Columbus, Ohio .... after the football game last Saturday .... fires, riots, damage ... the media wonders WHY it is happening ... well, it is simple.
THE SCHOOL, THE MEDIA, THE COACH, THE TEAM, THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR are all guilty of promoting the HYPE of the football team. With the frenzy they are trying to create, last week was minor, I think, to what they are going to see.
They have been hyping since the end of last season, and when they got ranked number one in the pre season, all we see on tv is football, how great the team is. I noticed in WalMart last weekend, almost everyone was wearing the colors.
With the schedule they have, they could go undefeated, and perhaps, the championship. If it happens, I predict some serious problems for Columbus.
The school has whipped the fans in to a frenzy, and now they wonder where to lay the blame.
THEY market the football program, they fan the frenzy ... THEY are to blame ... no brainer, they should just shut up. They will single out a few and prosecute them, but OSU is to blame.
They are seeming the results of their MARKETING .... they are making MILLIONS on the marketing .... they should SHUT UP, try to back the hype. IT IS JUST A FOOTBALL GAME.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Sunday, September 10, 2006
ONLY HERE
A lady wrote the best letter in the Editorials in ages!! It explains
things better than all the balderdash you hear on TV.
"Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country
protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of
illegal immigration.
Certain people are angry that the
make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely.
Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these protests.
Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me
in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, "I've made all the beds and
washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors; I've done all the
things you don't like to do. I'm hard working and honest (except for when
I broke into your house)."
According to the protesters, not only must you let me stay, you must
add me to your family's insurance plan and provide other benefits to me
and to my family (my husband will do your yard work because he too is
hard-working and honest, except for that breaking in part).
If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will
picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my right to be there.
It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do,
and I'm just trying to better myself. I'm hard-working and honest. um,
except for well, you know. And what a deal it is for me!! I live in your
house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is
nothing you can do about it without being accused of selfishness, prejudice
and being anti-housebreaker.
Oh yeah, and I want you to learn my language so you can communicate with me.
Why can't people see how ridiculous this is?
Only in
Saturday, September 09, 2006
SLOT MACHINES IN OHIO
"BULLSHIT"
The commercials actually say, "Nothing but good can come out of it."
The truth is, "nothing but good can come out of losing money you can't afford."
I honestly do not know how anyone can believe in that garbage. Good is going to come out of gambling. How naive can anyone be. All the money will go directly from the slot machine to the schools. OK, well, maybe some will go toward a few government things, like keeping track of it all, licensing, another state agency, a massive payroll, THE HOUSE!
I spent many years in the industry in the Nevada, I have seen the good and the bad, I have had friends lose money and commit suicide, I have bought jewelry from some very nice folks, for practically nothing, because they lost their money and had to get home.
I was in a rest room, at the Horseshoe in Reno, a man pulled a gun out, put it to his chest, and pulled the trigger. He had lost all his money.
I knew an elderly man and his wife. They had sold a business in New York. They were going to move to California, and took a leisurely cross country drive. They stopped in Reno, he played a few slots, as did his wife. They lost a little money, he got mad. They wanted to get back, the little they had lost.
Within three days, they lost all they had. When I knew them, some years later, she was running the news stand at the Golden Hotel, and he was roaming around town, still trying. In those days, we had a dime table at the Nevada Club. He would look for nickles on the floor, find a couple, and head for the the crap table, hoping to get his money back, that he had lost, 9 years before.
Ironically he had lost his millions at the Nevada Club, where I worked. In 1956, he was 86'd from the club. He had some injuries, that were not healing well, he had an offensive odor, and was ordered to stay out, of the place, by the man, who had his millions.
My friend, Wick, had lived in Nevada all his life. He owned 5 barbershops around the state. He never gambled in all that time. He and his wife, and some other couples, got together on Friday nights. Pot luck supper, chatting, the wives would play canasta, the guys, a little penny ante poker. One night, Wick lost about 20 dollars, he tipped more than that at dinner. It made him mad. 3 days, lost it all, wife left him, drove out by the airport and put a gun to his head.
