't even fax it to them; they don't need to know. Thanks.)

Okay, kittens are cute; I admit it. I suspect that kitten look is what nature gave them so people would take them and forget that they grow into cats. Anyhow, not long ago, four kittens magically showed up in the horse barn (it used to be a garage, but now there's barely room to even squeeze in my motorcycle; I'm not sure why I even mentioned that). My wife fed and watered them, they grew, and now they are making their way out in the local world. That was then.

Now, four more kittens showed up, but this time their parents disappeared into the night (maybe it was the day; I wasn't watching). I thought of putting them on Maury to help find who the kitty daddy, but that didn't seem practical. Again, my wife fed and watered them, but the nights are getting downright cold, and those three little faces are heartbreaking as they gather to face the cold and lonely, and the deep, dark nights together.

The Ever-lovely Miss Kim was late from work last night, so the Ever-effervescent Miss Jessica and I had to feed them. When the door to the barn opened, all three came scampering out. I put their bowls down and watched them eat. The barn was and is their entire world at this point. They don't have a Mom or Dad to show them how to hunt or take care of themselves. Without those skills, the world would be a tough place (with those skills, the world is still a tough place). They need people to take care of them, so we decided to take them to the humane society (HS), which I trust will live up to its name and give the little guys a chance.

As today is a holiday, I called the HS, and yes, it's open.... But, apparently I live in he wrong town to use them. If I showed up, they'd check my papers and send me away. Each town contracts with different shelters around the state, and this HS wasn't "mine" (ya gotta love bureaucracy and The Rules). So, I called my town's police dept., but they weren't any help. They didn't know of any local shelters. I called the bigger town nearby (2007 population - 3,688). They didn't have any information either; they knew of no contracted facilities. Tomorrow (Wednesday), I will call the animal hospital (closed today); if anyone should know they should.

The point of all of this? There are a few. First, when ads say to spay or neuter your pets, you should; that's a good thing. Next, Nature is. I am tempted to call her cruel, but Nature just is. What happens out there, the births and deaths, is all part of Nature. When Man is introduced with caring, concerned people, Nature becomes cruel by Man's definition. I didn't want to go out and see the kittens because I knew what would happen; when I went out last night, I felt overwhelming sorrow looking at their innocent little faces. They didn't ask to be born, and their very futures rested in our hands (in another scenario in another place, they'd drowned or shot). They see us as a food source, and they trust us. I want them to find someone to love and care for them (I usually know all I need to about people by how they view and treat animals). And lastly, these kittens got me to thinking about all the babies being born into the world....

(Oh, and by the way, if you read carefully early on, you would have noticed I first mentioned four kittens and then switched to three - my wife brought one into the house - he was the lucky one.)

Two Outta Three Ain't Bad!

2008-11-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

Winston Churchill once said, "Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." I am feeling pretty darn successful these days.

First, as some of you know, I just found out that a position I was hoping for didn't come through; someone else was hired. The offering closed on August 29th. It was today, November 8th, that I was notified. The job was for a writer/editor. I thought it and I were a great match, but it really doesn't matter what I think; if it were up to me, I would have been hired, but it wasn't, so I wasn't. I am slightly disappointed, but I am not crushed. If it was meant to be, it would have been.

(Maybe I should have applied to help with Human Resources. I mean, 72 days to make a decision and get back to someone? I betcha I could interview people and decide on a candidate in a fraction of that time. The letter did encourage me to apply for other positions that I am qualified for. Let's see, the way I figure it, I could apply for five jobs, and a potentially productive year would be gone.... I don't think so. Thanks, but no thanks).

Combining that latest rejection with my recent loss in the political arena, that's two in a row, but that's okay. There are plenty of jobs out there... aren't there? I mean, aren't we riding the crest of prosperity? I mean, based on Congressional accounting rules, at the end of his presidency Clinton reported a surplus of $559 billion. The past eight years and the Republicans' penchant for fiscal conservatism and smaller government must have kept the surplus and added to it, so I am looking at the world through Rose-Garden-colored glasses. Something will come along... soon, I am sure. I will keep you posted.

So, those are my two out of three! What's number three? I don't know yet, but I will let you know when it happens; I feel good about it, whatever it will be.

Later.

Election Results

2008-11-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

The people have spoken. Although I don't have official results yet, my campaign as a write-in candidate for U.S. Senator from New Hampshire wasn't as successful as I had hoped. I do know there are at least three-hundred thousand disappointed voters (actually they are the ones who voted for John Sununu and Ken Blevins).

My goal was to see if through emails and press releases I could even make a blip on the radar. The Secretary of State's office hasn't listed write-ins, and I don't know if it will. I do know I did receive at least one vote - any more than that I consider a success. In theory, if I am to believe those I spoke with, I should have a few more.

All of that said, I am excited by the overall national election results. Although I was too young to vote back then, I suspect I still had the same feeling after JFK's election. There was hope in the air; there was enthusiasm. These days, there is the same feeling, but as the old saying goes, no matter who is elected, the Government still gets in.

Lots more to say, but I have to go now. This election was true history in the making. Time will tell what will happen, but this was one election I was glad to have lived through and participate in. I do hope and pray for the best.

Later.

Vote!

2008-11-03T04:23:00.001-08:00

Notice the button above is in the center; that's so people won't think I am subliminally suggesting one side or the other. Also, I chose a plain font for the same reason. Unfortunately, 'plain' rhymes with McCain, so I may have a problem there. Also, perhaps you have received the email in which all the words are jumbled (first and last letters must be the same). Most people are able to read the entire message with little effort. Therefore, a second problem is that the letters in 'plain' also can easily be seen as a plug for Palin. I'll take my chances.

Humorist Kin Hubbard once wrote: "We'd all like t' vote fer th' best man, but he's never a candidate." That seems to have been the case for several elections now. In the last election, for example, Kerry got my vote, but I didn't vote for him. I voted against Bush. Looking at the economy, etc., I wish more people had, but I am not sure it matters. I would give almost anything to see what the country (and world) would look like today if Kerry had won. His victory may have a huge difference but maybe not. An anonymous quote says, "No matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in." That is quite telling.

Anyhow, this election is one more in which neither candidate "flips my switch" as again the Government will get in. Anyhow, I am writing this for any undecided readers. The last survey I saw indicated some 94 percent of voters have made up their minds. If you ask how anyone can still be undecided, I suspect those people are still wondering if they should even vote or if they should vote for a Libertarian or Green or Socialist candidate. There are six major party candidates and many, many others. I started to count all candidates and got up to 47 just getting through the B's. When one votes for anyone other than a mainstream, major party candidate, either s/he is voting strongly-held conviction, making a comment on what the two major parties is offering us, or perhaps "wasting a vote."

All of that said, I am going to stay mainstream and take a chance on Obama. There are two words that make him the only choice in my mind: President Palin. Being objective, I believe any thinking person would understand that a Jane Six-Pack doesn't belong in the highest office of the land and that she is not ready in any way, shape, or form. I believe John McCain is a good man, but I also believe his judgment lapsed when he picked Palin! There is a posted one in seven chance that John McCain will not make it through his first term. That would place her in the Presidency. You betcha it would, and that's absolutely unacceptable to me. I don't want a folksy, cutesy empty suit as the leader of the free world. She is not ready. Period.

From emails I receive, there are too many people out there who feel (1) If the candidate's a Republican, that's good enough for me, or (2) He's black - that's all I need to know. My problem has been that neither candidate represents fully what I believe is important. Two cases in point: (1) I do support the Second Amendment (Republican), but I also believe that while abortion as birth control is absolutely unconscionable, I do ultimately believe it should be a woman's choice (Democrat). What's a voter to do. Looking at more issues, I see I will save $1,000 under Obama's plan and zero under McCain's. The ads all lie! One needs to look at the facts (e.g. www.factcheck.org). I did, which is why I will give Obama a chance.

Under our last few "Conservative" presidents (Reagan [$155 Billion deficit], Bush 1 [$290 Billion deficit], and Bush 2 [$500 Billion-ish] ), our deficit blossomed! Tax-and-spend Liberal Democrat Clinton left office with a $236 Billion surplus, which Bush 2 has squandered away. The facts are there, so that's another plus on Obama's side.

I have gone on long enough. While not a hearty endorsement, I encourage you to give Obama a chance. I will.

Probitas

2008-10-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

It all comes down to one saying. From George Bernard Shaw: "Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it." I would love to consider myself a Libertarian and push for a Libertarian philosophy, but in reality, I can't see most people being responsible enough to make the ideas work.

Back when I started teaching, the principal's philosophy was Freedom with Responsibility. It sounds so easy, but as we have seen through they years, it ain't gonna happen. People want their freedom, but they aren't responsible enough to handle it.

I am bothered by the news of late whether crime or economics or politics, our society is on the edge of out-of-control - we're living in a Lord of the Flies world. For our society to work, all people need to do is be responsible - whether a "high-powered" CEO or a kid in the inner city. People are promoting and living their own agendas and the rest of 'em be damned. Whether power, fun, freedom, survival, or belonging (from Wm. Glasser), chances are good one or more of the aforementioned concepts motivate most people to be who they are and do what they do.