GOOD will come out of slots in OHIO, money for our schools. Yea, someone will make millions on selling the equipment. The casinos won't take any money. Who is going to buy the machines, oh, racetracks, they certainly are honest, they will see the schools get it all.
Nothing but good will come out of gambling ..... in Ohio. BULLSHIT, OHIO, get your collective heads out of your collective asses .... do you REALLY think, that educating children, is best accomplished, by people losing money that they can't afford, and YOU really think, ALL of that money will go to schools.
These stupid little machines springing up all over around here now, one guy here in town lost 70 thousand on one of them ... how are they legal... they are everywhere, openly visible.
I have a bridge I would like to sell, would look good over the Scioto.
Be interesting to know who really paid for those stupid commercials.
The commercials actually say, "Nothing but good can come out of it."
The truth is, "nothing but good can come out of losing money you can't afford."
I honestly do not know how anyone can believe in that garbage. Good is going to come out of gambling. How naive can anyone be. All the money will go directly from the slot machine to the schools. OK, well, maybe some will go toward a few government things, like keeping track of it all, licensing, another state agency, a massive payroll, THE HOUSE!
I spent many years in the industry in the Nevada, I have seen the good and the bad, I have had friends lose money and commit suicide, I have bought jewelry from some very nice folks, for practically nothing, because they lost their money and had to get home.
I was in a rest room, at the Horseshoe in Reno, a man pulled a gun out, put it to his chest, and pulled the trigger. He had lost all his money.
I knew an elderly man and his wife. They had sold a business in New York. They were going to move to California, and took a leisurely cross country drive. They stopped in Reno, he played a few slots, as did his wife. They lost a little money, he got mad. They wanted to get back, the little they had lost.
Within three days, they lost all they had. When I knew them, some years later, she was running the news stand at the Golden Hotel, and he was roaming around town, still trying. In those days, we had a dime table at the Nevada Club. He would look for nickles on the floor, find a couple, and head for the the crap table, hoping to get his money back, that he had lost, 9 years before.
Ironically he had lost his millions at the Nevada Club, where I worked. In 1956, he was 86'd from the club. He had some injuries, that were not healing well, he had an offensive odor, and was ordered to stay out, of the place, by the man, who had his millions.
My friend, Wick, had lived in Nevada all his life. He owned 5 barbershops around the state. He never gambled in all that time. He and his wife, and some other couples, got together on Friday nights. Pot luck supper, chatting, the wives would play canasta, the guys, a little penny ante poker. One night, Wick lost about 20 dollars, he tipped more than that at dinner. It made him mad. 3 days, lost it all, wife left him, drove out by the airport and put a gun to his head.
GOOD will come out of slots in OHIO, money for our schools. Yea, someone will make millions on selling the equipment. The casinos won't take any money. Who is going to buy the machines, oh, racetracks, they certainly are honest, they will see the schools get it all.
Nothing but good will come out of gambling ..... in Ohio. BULLSHIT, OHIO, get your collective heads out of your collective asses .... do you REALLY think, that educating children, is best accomplished, by people losing money that they can't afford, and YOU really think, ALL of that money will go to schools.
These stupid little machines springing up all over around here now, one guy here in town lost 70 thousand on one of them ... how are they legal... they are everywhere, openly visible.
I have a bridge I would like to sell, would look good over the Scioto.
Be interesting to know who really paid for those stupid commercials.
Friday, August 18, 2006
KATIE?
I just heard that I am breathlessly awaiting the arrival of Katie Curic to tell me the news. She is not only going to be on TV, but on the computer and everywhere else.
I, for one, have never liked her, and that will never change. I really can't understand what she is going to do diffrently. They are saying she will be the best ever, a whole new approach to presenting the news. God, I hope she is not going to be nude.
I don't understand either, why it is taking so long to get her on. Why won't she be ready till October. They are even going to let us know, in advance, what she will be wearing, so there goes the nude aspect. Maybe she is taking singing lessons, and will sing the news.
Just think of the obscene amount of money they are paying her to do the news. I really do not understand it all.
I had a chance once to meet her. I was invited, by a rather high ranking employee of NBC, to take a tour of the building, and, meet Matt and Katie. His office was right below theirs. I declined for some reason or other.
Maybe it is just me, I get most of my news from the RADIO, NPR, local news, etc. I listen, evaluate, picture in my own mind what is going on. I just don't think that news should have a personality. News should just be the truth. I can take it from there.
TV news, often dissapoints me too.
"Bank robbery, tonight at 11."
So I tune in to see the robbery, it happened this morning, not at 11.
I've missed a lot of meetings too.
"School board meeting, tonight at 11."
At 10:30 I leave for the school. Doors are locked, they met at 6. Why did they tell me 11?
At least we now know why Brokaw and Rather and all the good guys retired. They knew, they looked ahead. They got out while they could. Come October, Katie is taking over.
Is all of this leading to a .... woman ..... running for President. Katie, Oprah?
Let the females of the world do their thing, I am all for it. I do not like Katie though, and please, take them off .... being on the sidelines and doing ......... color ..... at football games.
Women play tennis. They do a great job broadcasting tennis. Same with golf, cooking shows and others. They DO NOT play in the NFL. They may be fans, like many, but PLEASE let someone who has played the game do that sideline commentary.
I am not excited about Katie doing the news, the radio just told me I was. She won't be on the radio, I hope.
And now, perty, perky little Katie, will give us her in-depth analysis of the news, just as soon as the little perky, perty cheerleaders leave the set.
I, for one, have never liked her, and that will never change. I really can't understand what she is going to do diffrently. They are saying she will be the best ever, a whole new approach to presenting the news. God, I hope she is not going to be nude.
I don't understand either, why it is taking so long to get her on. Why won't she be ready till October. They are even going to let us know, in advance, what she will be wearing, so there goes the nude aspect. Maybe she is taking singing lessons, and will sing the news.
Just think of the obscene amount of money they are paying her to do the news. I really do not understand it all.
I had a chance once to meet her. I was invited, by a rather high ranking employee of NBC, to take a tour of the building, and, meet Matt and Katie. His office was right below theirs. I declined for some reason or other.
Maybe it is just me, I get most of my news from the RADIO, NPR, local news, etc. I listen, evaluate, picture in my own mind what is going on. I just don't think that news should have a personality. News should just be the truth. I can take it from there.
TV news, often dissapoints me too.
"Bank robbery, tonight at 11."
So I tune in to see the robbery, it happened this morning, not at 11.
I've missed a lot of meetings too.
"School board meeting, tonight at 11."
At 10:30 I leave for the school. Doors are locked, they met at 6. Why did they tell me 11?
At least we now know why Brokaw and Rather and all the good guys retired. They knew, they looked ahead. They got out while they could. Come October, Katie is taking over.
Is all of this leading to a .... woman ..... running for President. Katie, Oprah?
Let the females of the world do their thing, I am all for it. I do not like Katie though, and please, take them off .... being on the sidelines and doing ......... color ..... at football games.
Women play tennis. They do a great job broadcasting tennis. Same with golf, cooking shows and others. They DO NOT play in the NFL. They may be fans, like many, but PLEASE let someone who has played the game do that sideline commentary.
I am not excited about Katie doing the news, the radio just told me I was. She won't be on the radio, I hope.
And now, perty, perky little Katie, will give us her in-depth analysis of the news, just as soon as the little perky, perty cheerleaders leave the set.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
WHICH ONE WILL WIN?
AIDS VS. TERRORISM
Gates and Clinton, an unlikely pair, are fighting AIDS. Gates is putting a couple of fortunes in the pot to help out. I'm not sure of Clinton's position. It seems ludicrous that he is involved in safe sex. But he seems sincere and is probably getting a lot of money for his efforts. I think Gates is very sincere in his efforts. That is highly commendable.
AIDS COULD EVENTUALLY KILL MOST OF US ...
TERRORISTS COULD EVENTUALL KILL MOST OF US ....
Let's talk about the future.
So much for that, we apparently don't have one. What if all the terrorists got AIDS. They seem to want to die anyway, and be with all their heavenly virgins or whatever it is. What a program, when it is so easy to convice people that dying is a good thing. They will soon be competing with the Mormons. Instead of 2 kids knocking on the door, now there will be four. 2 with head wraps, 2 in black suits.