JFK had it right: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

An Incomplete Victory

2008-10-16T05:07:00.001-07:00

To the right is a photo of "Winged Victory of Samothrace." The sculpture is 11 feet tall and, coincidentally, was found on the island of Samothrace; sculpted around 190 BC, it was discovered in 1863. It is currently on display in the Louvre in Paris and represents the Greek goddess Nike, but I suspect the real goddess had a head and arms.
Anyhow, perhaps the sculpture is a good symbol for my senatorial campaign. While the election is still a few weeks off, I already feel a small but incomplete sense of victory. At a local diner and at the local supermarket, someone has stopped me and said, "I hear you're running for office." That suggests to me that some word of my candidacy has gotten out.
I doubt any papers have run the press releases I sent out; why should they? Think about it - The System has given us two opposing mainstream candidates who represent, well, The System. They have raised and will spend millions of dollars for a job that pays $169,300! I, meanwhile, am spending nothing but some time. Just suppose for a moment that the papers did run my press releases, and suppose the papers' reporters and radio and TV personalities picked up on them and called me and asked questions that I answered "right" enough. And suppose as a Washington outsider and independent thinker I appealed to enough people who ended up electing me, and I, as one of the ordinary people, ended up making a real difference. As a person who owes nothing to anyone, I can do that; real "politicians" can't.
As we get closer to the election, I will send out another press release or two; I am doing my part. If I can just get the papers to do theirs....

p.s. To see my press releases and some positions, go to www.bermansbits.com and click on Politics.

Press Release

2008-10-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

The image to the left is of the first known politician; I found it online and used it without permission (if you are the owner, may I use it?). Anyhow, it speaks for itself.

That said, I have decided that because I am so upset over today's passage of the sell out, oops, I mean bailout, I am declaring my candidacy for United States Senator from New Hampshire. I know I have less of a chance than Pat Paulson (at least people knew him from TV). Consider the following from www.paulson.com:

"JAN-22-DETROIT, MI - Even deceased, presidential candidate Pat Paulsen managed to garner more votes than Democratic candidate Kucinich in several precincts of Michigan’s January 15th primary.

Paulsen’s two-week Michigan effort to get out the vote on a Democratic ballot that featured Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel, Christopher Dodd and the ultimate second-place finisher, UNCOMMITED, turned out to be a treasure trove of votes for Pat Paulsen.

In spite of the warnings posted by bureaucratic clerks that write-in votes would not be counted in the early Michigan Primary, hundreds of voters, both Democratic and Republican, exercised their conscience and their constitutional right to choose the next president of the United States by writing in Pat Paulsen on Tuesday, January 15, 2008."

He got "hundreds of votes." I'll be happy with dozens.

Here is the Press Release I will be sending out this coming week:

Rumney Man is None of the Above

(RUMNEY) “This is what happens when my wife leaves me home alone,” winks Dave Berman, a retired high school English teacher who lives in Rumney, NH. “I followed the progress of The Bailout from its original three pages up to the 451-page version that was finally approved, and I was outraged! I knew I had to do something! We average citizens have been shafted enough!”

With that, Berman has tossed his cap into the political arena as a last-minute, None-of-the-Above write-in candidate for New Hampshire’s United States Senator opening (either party). “This is my campaign,” he says about this interview. “I owe nothing to anyone, and that’s the way it should be. If one person gave me $100 to help my efforts, I would owe that person. That’s what Washington is all about.”

He is hoping a grass-roots, neighbor-telling-neighbor movement will get his name out and result in at least several votes which will say nothing other than that people are fed up with Washington’s fat-cat business-as-usual attitude. Berman says that politics is a rich person’s world. “I just read a report that showed the wealthiest Congress people have worth in the tens of millions of dollars. It’s time we have someone who really understands what the average person is going through these days. As of July, Senator Sununu was sitting on over six million dollars of campaign funds; former Governor Jeanne Shaheen had just under four million dollars. Berman has his computer, his desk, and his website (for more details and to view his main positions, visit www.bermansbits.com – click on Politics), all of which cost considerably less than $6 million. “If newspapers will publish this release, it’s a start. The people who are as disgusted with the Washington insiders as I am will do the rest.”

The self-described Liberal-Conservative, Conservative -Liberal candidate has no experience with politics but feels he has to do something. “I want to give the average person another choice. In some ways, I am the Sarah Palin of New Hampshire, but she knows more about politics than I do (and is better looking).” When word came that the bailout (“Sell out,” says Berman) passed the House, he was furious. He says a newspaper editorial lead paragraph sums it up: “The American people responded to the gigantic "trust us" bailout plan by screaming, "Hell, no!" The people demanded more accountability and less risk for their tax money. But instead, we got "sweeteners" to make the same plan more palatable to hold-out House and Senate members. This is exactly why the people distrust Washington” (Union Leader 10/3/08).

Berman adds, “If you send me to Washington, I won’t forget you. The only connection I have to big oil is through the hose that fills my car. Seriously, remember my name, and write me in. Your vote for me will say nothing more than ‘I agree – enough is enough! Throw ‘em out!’”

-30-

If you live in New Hampshire, I ask for your write-in vote Can I really be worse than the other choices? Contact me at: senatorberman@gmail.com for details or go to www.bermansbits.com and click Politics for more information.

If elected, I will, um, well, I don't really know what I'd do except the best I can for the hard-working, decent people of New Hampshire. Thank you.

Politics - FEH!

2008-10-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

Americans as consumers need to wean ourselves off our voracious appetite... for credit. Read on.

There are still those people who don't understand why many "politicians" (meant in the most extreme pejorative sense) are loathed by so many. The past several weeks are a particularly good example.

I have tried to follow the "bailout" (even though the media have recently stopped using the word), and while I have only heard one person describe it in possibly acceptable terms (Senator Judd Gregg), I really don't understand it other than many did wrong and will be rewarded, while the public who is hurt will be hurt more by the costs. Yeah, it's complicated, but I don't feel I can accept the government's word that this expensive (talk about understatement) "fix" is all for the best - time will tell. Instead of throwing more money at a problem (the American way), I'd be looking at what happened, who did what and why, and how can we prevent this from ever happening again!

Anyhow, the original bailout was three pages long. Then the House politicians discussed and "negotiated," and the draft was suddenly 42 pages long. Not yet satisfied, nearly a week of ongoing talks between Treasury Secretary Paulson and key lawmakers followed, and the new working version was now up to 102 pages. It was voted down, because the people spoke... wrote letters, emailed, and called.

Then the Senate decided to get in on the action (here's the good part): Once the Senate was done adding "sweeteners" today to "entice" reluctant House Republicans to change their minds and vote for the bailout, the bill heading for discussion and probably passage tonight (I am guessing) had grown to 451 pages (a most appropriate number if you are into allusions [think Bradbury]) ! I would love to know what else ended up in it! Government pork is not my meat of choice. I believe it was Ronald Reagan who described the government as being like an infant with an insatiable appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. That about sums it up as we see how eagerly some are trying their darnedest to spend us into bankruptcy! I predict the bailout will pass, and I only hope for the best but expect the worst.

I need to do more than call and email my representatives, which I have done. I have decided to offer voters a choice of someone else (a sort of None of the Above); someone who is of the people and for the people! I am not ready to write our country off. So, I will soon be promoting myself as a write-in candidate for the position of United States Senator from New Hampshire. If you are reading this, you are among the first to know as I am still in the planning stages. There will be more soon, but I figure why not? I have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Putney Swope did it, so can I. I would enjoy Being There. If Chauncey Gardiner can do it, so can I! In the movie Chauncey noted, "In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again." I fully agree!

2008-09-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

(This may not work because I am sick and should be up in bed, but I did feel it necessary to at least get something posted.) An employee where I used to teach recently filed a complaint about John Irving's Hotel New Hampshire. She didn't think it was appropriate to read, so instead of returning it and saying something to the librarian, she initiated the book challenge procedure to try to remove the book from the library. Sad.

This current week through October 4th is Banned Books Week. The concept of banning books is a big No-no in my world! Interestingly, while I am against censorship, there are things I believe should be censored - go figure.

Here's my issue - if a student's parent don't want him or her reading a book, fine, but Don't you dare tell the rest of the class what they can or can't read or me what I can or can't teach! I checked one top 100 list of challenged books, and I taught at least 14 of them! I mean Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, Flowers for Algernon, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and To Kill a Mockingbird???? What was I thinking? Maybe they were okay because no one challenged them. All it takes is one person

The following ten quotes are to ponder. I didn't pick them - I found them. If anyone asks, I will create and post a better look at censorship and find at least ten quotes I would have picked. There are a few good ones here!

(10) "We all know that books burn, yet we have the greater knowledge that books cannot be killed by fire. People die, but books never die. No man and no force can put thought in a concentration camp forever. No man and no force can take from the world the books that embody man's eternal fight against tyranny of every kind."
—Franklin D. Roosevelt

(9) "What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist."
—Salman Rushdie

(8) “Imagine books and music and movies being filtered and homogenized. Certified. Approved for consumption. People will be happy to give up most of their culture for the assurance that the tiny bit that comes through is safe and clean. White noise.”
—Chuck Palahniuk

(7) "Damn all expurgated books; the dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book."
—Walt Whitman

(6) "Every burned book or house enlightens the world; every suppressed or expunged word reverberates through the earth from side to side."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

(5) “It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creeds into law if it acquires the political power to do so, and will follow it by suppressing opposition, subverting all education to seize early the minds of the young, and by killing, locking up, or driving underground all heretics.”
—Robert A. Heinlein

(4) “Intelligence is the capacity to receive, decode and transmit information efficiently. Stupidity is blockage of this process at any point. Bigotry, ideologies etc. block the ability to receive; robotic reality-tunnels block the ability to decode or integrate new signals; censorship blocks transmission.”
—Robert Anton Wilson

(3) “Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.”
—Potter Stewart, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court

(2) "An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all."
—Oscar Wilde

(1) "There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches. Every minority, be it Baptist/Unitarian, Irish/Italian/Octogenarian/Zen Buddhist, Zionist/Seventh-day Adventist, Women's Lib/Republican, Mattachine/FourSquareGospel feels it has the will, the right, the duty to douse the kerosene, light the fuse. Every dimwit editor who sees himself as the source of all dreary blanc-mange plain porridge unleavened literature, licks his guillotine and eyes the neck of any author who dares to speak above a whisper or write above a nursery rhyme."
—Ray Bradbury

These were found on Alternative Reel.com

Hearing a Different Drummer...