But, life goes on. Here in Nerk, Ahia, the sun is shining, it is quiet out, everyone is going about their daily lives, I hear someone cutting their grass, they are getting the apartment across the street ready for some new tenants, just like nothing is happening.
AIDS vs. terrorism
Republicans vs. Democrats
Those four things probably encompass 95% of the problems in the WORLD. And I am not sure which of the 4 is the worst. Those are driven by SEX, RELIGION, MONEY AND POWER.
There is cause for optimism. Please tell me what and where. Maybe those kids I watched last night playing little league softball, someone, somewhere, has to have some sense.
Gates and Clinton, an unlikely pair, are fighting AIDS. Gates is putting a couple of fortunes in the pot to help out. I'm not sure of Clinton's position. It seems ludicrous that he is involved in safe sex. But he seems sincere and is probably getting a lot of money for his efforts. I think Gates is very sincere in his efforts. That is highly commendable.
AIDS COULD EVENTUALLY KILL MOST OF US ...
TERRORISTS COULD EVENTUALL KILL MOST OF US ....
Let's talk about the future.
So much for that, we apparently don't have one. What if all the terrorists got AIDS. They seem to want to die anyway, and be with all their heavenly virgins or whatever it is. What a program, when it is so easy to convice people that dying is a good thing. They will soon be competing with the Mormons. Instead of 2 kids knocking on the door, now there will be four. 2 with head wraps, 2 in black suits.
But, life goes on. Here in Nerk, Ahia, the sun is shining, it is quiet out, everyone is going about their daily lives, I hear someone cutting their grass, they are getting the apartment across the street ready for some new tenants, just like nothing is happening.
AIDS vs. terrorism
Republicans vs. Democrats
Those four things probably encompass 95% of the problems in the WORLD. And I am not sure which of the 4 is the worst. Those are driven by SEX, RELIGION, MONEY AND POWER.
There is cause for optimism. Please tell me what and where. Maybe those kids I watched last night playing little league softball, someone, somewhere, has to have some sense.
GREAT TELEVISION LAST NIGHT
What a great show last night. I knew it was going to be on, waited all day for it, turned it on at 9:30, and had the great pleasure to watch good television. I thoroughly enjoyed it, great entertainment.
The Championship Game, the Big One, the Champion was Crowned, in girls little league softball.
Pure sport, 100 percent, and pure joy on their faces, that is great to see. Makes me feel good, just to see the joy on their faces, a little part of
A team from
The
In interviews, most of the gals had Derek Jeter as their hero. Turned out, he was born in
It is nice to see fond memories created, and those gals will never forget last night. They are champs, in more ways that one. And, I guess, the team from NJ is going to be met at the airport today, and paraded back to their town.
A local spot in Mattawan was elbow to elbow for the game, I think they indicated they had 20 plus TV’s set up. Mattawan, is a Village, not too big. The town will be BIG today, filled with pride. And well they should be. How great to be able to show pride, in bunch of great kids who played their hearts out, rather than the somber parades we see nowdays, for returning casualties. If I was younger, I would drive up there today, just to be a part of it.
Great television last night, and most of the country missed it. What a shame.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The GNATS are OK
I don't remember when it started, but we apparently have adopted a family of gnats, or fruit flys, or something. They are thriving and well.
They seem to come and go. I don't know where they dissapear to, but they do seem to come and go. Yesterday, for example, they had gone somewhere, when we went to WalMart. We got some bananas. Set them on the kitchen counter when we got home, and by golly, they came back from wherever they had been. And, even brought some friends with them.
I initially got a can of " bug spray" to get rid of them. They seemed to like it. They went swimming in a pool of it. Mostly backstroke, but very accomplished. I would do a heavy spray on our trash can. That seemed to attract them. I got mad and sprayed everything, coffee pot, water filter, the sink, everything. Seemed like they went to the living room, got a breath of fresh air, and came back.
They are also very difficult to sneak up on. A towel does not seem to work getting rid of them. I think they like the soft terry cloth. I have gotten a few with a rubber band, but have inadvertently flipped myself more than the gnats.