2008-09-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

When I was younger (waaay younger), I thought I was pushing the envelope when I wore pointed black leather slip-on shoes with heel taps, white socks, and "pegged" pants (tapered and tight with slash pockets in front (horizontal). The shirt was a standard Oxford with a loop on the back that girls used to target. Gives the standards of the time, that was pretty far out of the norm. Today, I have a small gold hoop in a pierced ear.

The United Kingdom's Daily Mail online carried a story today that caught my eye in a big way! From the paper: "As obsessions go this has to be one of the weirdest known to man - someone who would voluntarily file his teeth, split his lip and undergo extensive facial surgery - to turn himself into a 'human tiger'. Dennis Avner, 50, is descended from American Indians, and has spent 'an uncalculated amount' of money on making himself look like a big cat, after a discussion with a Native chief who inspired him to 'follow the ways of the tiger'. Avner's body modification operations have included bifurcation (splitting) of his upper lip, surgical pointing of the ears, silicone cheek and forehead implants, tooth filing, tattoos, and facial piercing - to which whiskers can be attached. Avner, from Tonopah, Nevada, likes to go by his Indian name 'Stalking Cat'. 'I am Huron and following a very old tradition have transformed myself into a tiger,' he says on his website stalkingcat.com. The tiger aficionado - naturally - enjoys climbing trees and must eat meat 'every day, just as a tiger would.' This should be 'as close to raw as possible, or at the temperature that an animal would be if it had just been killed,' he told The Sun. But Cat can't live the tiger's life 24 hours a day - he has human needs too. These he meets by working in an office - 'the only difference is I look like a cat' - or by making personal TV appearances, which have included Larry King Live, VH1's 'Totally Obsessed' and Kerrang! His latest public appearance was at the new Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museum, which opened this week in London's Piccadilly Circus. "

Every generation pushes a bit more and more - black nail polish, pierced tongues and, uh, other parts, tattoos, etc. These people, usually teenagers, were once described as trying on one face after another until they find their own. One lesson to remember and take from this small offering is from something Henry David Thoreau wrote: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." Here is a man who exemplifies the idea expressed in the quote. There is little I can add except, "March on, Stalking Cat. March on!"

2008-08-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you a story from probably 15 years ago (actually, I don't have to, but I want to). I was walking through my hallway at school (actually the hallway wasn't really mine. It was where my classroom was [actually, the classroom wasn't ... never mind]) and came across a girl standing motionless at her locker looking pensive. I stopped and asked her if everything was okay. She said yes, that she was just worried about her SAT scores. I asked how she did, and she replied that she had gotten a 575 and a 625. Given the overall decline in scores, I didn't think that was so bad and told her so. I asked why she was worried. She said, "You don't understand. I took them twice; those are my total scores from each time added together." Oops.

Fast forward to the present. From Yahoo News comes some news today that isn't so good - for a second straight year, SAT scores for the most recent high school graduating class stayed at the lowest level in nearly a decade, a trend attributed to a record number of students now taking the test. The piece goes on to compare the results to past years and says, "You only had the best of the best taking the test. (Today) the SAT has become far more inclusive."

So, why is this such a big deal? Think about it. I am sure there are still students racking up perfect scores or near-perfect scores. Just because some other "competitors" may rack up the lowest possible scores that may be bringing down the average (may?), does their skewing results take away at all from those attaining perfection or near-perfection? Of course not! Great scores are still great. So why the shock and awe about increasingly lousy overall SAT scores?

To make this clearer, let's look at the Olympics. Supposedly the best of the best athletes in the world take part; perhaps we need to admit that approach is, uh, elitist and exclusionary. We need to allow more athletes of all abilities to participate; everyone should be able to join in. The world-record shatterers will still ultimately continue to shatter records, won't they? And maybe those who aren't as good or just don't care but were pressured to participate will be inspired to rise to a higher level of performance (or not). And the crème de la crème will still perform as well and break records, Unfortunately the news will say average times and scores are falling, but does that really matter? After all, the Olympics would be becoming far more inclusive, and as a result, average scores will fall, but so what.

One final thought. Maybe we can modify the events to give everyone a level playing field. You know, like in the marathon, instead of making everyone run the 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 kilometers), maybe some could run a mile or two and be given full credit for that accomplishment if that's all they can do. Maybe others could use motorized vehicles over the distance or be carried on the backs of strong runners. Whatever it takes to accommodate those less able to perform the event should be considered. That way, everyone will be equal, scores and times won't look so bad, and isn't that what today is all about?

Later.

A Racist by Any Other Name...

2008-08-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

We are very soon to hear who Barack Obama has picked as his running mate. As I am currently not at all impressed with mainstream politics-as-usual, the only hope I see is his selecting Bill Richardson; then I might take a closer look at Obama.

Otherwise, I will probably head back to supporting the Libertarian party as that's where my heart and mind reside; if I vote for what I believe in, I do not feel I am wasting my vote in that case.

Anyhow, to the purpose of this entry: I have no shortage of emails arriving from some hard-core Republican acquaintances out there eagerly forwarding anything that is anti-Obama, whether it makes sense or not. One person went so far as to send along a couple of "jokes" that loudly answered the question I had about whether he is anti-Obama because he's a Democrat or because Obama's black. In this person's case, it's the latter. The "joke" went beyond even my threshold for humor! I am no prude when it comes to jokes - I will tell (to a select group) jokes about almost anything if they are funny and obviously a joke. There is no dark agenda when I tell a joke even though to some people the joke may reinforce a "truth" or stereotype in their minds; in fact, those people will never hear my jokes.

After 31 years in the classroom, my sense of humor was driven deep underground. People with no sense of humor were in charge and made it clear to watch where we tread. Probably twice a year, I'd make a comment in class before I thought about what I was saying and while still smiling think to myself, "OMG, I'm going to get a phone call or be called into the principal's office. I'm doomed!" But it virtually never happened (except three times, which isn't bad for 31 years). The second time, it was recommended that I attend a course in sensitivity training, which, if you really know me at all, is like saying the same thing about Mother Teresa. A lot of people came to my defense, and for reasons only known to the Almighty, the whole thing just suddenly disappeared (as did the third time, which shouldn't have happened at all).

Anyhow, if you don't like the politics of Obama or McCain, fine; that's what it's all about. If you have another agenda, sometimes, it's easy to spot (see the picture, which I used without permission as I didn't know who to ask). In that case, your opinion isn't valid in my book. Sorry.
__________________________

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." M. L. King, Jr.

Later.

I Brought You to this Blog to Tell You a Secret...

2008-08-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

I don't really think it will ever happen, but I have a deep-rooted fear that someday someone will call and tell me I have been invited to be a guest on the Maury show where someone has a secret they want to share with me. Can you imagine? That's the stuff nightmares are made of.

Well, keeping with the theme, I do have a secret to share, but I won't invite you onto national TV to share it (why do people do that). Weekday mornings at 9 am, if circumstances permit, I plop myself down and, gulp, actually watch Maury. I don't know why I do it - I am ashamed of myself, but I can't help it. I have read books, gone to meetings, and even tried a TV patch on my arm, but I can't stop. Yes, I am powerless. Watching Maury is like passing by a terrible car accident - I put my hand over my eyes but slowly spread my fingers apart and peek (or more).

All of that said, I ran across a column on www.FSUnews.com, the online edition of the Florida State University student newspaper. The column captured the excitement of the show I go through when I watch. So, I did what any responsible blogger would do and copied the column to post here. Then my conscience got the better of me, and I emailed for permission to repost the column, which was promptly granted (thank you Chris Lewis, General Manager). Share with me now the excitement of the Maury show - just about any Maury show as most are variations on a theme.

Television for the downtrodden
by Rachel Hoiles

Issue date: 1/13/05

At some point in life, most people must come to terms with the fact that they will never be Hollywood celebrities or powerful, national dictators. While sane people generally embrace this notion by joining unions and taking out life insurance policies, others seek their fortune on "The Maury Povich Show."

What makes the guests of the "Maury Show" special is that unlike guests on "Oprah" and "The View," they don't pollute valuable TV time with book promotions, Olympic accomplishments, or any sort of recognized talent (other than a mean right hook and the ability to procreate at ungodly high rates). But how could they have time for books and such when there are so many ways to tell your spouse that you were born a 'Wayne' rather than a 'Wanda'?

I appreciate that many of Maury's guests lack the most basic math skills, which, oddly enough, seems to be a fairly common problem that never gets its own episode. You'll never see, "Numerically Challenged ... I Have the Math Skills of a Household Rodent." In fact, arithmetic seems to be at the root of most problems for guests of "The Maury Povich Show," as many are simply unable to figure out how many people they had sex with in any given month. Take for example the guests on "Outrageous Paternity Test Results and Updates." These episodes feature distraught women desperate to prove that Candidate X is the father of their child. Maury really shines in these episodes because he gets to show his sensitive side.

MAURY: Carlita is here today because she believes that Arnold is the father of her eight-month old boy, Jake.

AUDIENCE: (Sees picture of Jake on projector screen) Awwww (Heads nod approvingly -- the baby is a hit.)

CARLITA: (Wipes away tears) That's right, Maury, I know that Arnold is the daddy of my baby, even though I sleep with many, many men.

MAURY: Come on out, Arnold!

ARNOLD: (walks onto stage, audience boos) Lying b----!

CARLITA: (hurls shoes at Arnold's head) Lying motherf---er!" (My note: this writer is good! All I hear are bleeps and more bleeps; I never was much good at lipreading.)

After the paternity test results are read aloud for dramatic effect, the feelings onstage go from rage to grief/gloating.

MAURY: (opening test results) Arnold, when it comes to eight-month old Jake, you are NOT the father.

ARNOLD: (jumps up and down in glee) Boo-ya!

CARLITA: Whaaat??! (bursts into tears)

MAURY: (Pats Carlita's back) There, there.

You could also watch any of this episode's ten thousand duplicates, such as "I'm Afraid to Tell You ... Our Baby Might Not Be Yours," "I Know He's the Father of My Baby...Take a Paternity Test to Prove It," and the classic, "My Mom is 100 Percent Sure I Am Not the Father of Your Baby." Many of these shows also feature sequels and/or trilogies.

Every once in a while Maury will give his program a change of pace by featuring makeover specials, such as "Turn My Wife Back Into the Super-Sexy Woman I Married," and the twist on that, "Turn That Gorgeous Gal Back Into My Handsome Son." Both are equally stimulating episodes, and require little or no conscience to enjoy. Guests are generally humiliated, but can take comfort in the fact that no matter how bad they look, at least they're not on "I'm Terrified of Chalk, Hair and Circus Clowns" (air date Oct. 24, 2002) or "Baby, I Didn't Mean to Scar You" (air date May 5, 1999).

It's a good thing Maury never runs out of ideas, and is never afraid to track down 230 pound 8-year-olds.

And it's hard to believe this guy is married to Connie Chung.

-30-

So, there you have it - a vicarious visit with the Maury show. Now, do you understand why I can't help watching? I don't either. Sigh.

Later.

2008-08-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

(The Following is a Shameless Unpaid Advertisement)

I want to buy a house for $200 (using other people's money), turn it around, and resell it for a 10 million dollars! I want to sit in my bathrobe (I don't wear pajamas) and make millions sitting at my computer with just a few, simple clicks! I want to buy and sell stocks online and watch the millions roll in while I laugh at bills! I want a sparkling clean colon... oops! Forget that last one. Anyhow, I am out of work at the moment and need to generate a steady stream of income (in short, I need a financial version of Flomax). Unfortunately, in reality, it's not that easy.

Although I currently have many, many job applications out there (one actually [and a letter requesting appointment as a Bail Commissioner]), I am not really working.... or, until recently, I wasn't. Yes, I am still a Justice of the Peace, I casually sell personalized advertising specialties, and I collect a pitiful retirement check, but the three together don't go terribly far. All together, I probably am bringing in enough to pick up a Homer Simpson Chia Pet each month ($19.95 from www.thesimpsonshop.com).

Anyhow, when I knew "retirement" was becoming a reality, I began spending many, many hours online looking at "Make Money from Home" and "Become a Millionaire" offerings. I knew I could pick any one of the offerings and become an instant millionaire, but there was that nagging little voice questioning why more people weren't doing this. There are thousands and thousands of such "opportunities"; why aren't more people taking advantage of them? Are they for real?

(READER ALERT - a nasty four-letter word follows in the next sentence): Being brought up with an old-fashioned set of values, I always believed that to earn money, one needed to work for it, which brings to mind an old saying: "Why is it people born on third base walk around like they hit a triple?" Yes, I would love to be handed a check for a million dollars, but it isn't going to happen, so I fell back on the concept of making money the old-fashioned way - by working for it.

Sooo, I found an opportunity that appears to have NO downside, and with your help, I can make enough money to feed my family and animals (sometimes they seem like one and the same), put gas in the car (not that way - through the filler), keep the landlord happy (me), keep the family warm through our long New Hampshire winters, and maybe, just maybe, sock some funds away so that someday I really can retire!

After much research, I made a decision, and am now a Fuller Brush Man (technically an Independent Fuller Brush Distributor). The job offers everything I want - it keeps me busy and off the streets at night. There are other benefits as well, but I will save those for another entry. As I shortly need to close here, I will leave you with two thoughts: (1) Check out my website and buy my products. Think of Miss Jessica eating pasta most of the time (true [but actually her choice]). The site is www.fullerdirect.com. You need to accurately enter all of the following seven numbers - 0841110 and then browse to your little heart's content and order many mostly American-made products (that's gotta count for something). Postage and handling remains constant, so order away! Just think of the gas you will be saving. (2) If you would like to emulate me and follow in my footsteps, get out and meet lots of people, and make some extra money and have fun doing it, sign up as an Independent Distributor through me. You get the same great products at a nice discount, meet great people, and can ultimately quit your boring 9 -to-5 job. I will help you and take good care of you! Send an email to fbdaveb@gmail.com. Think about it. Thanks.

Later.

[Actor Portrayal. Your Results Will Vary. Unique Experience. Results Not Typical. Not Intended to Prevent or Treat any Disease or Condition. Dramatization. Professional Driver on Closed Course. I'm Dave Berman, and I approved this Ad. Seek the Advice of your Physician Before Starting any Treatment.]

One Person, One Vote....

2008-08-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about this upcoming election, and I am still not impressed with my two choices (as far as the mainstream press goes, there are only two parties and two candidates). I keep thinking I should vote my conscience (Libertarian), but I also am thinking that may be a wasted vote. In the last election, Kerry received my vote, but it wasn't so much for him as it was against Bush. I thought my one vote just might make a difference - it didn't.

So, how much does one vote really matter? I am one person (one vote), and does my one vote really count toward anything? If we look at popular vote, my vote doesn't really matter at all. We are talking about one vote here, not bunches of one votes like bunches of one raindrops creating a flood. As a matter of fact, when it comes to popular vote, nobody's vote matters. In 2004, Bush (the victor) received some 50,455,156 votes, while Gore (the vanquished) received 50,992,335. Thinkers might wonder, "What's wrong with this picture," but they don't matter either, but that's not the point here.

Back in 1974, we in New Hampshire experienced the closest election ever in Senate history; it was between John Durkin (D) and Louis Wyman (R), and among its various recounts, at its closest, it was two votes apart, so my one vote still wouldn't have mattered. As it turned out, a special election was ultimately held, and Wyman emerged some 27,000 votes ahead.

So, I am left with a question: what's a voter to do? I think I really already answered it above. My only other question now is what if in some Putney Swope (quite an esoteric allusion) quirk of fate a Libertarian even got elected? How would the Libertariam platform ever be put into actual practice? The philosophy of freedom with responsibility sounds great, but my view of humanity is that pretty much everyone wants freedom, but few will accept the connected responsibility. If you have an answer, let me know.

Later.

I Can't Stop Monking Around

2008-08-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it - there's a little bit of Monk in me... well, maybe more than a little. There are times I just can't help myself.

When I am in a store or someone's home and see an even slightly askew picture frame on the wall, I straighten it. When I see award plaques that are atilt on a wall, the same thing. In restaurants, chalkboard specials and menus provide particularly fertile grounds for me; I always point out errors I find; sometimes the chalkboard is changed; sometimes not. I can't help myself - I have to say something. Even standing at a checkout counter where a small pile of impulse items rests, I find myself aligning them to even them out. I once even wrote to Dean Koontz to tell him of an error in one of his books. He graciously thanked me and said he had done his research and must have been given faulty information (he had).

I was reminded of the above last night when I was reading a Lisa Gardner novel The Other Daughter (I follow authors when I find one I like - she is the latest. I have a pile of eight of her novels I am working through). A reader and writer have to work together - the writer's work has to ring true as the reader suspends his or her disbelief as the journey unfolds. A long time ago, for example, one book I read was set in Boston. The writer describe an area I was intimately familiar with; the problem is he described it wrong. That ruined the rest of the book for me - I disbelieved!

Back to Lisa Gardner (I would have written directly to her, but I couldn't find contact information. Maybe someone will forward what follows to her). As a character, an FBI agent, is handed a pistol, he says, "My God, this sucker has radioactive sites! I've only ever heard of them." My first thought was it's a typo, but it happened again... and again a third time on the next page. That was no typo: "Radioactive sites!" I did a quick Google search and found out a lot about radioactive sites. Whooda thunk the government was hiding the stuff right in plain sight on gun sights? Whooda thunk it? Arrrgh!

Later.

2008-07-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

(///////////////)
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(/////////////)
/ / / / / / / /
/ / / / / /

Okay, work with me here - that's a symbolic representation of rain above - it seems that like this past winter where we had no shortage of snow, most every day recently (and them some) has been rainy. Even if there's no rain, the humidity makes it feel like we're swimming in soup. Arrrgh! It's unpleasant and annoying. I just thought I'd share that.

On other fronts, I am just starting to look for a new job. I am watching my summer money level slowly dropping, which puts on the pressure - as a friend told me, we do what we have to do! It's that simple. I will keep you posted.

Later.

If it Ain't Broke...

2008-07-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more ?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time ?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, and sing a few songs... I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you ! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that ?" asked the Mexican.

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City ! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take ?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that ?"

"Afterwards ? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions !"

"Millions ? Really ? And after that ?" said the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings doing what you like and enjoying your friends."

"With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what I am doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years ?" asked the Mexican.

And the moral is: Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.

~Author Unknown~

I love that story and the message it sends!
If I need to explain further, you won't get it.

Later.

No Matter How You Slice It...

2008-07-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

(Photo from www.everytattoo.com)

I thought that today was the day - that I had finally gotten through! It's not like I am asking for anything big or complicated, but, alas, it again wasn't to be. I have gotten into the Dunkin' Donuts (DD) routine whenever I take my daughter for a riding lesson or whenever I am heading out on an adventure. Anyhow, today was an adventure - my wife and I were meeting three other Lions to cater a horse show as a fund-raiser (dogs, burgers, chips, and soda or water). I was the cook. I smell like a hamburger, but that's another story.

Anyhow, before our trek north to the show grounds this morning, we stopped at DD's. I ordered my usual - a poppy bagel and coffee; Miss Kim got coffee and doughnuts (unusual). Our bill came to $7.15; I paid with a ten. The new kid in training behind the counter took my ten and handed me back $7.15. I kept my hand out and said, "I think you made a mistake." He looked puzzled. He said that I had given him a ten. I said he had given me too much, handed it back, and told him to give me back $2. 85. He was incredulous! He said, "You could've gotten away with it!" Yes, I could have, but I am an honest person - apparently a rarity in today's youthful world. (I would not want to be the one looking at today's balance sheet, but that wasn't the issue.)