I got my little portable vaccum out, they moved faster than I could.
I have a spider living in my living room window. I don't like spiders, but I have respect for tnis one. And, I had hoped the spider ate gnats. I put a little bananna by the spider. Will see if that works.
Anyway, as of now, the gnats are thriving, alive and well.
So, I now watch them
They seem to come and go. I don't know where they dissapear to, but they do seem to come and go. Yesterday, for example, they had gone somewhere, when we went to WalMart. We got some bananas. Set them on the kitchen counter when we got home, and by golly, they came back from wherever they had been. And, even brought some friends with them.
I initially got a can of " bug spray" to get rid of them. They seemed to like it. They went swimming in a pool of it. Mostly backstroke, but very accomplished. I would do a heavy spray on our trash can. That seemed to attract them. I got mad and sprayed everything, coffee pot, water filter, the sink, everything. Seemed like they went to the living room, got a breath of fresh air, and came back.
They are also very difficult to sneak up on. A towel does not seem to work getting rid of them. I think they like the soft terry cloth. I have gotten a few with a rubber band, but have inadvertently flipped myself more than the gnats.
I got my little portable vaccum out, they moved faster than I could.
I have a spider living in my living room window. I don't like spiders, but I have respect for tnis one. And, I had hoped the spider ate gnats. I put a little bananna by the spider. Will see if that works.
Anyway, as of now, the gnats are thriving, alive and well.
So, I now watch them
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
MNF has now sunk to the level of a lot of other TV shows .... Meaningless and boring. It was pre season, to be sure, but my scope did not blip one time.
The only thing worse than women color commentators at mens sporting events, is TWO women at such events. And, they go on and on and on... about worthless drivel .. I doubt that I watched 3 minutes of the whole game.
I watched Little League baseball ... Livingston NJ vs Staten Island ... Now that was great .... Game decided ... Bottom of the last inning .... Home run, SI wins. The only sideline they had was some kid from one of the teams ... Made some comments, he was great. NO replays, just good stuff .. SI went up by 2 runs .... WHAT ... The kid did not touch 3rd ... TAKE THE RUN OFF THE BOARD .. Game now tied 1-1.
WHY do they do pre-season football ... And WHO are the idiots that go to the games. They panned the concession stands one time, more fans there .. Drinking and eating. I guess football fans are so starved to see a game, they go. Why not just extend the season ... If we need that much.
I have to admit, I no longer watch a lot of NFL ..... I am hooked on the MAC, big 10, college football .... Toledo, Bowling Green, Miami, these are some great games, a lot of talent, i.e. Pittsburgh QB, and many others. It is just good solid football, and not a lot of the BS we see in the pros, and even some of the MAJOR teams.
For the pros .... They can start at the end of the season .... with a TV show, show what they do in the off season, then training camp, then pre season, and the regular season .... 52 weeks a year ... we can watch some sort of NFL football.
My heros have always been cowboys... not NFL players.
Looks like WalMart has overdone it a bit, maybe the NFL has also.
MNF will NOT be the same ... without Al and the Coach ..... 5 airheads plus the three at halftime .. well .... not for me .... ...
The only thing worse than women color commentators at mens sporting events, is TWO women at such events. And, they go on and on and on... about worthless drivel .. I doubt that I watched 3 minutes of the whole game.
I watched Little League baseball ... Livingston NJ vs Staten Island ... Now that was great .... Game decided ... Bottom of the last inning .... Home run, SI wins. The only sideline they had was some kid from one of the teams ... Made some comments, he was great. NO replays, just good stuff .. SI went up by 2 runs .... WHAT ... The kid did not touch 3rd ... TAKE THE RUN OFF THE BOARD .. Game now tied 1-1.
WHY do they do pre-season football ... And WHO are the idiots that go to the games. They panned the concession stands one time, more fans there .. Drinking and eating. I guess football fans are so starved to see a game, they go. Why not just extend the season ... If we need that much.
I have to admit, I no longer watch a lot of NFL ..... I am hooked on the MAC, big 10, college football .... Toledo, Bowling Green, Miami, these are some great games, a lot of talent, i.e. Pittsburgh QB, and many others. It is just good solid football, and not a lot of the BS we see in the pros, and even some of the MAJOR teams.