When I order the bagel, every time I say, "Toasted, with plain cream cheese, spread on it, and would you cut it in half, please." Trouble is they can't. Almost no employee there understands what it means to "cut it in half." I don't think it's really that hard a concept to understand. My daughter thinks it's funny. Back in the car, she delights in opening the bag, finding my bagel, and, rolling her eyes, announcing that it's not cut. One day, when I walked over to the person preparing my bagel, I caught his eye and made slicing motions with my hand as he bagged it (whole). He thought I wanted to shake his hand.

Today, I explained to the order-taker that I wanted it sliced in half - I even pantomimed the motion. He understood; he really did! But somehow, the message never got from him to the preparer. Back in the car, it was my wife who discovered the bagel sliced horizontally (technically, it was in half but not vertically). I think that the problem is the person taking the order is not the person fulfilling the order, and something gets lost in the few feet they're apart.

I know I can make this happen regularly; I just don't know how yet. Sigh.

Later.

Drip...drip...drip...

2008-07-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Today I had to pick up a pair of thinning shears we had sent out to get sharpened. All was fine until I looked across the street and saw a Blood Drive happening at the church. I decided then and there that it had been a while, so....

Since my shopper-friendly town allows thirty-minutes of free parking before nailing you with a $10 ticket, I thought it would be a good idea to leave a note on the window saying I was donating blood, which I knew would take more than half an hour (I guess it worked - there was no ticket). The drive was sponsored by the local Hannaford grocery chain, which is really a part of the Brussels-based Delhaize Group. Fortunately the store's workers and today's volunteers are all still local, which adds a pleasant, friendly atmosphere (as did the wonderful cheese and crackers, grapes, drinks, and other goodies they supplied).

On the plus side, all went pretty well - I didn't tell the nurses about my world-traveling, African, intravenous-drug-using, newly tattooed wife who gets "friendly" with HIV-active, uh, well, friends, but that's my business, not theirs (ONLY KIDDING! [I can see the Red Cross people gasping about now!]). Seriously, I checked out well enough to donate! I was reminded of the scene in "Beetlejuice" when he's sitting in the Waiting Room of Lost Souls. I was number 29, but it may as well have been the one Beetlejuice himself got before he switched it.

Anyhow, when I finally made it onto the donation lounger (you know, the beach-chair like thing), I knew I was good to go. My nurse, it turns out, and I have a past. - we were once naked together - me on an operating table and she under her uniform. When I wrote Berman's Bits for the area paper, her husband was my editor (small world). In the middle of my draining, two other nurses replaced her - one was in training. Her mentor said things like, "Be sure to shake his thing" and "Shake his bag" (seriously, she really did say that! Until I knew what she was referring to, I wasn't sure what to think!) Fortunately, the second nurse was a good learner and got it all right.

When I was all done, and I was finally ready to leave (the whole thing took 2-1/2 hours), the skies opened up and it poured! It was one of those storms I thought people only saw in Florida. I ran (as much as my ancient body let me) to my car and was literally soaked to the skin! Of course, within a mile, the rain had passed and the sun was out, and so it goes.

I gave my first blood in 1967. I was in the National Guard at basic training (Fort Dix, NJ) and was given the choice of an afternoon off if I donated. I figured it couldn't be worse than the training. I was right. Today was my 48th time giving!

Later.

Guest Blogger #1!

2008-07-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

I have to change my mindset! I am no longer a teacher, so I am freer to say what I really think (but it is still quite hard for me to do it at this point - 31 years of self-censorship doesn't just go away overnight).

Anyhow, I have a guest Blogger today (that's him to the left, not me)! I have been reading this gentleman's words for years and was lucky enough to meet him and hear him speak this past year. The connection with my opening: he has done what I haven't been able to - that is be able to freely speak his mind (and write his words) and not care what others think. My work environment was such that the wrong thing said equaled big problems, so I learned to be quiet (or at least very, very carefully watch what I said). Anyhow, the column below arrived today, and I wanted to share it with my readers. The words below pretty much nail our messed-up country today! Read it, and then read it again. I hope you understand and agree. The following is reprinted with permission (assuming "Go for it, Dave" constitutes permission). Enjoy:

THE MIDDLE ROAD: AMERICA'S DESERTED WASTELAND

By Joe Klock, Sr.

As this is being written, our nation is celebrating its 232nd birthday, with gasoline at an all-time high throughout the land and public optimism, in some areas, seemingly finding lower ground on a daily basis.
Having lived through more than a third of America's history (35.345% for anal retentive readers), I have mixed emotions about its present status and future prospects.
To be sure, I applaud the fact that this country has survived a risky birth, a frail infancy and multiple crises, but I'm saddened by some of the changes in public attitude and governmental practices.
Although it is a time-honored policy among political partisans to "point with pride" to all of the principals and principles identified with their parties and "view with alarm" all those of the opposition, the polarization of these views has become increasingly rigid and mean-spirited.
Regrettably, in this presidential election year, it is customary to slap labels on those either holding office, seeking office or merely taking positions on matters politic.
At the highest level, one candidate is seen as oozing leftward, while the other sidles subtly to the right - both, presumably to attract new supporters without abandoning their core sychophants.
The mass media are rife with thinly-concealed propaganda, disguised as news, fact and objective debate. (For evidence of this phenomenon, flip randomly between Fox News and MSNBC between 7:00 pm and bedtime.)
In my small corner of the wordworking world, I have been accused of being both conservative and liberal, often with an accompaniment of pejorative comments and suggestions that my IQ and age are numerically equal numbers.
I plead, incidentally, guilty to both charges, tending to be conservative as to most economic matters and generally liberal in the social arena.
That said - and here I might start losing some of you readers - I feel strongly that those tendencies (an important word there) reflect the position of most Americans who do not fit into the inflexible mold of extremism.
In other words, most of us TEND to be the kind of moderates which most partisans PREtend to be in their public personae.
Also, most of us (exceptions noted above) are willing to concede that those with whom we disagree are not entirely wrong in their beliefs - except in such irreconcilable matters as the support of athletic teams and the proper seasoning of chili con carne.
In the language of partisanese, compromise is regarded as a hateful four-letter word, more appropriately replaced by either the flipping of one finger or the pointing of another.
This is why the blame game is played with respect to such problems as:
- Our hopeless-in-the-short-run dependency on fossil fuels.
- Our rape and pillage of a once-solvent Social Security fund.
- Our sailor-on-leave deficit spending policies.
- The surrender of policy-making to lobbyists and special interests.
- The transformation of our electoral process to an e-Bay auction.
- Our progressive departure from recognizing a power higher than ourselves.
- Disrespect for the flag and disdain of patriotism.
- Almost automatic reelection of underperforming public officials.
- An increase in laws and decrease in order.
- Shameless pandering to illegal immigrants and their (voting) supporters.
- Scorn from some international enemies and screwings from some friends.
All of these national scourges - among many others - are hot topics in the current campaign atmosphere, but have roots dating back through several presidencies and congressional transitions.
So when a single finger is flipped outward in the present, several others point backward, and none of our major problems can be laid on the doorstep of a single party, candidate or the immediate past.
What is missing in the "Sturm und Drang" of our current situation is an invasion by our elected leaders and self-appointed opinionists into the largely unoccupied wasteland of compromise.
Therein often is heard such encouraging words as "you have a point there," and "let's sit down and hammer out a solution" and "I said something really stupid, didn't I?" and "WE made a mistake, folks."
Until such sensible dialogue comes into vogue, we'll continue to be misguided by the rhetoric of those "pride pointers" and "alarm viewers," while the future Fourths of our descendants shape up as less festive occasions, with more candles, but smaller cakes.
Disagree with me if you wish, but please spare me the fingers!
One final thought: Oh, say, can you see any familiar figures in that middle ground?
Great lyrics for a new National Anthem, maybe, as our star-spangled banner doth seem to be wavering a bit.

Freelance wordworker Joe Klock, Sr. (joeklock@aol.com) is a winter Floridian who summers in Holderness, New Hampshire. More of his "Klockwork" can be found at www.joeklock.com. The KlockWorks, Inc., P.O. Box 72, Holderness, NH 03245
Phone: (603) 968-4449 E-Fax: (954) 333-2944 Web: www.joeklock.com
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Everything was Rainbow, Rainbow, Rainbow...

2008-07-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

Except for my usual minor complaints (getting up at 4 AM [Kim and Jessie did - I made it to 5 AM] and a two-hour drive each way, today's horse show at Furnace Brook Farm was a good one! While our showing is not about the ribbons, Jessie did earn eight ribbons out of ten classes including several in 2-foot fence jumping at a canter. Some of her placings were in classes of 10, 11, and 12 riders! She held her own and performed admirably (as did Dixie [aka Southern Constellation], her horse). Setting the tone for the day was when Trainer (and good friend) Sarah found a heads-up good-luck quarter.

The picture above is from our dinner stop on the way home. Keen observers will see the rainbow that shone on our trip back. Jessie is feeding apple slices to the camera-shy Dixie (if you know what you are looking for, you can see her ear). We did run into some severe thunderstorms on our return trip, but we made it safe and sound.

This show was a step up from our usual area shows. There were some great riders and horses there. Jessie has come so far so quickly this year; she's now riding with a confidence that was not present earlier. We are all so proud of her.

Later.

Close your eyes...

2008-06-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

Close your eyes, click your heels three times, and say, "There's no place like the ocean; there's no place like the ocean...."