For the pros .... They can start at the end of the season .... with a TV show, show what they do in the off season, then training camp, then pre season, and the regular season .... 52 weeks a year ... we can watch some sort of NFL football.
My heros have always been cowboys... not NFL players.
Looks like WalMart has overdone it a bit, maybe the NFL has also.
MNF will NOT be the same ... without Al and the Coach ..... 5 airheads plus the three at halftime .. well .... not for me .... ...
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Thursday Morning
Nice crowd this morning, but all coffee drinkers. My old grill has had very little food on it for some reason. Main topic of discussion at the counter ....
LIQUID EXPLOSIVES ON AIRPLANES
20 airplanes were scheduled to be blown up ... over the ocean, on their way to the good old USA. Just think about that. A catastrophe, with no evidence. No victims, no guilty parties. Just silence.
What does it take to find at least 20 people, willing to kill themselves, and takes the lives of thousands of others.
Old Charley Hoskinson, one of our regulars, said it best, "We ain't got a chance against people like that."
I think everyone at the counter got in to the conversation at one time or another. One of the main concerns was that .... LIQUID EXPLOSIVE ... is that something new. Hell, a water bottle could be a bomb. Anymore, anything could be a bomb.
One guy said that we should get the Mormons more involved. He said that there was a lot of them, and they are pretty fanatical, maybe they could figure some way to get back at them. He thought that if they sent a bunch of them kids on bicycles out after them, they could convince them to stop. Just turn all them arabs and terrorists in to Mormons.
He said his wife let them get in one time, she just couldn't say no to them bright shiny young faces. She didn't pay much attention to what they were talking about, and in the end, the one red haired kid said, "Mr. Peterson, could you say a few words, as our closing prayer?"
"I stammered and stuttered and mumbled, hell, I never prayed anything like that before. I used to do the Now I Lay Me .... and a few times got by with ... Good Bread, Good Meat, Good Lord, Let's Eat ... but that kid wanted a serious prayer. He saved me, he did it, but wanted me to have a prayer ready for the next meeting.
And he wanted Matty and I to get down on our knees before we went to bed, an pray, and ask God to show us, and let us know if this was the true religion. And, to do that all week, before the next meeting.
They were good, start praying out loud, ask for an answer, and the clincher ... he looked me right in the eye ... "If I can prove to YOU, that this is the true religion, WILL YOU JOIN THE CHURCH."
Ah, bah .... ah .... well .... I guess .... yeh ... sure, I guess ... if you can prove it to me ... well ... I guess .... well .... yea.
Them boys were good. They had us praying before every meal, every night, on our knees, praying ... and, by the next meeting, I had an opening prayer ready. By the 3rd meeting, I wanted to do the opening and the closing prayer. By the end of the 4th meeting I was thinking about becoming a minister, not a Mormon, but they had me all fired up. I was about ready to get a sign made up, and run around town like .... well, I always thought they were idiots .... running around like that, with the Jesus signs .. but I was ready to join them.
We never joined, later on, well there were some things I didn't like and all, and I thought they came off a little ... pushy .... and I guess I had a hard time with where their BOOK came from and all .... but, they are good.
So give them boys a try in Iraq and Iran, let them do their thing ... to terrorists. The FBI and everyone should know where there are thousands of them ... get them books out to them, knock on their doors, get them praying ... every night .. show them ... the true religion ... get em all .... carrying around their Book of Mormon ...
LIQUID EXPLOSIVES ON AIRPLANES
20 airplanes were scheduled to be blown up ... over the ocean, on their way to the good old USA. Just think about that. A catastrophe, with no evidence. No victims, no guilty parties. Just silence.
What does it take to find at least 20 people, willing to kill themselves, and takes the lives of thousands of others.
Old Charley Hoskinson, one of our regulars, said it best, "We ain't got a chance against people like that."
I think everyone at the counter got in to the conversation at one time or another. One of the main concerns was that .... LIQUID EXPLOSIVE ... is that something new. Hell, a water bottle could be a bomb. Anymore, anything could be a bomb.