Seems like just yesterday we were complaining about the amount of snow we had last winter. Interestingly, today is the last day in NH that can be counted toward a season's total snowfall, the last of which was certified as the snowiest in a hundred years but still 2-1/2 inches shy of the all-time record since recorded totals. Meanwhile, the pattern of hot, humid days and chance of afternoon thunder showers continues. I tempted fate today and went out on my motorcycle for a few errands. I did get smacked in the face by a few raindrops, but anything big held off. I pretty much am a fair-weather rider. Normally, I get within three miles of my home before the skies open up, but today was fine riding. Gas up our way is $3.98 today, down from $4.01. Now that I think about it, I could probably make the case for domestic terrorism with what's happening with prices. I have a budget plan for oil with which I pay year 'round. The plan will be "re-evaluated in January, but my current monthly bill is $575... and I thought last year's was high at $269. As many switch to wood, I can only imagine where cord prices are headed. I got tired of schlepping wood every day, so I went with oil. My back is shot (or at least wounded, so that's not an easy option this year. Besides, the space I kept the wood is currently filled with horses, hay, and shavings (not to mention a few new-found kittens currently being fed by Miss Kim). Sigh.

I attended my first official Retirees' Breakfast today. On the last Monday of each month, recent and not-so-recent retirees (former colleagues) gather at a downtown diner for breakfast. Some weeks, four or five people show up - today there were 17. Of course, the diner had one cook on and was busy to boot. I didn't get what I ordered, but it was close enough to keep my mouth shut (except to shovel in the food). We sat at a long table (several slid together), so we were limited to talking to those in our area (actually, there was a little bit of yelling, so we really weren't that limited. We covered topics like safe investments (an oxymoron these days) and good books (I have already forgotten the names I was given).

Well, Jess and I have to head into the big city to feed friends' horses (they're out of town for a few days). Hope all's well with all of you.

Later.

ConGRADuations!

2008-06-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

After spending nearly half an hour trying to resize the picture to the left and remove the red eye, I have only partially succeed in my mission. I should have checked with the computer expert (also pictured left), but she's busy.

Regardless, the ever-effervescent Miss Jessica has taken the next big step in her life journey - she has been graduated from her middle school and will be attending high school in a few short months. Somehow, I can't picture her ready to be reading Shakespeare., but what do I know? I can't even picture her ready for high school, but that's something I have to deal with.

My daughter in high school? Oy! Maybe there's some mistake - maybe she really does want me to read Goodnight Moon or Owl Babies one more time... or maybe I don't know where the time has gone and that my little girl isn't so little anymore. Of course, I haven't changed at all - I am still 46... aren't I? At this point, I offer the following for you to cut and paste in your browser: http://tinyurl.com/3txkrd
There are certain songs I have trouble getting through, and this is one of them... especially at this time looking at Jess's picture.

Well, that's it for now.

Later.

Retirement... or "Renewal"?

2008-06-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

On the day of my high school's annual yearbook assembly, the principal called up this year's five retirees to be recognized (which was strange because I honestly thought everyone knows who I am and what I look like - as if people are going to point and say, "There he is! There's Berman! I recognize him!"). So, as I stood with the others before the gathered multitudes who were madly clapping and cheering for us, a bizarre thought entered my mind - I felt like I was very much a part of the "Renewal" scene from "Logan's Run" (the 1976 movie in which people led a perfect, seamless existence until the age of 30 at which time they were required to go to the public spectacle of "Renewal," which everyone saw as, well, Renewal, but, in fact, turned out to be the entertaining extravaganza of eradication (no wonder some people ran). I felt we were being put on display before going out to permanent pasture.

As of 8:28 AM on Thursday, June 12th, I walked out of my school for the last time as a direct part of it; I will never return except on the other side of the desk as the Ever-effervescent Miss Jessica's father (as a parent). I will never again walk in at 6:45 AM to check my mailbox, never again sign on at the desk top computer to check my email, never again sit with my class at the annual yearbook assembly, never again, well, you get the idea. I will, however, have to stop at the main office to get a visitor's badge. My retirement was the closing of one door, but at the same time was the opening of another. I haven't really looked through the new door yet, but it awaits me; all I have to do is step through and see what's on the other side. Right now, first I have to catch my breath and see where I am before I see where I am going. I will let you know what I find.

Later.

Will Work for Health Insurance!

2008-06-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official - I am now unemployed!

The best part is I jumped through the last-day checking out hoops (even turning in the key that got me into faculty and staff restrooms) and made it home in time to see the latest episode of Maury! That's my (no-longer) secret pleasure, and I wasn't disappointed - today's theme is "I had sex with two sisters... Am I their babies' daddy?" Classic.

On the other hand, the thought that I am now without job keeps creeping into my conscious. This checkout day was like all the others, so there was no big deal there, but come late August, I won't be getting the welcome back letters as I will no longer be an employee. I won't have to get back into the routine of getting up at my usual 5:20 AM. This afternoon is the retirement party for me and the four others who will join me in the ranks of the unemployed. I have enough saved for a few months of fun and frolicking before panicking sets in, but I won't wait - I may take a week or two and then begin beating the bushes for a job. The biggest problem is health insurance. Even with a state subsidy, the plan I have to use will result in well over $900 a month being taken out of my retirement check resulting in the title for this post. That doesn't leave a lot.

Well, I have a party waiting, so more later.

Later.

Well, I'm impressed!

2008-06-07T08:44:00.001-07:00

Wow! First off, I have to tell you - I just got a personal letter from VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE - really - that's what the envelope says in the upper left corner where the return address is. Looking at the rest of the front of the envelope, I think if he were still vice president he could have saved us some real money. This letter he sent to me (typed-out address to me personally and everything) only cost him 8.5 cents to send. Think of it - only 8.5 cents to drop off a business-sized envelope (personally addressed to me) somewhere in Washington, D.C. and have it delivered right to me in New Hampshire for only 8.5 cents! I mean, if I go to mail a letter, it costs over 40 cents (I don't know the exact amount; when I learn what it is, it always seems to go higher again); and then there's gas, which seems to keep going higher as well but doesn't have to! I figure for me to go to the post office, it costs me about $1.2966666 etc. That's just to drive three miles to the building and three miles back. Anyhow, if I didn't have a box in the post office, I could save all that money. What I do know is that I have six stamps left and six one-cent stamps before I have to open the next roll which covers the last price hike. Probably by the time I open it, I'll have to buy another 100 one-cent stamps to cover the next increase. The rest of the story is short - he wanted money from me to help defeat the Republican presidential candidate - John McSame. I really don't care for either party's offering this time around. I am ready to run for office, but that's a story for another time. Al Gore asking me for money - with all he's saving on postage one would think he has saved enough not to have to ask for money.

Well, I am off to perform a wedding, so I gots to go. Make it a great day.

Later.

Today's Adventure!

2008-06-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today was, for the most part, a typical horse show day - at the barn by 6:15am and home by about 8pm. Jessie and Dixie (pictured right) had an outstanding day (she got a reserve champion in one division and champion in another).

The adventure part really began as we were going around a roundabout (if you really want to know about a roundabout check out the entry at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout [it's still a rotary or traffic circle to me]). Let me just say one trailer tyre (oops, I mean "tire." The talk about a roundabout got me feeling veddy British for a moment) came into contact with a kerb (you know what I mean) and in the same way the Titanic touched the iceberg, the tyre did the tyre equivalent of the ship and sank!

Long story short, we pulled into McDonald's for a bite (no, not fish and chips) to garner enough strength to change the unfortunate trailer tyre. First, we removed the horse (see picture) and hand grazed her on the delicious greenery decorating the establishment. Then I, using a Chinese-made lug wrench, impressively managed to loosen five of the seven lug nuts (they hadn't been touched for 5 years and were somewhat rusted in position). Sarah, the truck's driver and friend extraordinaire, realized I might be about to die from the exertion of trying to loosen the last two lug nuts (my face's shade of red and my panting might have been a clew), so she went into the store and found a buff, young man unfortunate enough to be the first person she saw. He came out, and standing on one arm of the lug wrench and yanking on the other managed to free the last two (I must have loosened them for him). When they were all loose, and to our profuse thanks, he retreated back inside conceivably safe once again behind the counter. Sarah, meanwhile, backed the trailer onto a small platform which raised the trailer enough to pull the tyre off and replace it with the spare.

Seeing a horse grazing at McDonald's must have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for patrons we were grateful to provide. Adding urgency to the situation was the fact that the dog waiting at home (no doubt crossing his legs as we were approaching the 13-hour mark, perhaps a new record for him) needed to be let out. Of course, there was no cell phone signal (that happens a lot [way too much, if you ask me, which you didn't]), so even more time elapsed until a call to Ginny, our wonderful neighbor, got through, and she let the poor dog out (he didn't stop long enough to thank her as he raced outside).

Anyhow, I am tired, so that's it for now. What a great, interesting day!

Later.

Oooh! Now I've gone and done it!

2008-05-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

It's official - my resignation from work has been accepted by the school board with regret, which made me feel pretty good - somebody will actually miss me and apparently appreciated my time and efforts (the details behind that statement will be offered at a later time). Ninety percent of my being feels a sense of pride, relief and ultimate confidence that everything will work out meaning I will have to find new work now (preferably with health insurance as a benefit as $900 a month is a bit hard to swallow) and will. I do have a few months' cushion to relax and recover (after all, 31 years in a classroom does things to people), but an online friend suggested I start looking immediately, which I will be doing once school's out - not just for the summer but forever (didn't Alice Cooper have something to say about that?)!

Anyhow, there's the other ten percent of me, which is a twelve-year-old kid screaming, "Oh, no! What have I done!?!?!" That part of me is pictured on this page in the Edvard Munch masterpiece, which I "borrowed" from the Internet. I know I have many wonderful qualities any business would want (along with an "old-fashioned work ethic)! Really! All I have to do is find a business (or start one) that will utilize those admirable offerings. I am, after all, trustworthy ... loyal ... helpful ... friendly ... courteous ... kind ... obedient ... cheerful ... thrifty ... brave ... clean... and reverent (and, while I was a Cub Scout, never even made it to the Boy Scouts. I came by those qualities in other ways). I will certainly keep you posted!

Later.

Picture This!

2008-05-19T17:22:00.001-07:00

There was a time when I didn't think we'd ever be rid of the snow (snowiest in 100 years). We came within a few inches of an all-time record, but we fell a bit short. I'll be back to the picture on the right a bit later.

Right now, however, I'd like to mention The Week's recent (May 16th issue) half-page collection of views of the death of Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby. ESPN.com's Pat Forde wrote, "As the racetrack and millions of TV viewers watched in horror, Eight Belles was euthanized by injection, apparently the first horse ever to have died at the Kentucky Derby." Apparently, according to the Washington Post's Sally Jenkins' citing of statistics, experts estimate 1.5 fatal horse injuries for every 1,000 starts. Of course, people are renewing the call for the banning of horse racing or at least major changes to lessen the numbers of injuries and deaths. That is nothing new, but with awareness raised by the massive coverage of the valiant efforts to save Barbaro, another horse very publicly injured at the 2006 Preakness, Eight Belles' killing was yet more powerful ammunition for those who want the sport ended. In my case, hearing about these two horses was bad, but seeing it was enough for me to never want to see another horse race again. With two horses peacefully grazing on the Berman homestead and a third boarded not far away, I am around horses enough to realize what wonderfully beautiful creatures they are, and to highly risk their lives with the goal to make money for others is unacceptable to me. Yes, Life happens (as does Death), but to see it up close and in living color is not what I want. I am sure there are many who feel the same way.

That said, I am going to take a leap of faith here and relate an interesting story. A couple of years ago, one of my students brought me a CD slide show to look at. As I was between classes, I put it in and looked at as much as I could. The pictures were taken by his father, who had returned intact (as much as one can) from Iraq. The first picture was of the giant hands holding the more giant crossed swords in Baghdad. The second shot was a building of some sort - typical Iraqi architecture. The third, however, was as far as I got. It was a picture of a leg wound; that's pretty much all I remember, and that's a good thing! Trust me on that one. Now we get to the point. Go to google and select images. Turn off the SafeSearch and type in Iraqi war wound. The first page of results should be enough. You have to see up close and personal the results of the war. My thought is that if seeing two horses ending up dead results in a call for the end of horse racing, seeing the results of the Iraqi war might just have the same effect - it certainly should! The current administration is doing an admirable job of not showing returning wounded and flag-draped coffins (about the only thing it's doing well).Some wars are better than others; this is not one of them! If more people saw what's really happening, maybe our politicians would hear from them and finally get the message.

By the way, the picture at the top? Would that make you want to live in New Hampshire? I didn't think so.

You Win!

2008-05-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay, you win. Yes, I have been delinquent in posting here (and I'm no juvenile), but I didn't think anybody really read this. Well, I was wrong. I have heard lately how little I have posted, so obviously someone is stopping by to check out the ol' blog on a regular basis. That's nice to know - it encourages me to do more and do better, which I intend to do. I could plead that I have been in quite a busy stretch (which I have), but when I really want to do something, I usually can make time. Back in February, I wanted to learn a bit about finances, so over the school vacation week, I read books and incessantly surfed the web to find out about investing, etc. When the week was over, so was my education in the world of higher finance. I learned two major things: (1) there is one heck of a lot to learn making it virtually impossible for the average guy to do well (unless he's really lucky), and (2) with a little research (well within my capabilities), I can probably pick stocks and funds as well as the next guy (if not better). (Random Thought Alert: at dinner tonight, celebrating my good friend's birthday, it was mentioned that I don't have to be quite so self-censoring in a few weeks when I walk out of school for the last time. As a result, I can use words stronger than "heck." I just thought I'd slip that in.)

Anyhow, I will try to do better in the future, but these last few weeks of school are pretty all-encompassing. My final teacher day is June 12th (final as in FINAL - my retirement went through!) I actually have no trouble finding things about which to write - it's just sitting down and doing it. Perhaps a book is in the offing??? Stay tuned.

Later.

My Day at the Horse Show.

2008-05-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I am the faculty "adviser" for my high school's equestrian team (really a liaison). At the first show this year, I spent the entire day hanging around watching and trying to be encouraging and was only slightly helpful. At the second show, I volunteered to help open and close a gate with another volunteer and was somewhat more helpful. Today, I really earned my keep. I opened and closed a double gate for both practice and indoor events, called riders to enter the ring, be on deck, and be ready to be on deck, let the judges know who the riders were and which school each represented, and kept the gateway clear (where horse and rider enter and exit the ring).

I was pretty much on my feet and busy straight through from 8am until about 5pm. I sometimes had someone help, but for the most part, I didn't. I did the work of three people, but my pay reflected the extra work! I was paid three times what I would normally have gotten (3 x 0=0). For the first four hours or so, the weather could only be described as raw. The rest of the day was just chilly until the end of the show when the temperature shot up to about 52. There are many other volunteers who make a day like today successful, but I only know what I did. I am still aching even as I write this. The good news is that my school's team did pretty well - seventy-five percent qualified for the state-level show (that's three of four riders). For their first year in interscholastic competition, that's really impressive.

As my daughter won't be on the team until next year, she took some pictures and helped my wife at the food booth. Usually at a horse show where my daughter does ride, all she has to do is ride her horse and look great as is illustrated in the picture above. I don't do much except take pictures and schlep water, and, you know what? Overall, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Later.

Paging Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard!

2008-05-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'll become a doctor.

While it has not yet been formally accepted, I submitted my letter of resignation from the teaching job I have held for thirty-one years. Assuming there are no problems, I should be officially retired in about six weeks. Unfortunately, the New Hampshire retirement system doesn't make it easy for me to really retire, so I will be seeking another job. Even if it was easier to step aside and take it easy, continuing my health insurance is the killer! I should be getting a stipend from the state to help me along, but even that doesn't come close to covering the ridiculous premiums insurance companies are charging. Yes, the system is out of control and needs some care. I realize that oh too well.

Regarding my retirement, the official story is that uncertainties in the state's retirement policies helped me make my decision to retire now instead of a year or two from now. The unofficial story is fodder for another time.

Ideally, I would like to find something that would allow me to work from home. I have a lot to offer as a worker; I possess the positive qualities that many people today simply don't have. If employers realize that, I should have an easy time finding something. The realities of the workplace, however, may quash my idealism. I have time to look around, and I know I will benefit whoever takes me on. I just need to find someone who understands that. I will certainly keep you posted.

Paging Dr. Berman.... I like the way that sounds.

Later.

None of the Above

2008-04-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

(Picture courtesy of yours truly)

Seriously, what does one do when one finds no actual or still-possible candidate appealing or even vaguely acceptable? When I have asked a few friends, all said to vote anyhow because if I don't "the other" side will have an easier time getting elected. I feel, however, if I vote, it is to support The System of no real choices.

For the first time in a long time, during the primary season, I found a candidate that I could pretty much fully support (pictured above)! I even contributed some money (something I don't recall ever doing before)! I even worked for my candidate and hoped beyond hope that people would see him as a truly viable candidate who had experience, foresight, and wisdom - "the right stuff." Alas, not enough people agreed, and he withdrew leaving us ultimately with what we have as of this writing (in alphabetical order - Barack, Hillary, and John). FEH! They are Politicians (in the worst sense of the word)! Is this the best we can do? I don't believe I have ever missed voting in an an election. I even ran once for a position because there were no other candidates (turned out so did someone else, so there was a contest). I did no negative campaigning; as a matter of fact, I did no campaigning at all. I lost, but that was okay because I ended up with a respectable showing, which, in itself, was impressive against "a local." As we get closer to November, I may run for a Congressional seat just to give people a choice to vote for someone who is not part of The System. Politics is way complicated, and, IMHO, because of the complexities, has been taken out of the hands of the people. I want to give it back (or take it back).

That said, back to the original question: what do I do about voting? What do you think?

Easy Rider

2008-04-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Today was the day!
With Miss Kim's help, we moved some stuff in the barn and cleared a path for me to get the bike out for the first ride of the season. I was worried as I hadn't taken the battery out or stabilized the gas, but everything went flawlessly. The bike started right up, and I hopped right on. This was one of the three or four days a year when I didn't wear a helmet, which I usually do (I know, all it takes is one time for tragedy to happen, but...). I only went a few miles each way to experience the ride and put in some fresh gas. With prices where they are (and appear to be going), I may be riding the bike a lot this summer. Temps finally reached into the 70s and it was beautifully clear today ("What a day for a daydream!") It was both exhilarating and a bit terrifying to travel at about 60 mph with nothing but the bike between me and the rushing pavement (at least it seemed the pavement was rushing [it was really me]), but it was wonderful! When I get back to work (I'm on my well-deserved vay-k this week), I'd love to ride the bike in, but the mornings have been in the 20s and 30s before warming to a bearable temperature for the ride home.

Anyhow, don't let the grass in the background of the picture fool you - it's a picture from last year (or the year before). We're just now starting to see signs of green (it was a long and deep winter this year); Miss Kim pointed out our one daffodil, but that should soon change. It has been said that New Hampshire has three seasons: winter, mud, and August. This year, there's actually a spring.

Later.

"There's Muggers and there's jugglers...

2008-04-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

...and we are led by clowns." That's a line from a Harry Chapin song ("I Wonder What Would Happen to this World"), and it sums up most politicians. I saw a headline today that drove the point home. On the Drudge Report, the headline and sub-headline read:

No Al Qaeda Policy: Congress Wants Answers

House Committee Plans to Grill Administration on What's Being Done to Get Bin Laden

You know what? I have finally realized they can grill all they want, and nothing will change! You know why it won't change? Because the people who could make the decisions to change things won't! In a Charley Reese column (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18568.htm) he explains it all. You have to read the article to understand. If you have read it, it's hard to argue his points! If you haven't read it, read it now! Congress can have all the hearings it wants, but most of the time, there are no changes because it doesn't want change. Read it, and when you have, let me know what you think!

Later.

Hey, I Gotta a Idea

2008-04-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have been half-watching one of the "Lord of the Rings" movies as I surf on my computer. It is kind of neat to look up and see those trees ambling through the woods while carrying a couple of whom I presume to be the good guys - pretty good special effects. I remember when the first movie of "The Shining" came out, the scene from the book in which the hedges cut into animal shapes (the topiary) came to life couldn't be done convincing enough to keep them in the movie - they were replaced by the movie's maze (interestingly, the creeping hedges was one of the few scenes in the book I as being really chilling).

Anyhow, the scene now on that caught my attention was a (THE?) battle scene where these really ugly dark creatures are storming a castle - the scene strikes me as one of the true epic battle scenes of the big screen (now smaller as I am watching it on TV). Among the weapons are swords, spears, battle axes, arrows, rock, and the like. The whole thing takes place in the darkness of rain, night and is massive. The juxtaposing of the warriors, the men guarding the castle, and the women and children waiting it out somewhere in the castle is powerful.

So, at the start of the battle, it's all hitting the fan! Thousands of these disgusting creatures are storming the castle, putting these crude ladders up against the walls and the defenders are pushing them over almost as fast. It's all quite intense, and just as I'm getting into it and one more ladder gets pushed over... there's a commercial... right in the middle of this incredible battle. That got me thinking (uh-oh). As you must already know, the current Iraqi war is costing us a pretty penny (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home [now I know why they're called "red states"; they have helped support pushing us so far into the red....). Why can't the military take on sponsors! Instead of the private contractors making all the big money over there, we can spread it around, help corporate America, and cut costs at the same time. Combat boots can have logos, uniforms can all have all the hottest brand names (all still made in and imported from China, of course... and don't let me see any Army soldiers wearing Old Navy), and the food! Instead of swapping canned peaches for cigarettes, people can swap McDonald's fries for a Subway foot-long or a bag of Fritos. You get the idea.

Another thought I have (no, it isn't lonely) is in any war to get both sides (or in the case of Iraq, all five or six or more sides) to agree to have crews around who periodically (like every twelve minutes or so) call a halt to whatever action is happening and show commercials. Large screens could either be wheeled in or already set up on street corners, and a series of ads could run - several minutes worth. There could even be a requirement for one or two "feel-good" ads in every set, and maybe fighters might rethink the error of their ways (not us, of course, because we're there to, uh, well, uh, well, not us because we have a mission [though I am not sure anyone knows what it is and how we'll know when the next mission is accomplished {the first already was - our president said so}]). With enough pauses, there might be no momentum, and the whole war thing might fall apart. That might make a lot of people pretty happy... and make a lot of money for corporate America. I mean, isn't that ultimately what we're really fighting for?

Later.

A Horse is a Horse (of course)!

2008-04-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

(From left to right: me, Dixie, Jessie, and Kim)

Picture getting in your car and starting it up. In virtually every instance, when you step on the gas, the car moves forward. When you brake, it slows and stops. When you turn the wheel to the right, the car turns right, and, of course, when you turn left, the car goes left. Unless something breaks or goes terribly wrong, the car does what you direct it to do probably 100 percent of the time. Now, suppose you expect the car to do what you direct it to, but there are no guarantees. When you step on the accelerator, it may move forward... or not. When you turn it to the left, it might go left, but, as I mentioned above, there are no guarantees. In the past, the car always responded as you expected, but the next time it might not. That, my friends, is what a horse show is all about. As my wife and now I often say, "Horse showing is a sport in which the ball has a mind of its own."

From 8:00 this morning (up at 6) until about 7:30 this evening, I was at a horse show; that's a long day. I am the "adviser" for my high school's equestrian team, which is new this year. I put the word "adviser" in quotes, as I don't have much advice to give. Horses are not my strong point even though we own three and my daughter rides. If you are not a horse person, I may know more than you do, but if you are, I am severely lacking. What I decided I can do is give you, the non-horse people, a look at what I know and what it's like to attend a horse show.

As all of what follows is equally important, all items are labeled #1. (#1) Always watch where you step. Horses don't excuse themselves and then wander off to some isolated corner to, uh, relieve themselves; no, where they stand or happen to be passing through at any moment is where it happens. If people did the same, their workday would be oh, so much more productive with no bathroom breaks. (#1) When passing behind a horse, give it a wide berth. At any given moment, a horse may (and often does) release prodigious piles of, uh, horse, uh, "puckey" (no dictionary meaning captures what I really mean there, but I am sure you can figure it out). You don't want to be standing there when it happens. Also, some horse can kick out or step on you - something else you don't want to experience. (#1) Be prepared to stand around or sit around a lot. In a typical show of perhaps up to nine or ten hours, the actual riding time of the rider you go to see may be measured in minutes. (#1) The judge is the judge, and what happens happens. If a rider makes a mistake or does a perfect job, the judge may see the former but not the latter (or vice-versa). If the former, get over it or, if the latter, enjoy the moment. The opposite may happen the next time. (#1) Be prepared for "weather." Today was a miserable 39 degrees with a wind chill that made it feel like zero. There are other days in which one bakes. Rain and mud (mixed with horse puckey) are the worst IMHO, although today was no prizewinner. (#1) If you think owning a house is expensive, when you get into horses, the house looks cheap. (on the other hand, and in all fairness, someone once said the best place to raise a child is in the horse ring. There is much truth there [see #1 that follows]. The money we spend is truly an investment in responsibility and character. So far, our investment has paid off dearly!) Finally, (#1) Horse people are often among the best people in the world - they are friendly, comfortable, and generous. In one personal case, a person we had never seen before let my daughter ride her horse to compete when we had problems with ours. (Of course, in any large group of people, there are bound to be a few spoiled brats, so keep your eyes open - you can usually tell who they are pretty quickly.) I am sure there are more things to offer, but I need to unwind before bed. Today really was a long day... but worth every second.

Later.

Objectophilia

2008-04-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

If I understand the word correctly, "objectophilia" is when one's true love is an inanimate object. I am not sure if that's like my wife's comment that she loves her truck or if there's something deeper and more troubling.

Anyhow, last week I got a promotional mailing that told me of a special offer that would pay off up to three car lease payments (I lease my cars) and give me a bonus of $500 toward another vehicle. The only problem was that the offer was good for three days, and I had five payments left on my Dodge Caliber. I stopped by the dealer in a panic wondering if this was an offer I could or should take advantage of (the dealer [Autoserv of Plymouth NH] and my family have "a relationship." At least twelve [or more] of our last vehicles bought and leased have come from there - they have always treated us "right." Like any business, some people do quite well there while others do not - I suspect having a relationship helps immensely! Any people I have sent in "under my wing" have been pleased). Short story shorter, they told me to wait - there was always a Lease Loyalty incentive, and they would take care of me. I left feeling better, but I was told they'd run numbers anyhow. Late Monday, I called them and left a message that I would wait for a few months. Tuesday afternoon, I went in for an inspection on the Caliber; they gave me numbers. Wednesday afternoon, I picked up my new vehicle - a Jeep Liberty. (I don't know if I should reveal this, but to make things happen, the dealer paid off my last several lease payments, a $495 turn-in fee, and told me my mileage was okay. I think they like me.)

The Caliber was okay - it was a fun car to drive, but I always had a problem getting in and out, and I didn't put winter tires on - as a result, with this record-setting winter (snowiest in a hundred years), I wasn't always fully comfortable in it (I got stuck in my flat, ice-packed driveway twice). Now that I have the Jeep, I am comfortable again as it has four-wheel drive. My getting the Jeep virtually guarantees no more snow this year, but it's something I can accept (especially after 117.1 inches so far).

The first day I drove it, I liked it. The second day, I really liked it. Although it's still early (today is the third day), dare I say it? I may even shortly love it (I'm on the verge). By the way, if you are in the area and looking for a car, let me know first. I will call them, put you under my wing, and see if you can be taken care of the right way. I suspect if everyone was treated as I have been, the dealer would have to put a Take-a-Number machine at the door.

Later.

Along Came a Spider

2008-03-30T11:44:00.001-07:00

Talk about a random post! I am so sick of this winter that I even welcome the return of spiders (while I find them fascinating, I still have an aversion that may go a bit beyond what is accepted as normal). The guy (or gal) on the left was living in our back yard last year when s/he posed for me and, I suspect soon after I took the picture headed south for the winter - probably Florida. I have to give him credit as this has been a winter for the record books. So far, this has been the snowiest one in over a hundred years and is number two on the all-time list (at least since official records have been kept). Just when I thought we had turned a corner, this past Friday was yet another day out of school! So far, our regular school days have been extended an extra 35 minutes to make up for all of our missed days - that may not seem like a lot, but my students (who feel about school the way I feel about spiders) are getting to be even more of a handful than usual. Even though this has been a pretty good year, I am ready to think about retirement, which simply means looking for another job to supplement my state's lousy retirement offering. Maintaining health insurance is my biggest concern. If anyone reading has any offers, I'm ready to listen. What am I looking for? I don't know - I have taught for nearly thirty years, so I don't even know what's out there. It seems like so many jobs have gone to China, India, etc., that there are not many left. I would love to somehow to have benefits and work from home, which itself would offer many benefits. As it is now, I walk a delicate tightrope as I take a mild diuretic in the morning. At school, I can't just walk out of my classroom to go potty (an expression that emerged when our child showed up) - if anything happened in the classroom while I was elsewhere, guess whose fault it is.... The thing that seems to most drive schools is fear of liability - I'm old enough to remember when schools used to be about education, but that's another story for another time.

Later.