One guy said that we should get the Mormons more involved. He said that there was a lot of them, and they are pretty fanatical, maybe they could figure some way to get back at them. He thought that if they sent a bunch of them kids on bicycles out after them, they could convince them to stop. Just turn all them arabs and terrorists in to Mormons.
He said his wife let them get in one time, she just couldn't say no to them bright shiny young faces. She didn't pay much attention to what they were talking about, and in the end, the one red haired kid said, "Mr. Peterson, could you say a few words, as our closing prayer?"
"I stammered and stuttered and mumbled, hell, I never prayed anything like that before. I used to do the Now I Lay Me .... and a few times got by with ... Good Bread, Good Meat, Good Lord, Let's Eat ... but that kid wanted a serious prayer. He saved me, he did it, but wanted me to have a prayer ready for the next meeting.
And he wanted Matty and I to get down on our knees before we went to bed, an pray, and ask God to show us, and let us know if this was the true religion. And, to do that all week, before the next meeting.
They were good, start praying out loud, ask for an answer, and the clincher ... he looked me right in the eye ... "If I can prove to YOU, that this is the true religion, WILL YOU JOIN THE CHURCH."
Ah, bah .... ah .... well .... I guess .... yeh ... sure, I guess ... if you can prove it to me ... well ... I guess .... well .... yea.
Them boys were good. They had us praying before every meal, every night, on our knees, praying ... and, by the next meeting, I had an opening prayer ready. By the 3rd meeting, I wanted to do the opening and the closing prayer. By the end of the 4th meeting I was thinking about becoming a minister, not a Mormon, but they had me all fired up. I was about ready to get a sign made up, and run around town like .... well, I always thought they were idiots .... running around like that, with the Jesus signs .. but I was ready to join them.
We never joined, later on, well there were some things I didn't like and all, and I thought they came off a little ... pushy .... and I guess I had a hard time with where their BOOK came from and all .... but, they are good.
So give them boys a try in Iraq and Iran, let them do their thing ... to terrorists. The FBI and everyone should know where there are thousands of them ... get them books out to them, knock on their doors, get them praying ... every night .. show them ... the true religion ... get em all .... carrying around their Book of Mormon ...
Monday, July 31, 2006
Finally giving in
On August 24, I am going to have life-saving surgery.
I am going to have a cataract worked on, in my right eye. The life I save, may be yours, I won't kill anyone with my car, when I can see better.
It has been a long struggle. I just don't like the idea of someone working on my eye. I guess, all they really do now, is do a small incision, remove my lens, put in a new one, and it's over. SOUNDS really simple. I hope it is. The anticipation is going to be horrible. I let these things build, and build and build, in my mind. I will probably have to be sedated and taken by ambulance to the operation. I had to have a catheter taken out one time. I was almost hysterical by the time I got to Doctor Will's office. I felt so sorry for me, a poor old man, been ill, had three operations, layed up for 3 months, the degrading aspects of having an ostomy bag glued to your stomach, often leaking.
And now, I was going to have to have this mile long tube pulled out, through my penis. The thought of the pain and agony involved was almost more than I could stand.
They called my name, I meekly answered, slowly arose from the chair, slowly walked, staggered, old, at the end of my life, pathetic, I felt so sorry for him, or me. She ushered me into an office. Had me lie down. The doctor came in. He said hello, tried to be pleasant, he know that, I thought, the end was near.
My body grew tense, every muscle was alert and ready. I tensed, wating for the excruciating pain that I knew was forthcoming ... I waited ... ready to scream out ...
"OK, do it!"
"I already did."
"OH"
"AM I DONE?"
"Yes"
So, I got up, brisly walked to the waiting room, got my wife, and got out of there. That was many years ago, but, I still worry about things like that.
I am going to have a cataract worked on, in my right eye. The life I save, may be yours, I won't kill anyone with my car, when I can see better.
It has been a long struggle. I just don't like the idea of someone working on my eye. I guess, all they really do now, is do a small incision, remove my lens, put in a new one, and it's over. SOUNDS really simple. I hope it is. The anticipation is going to be horrible. I let these things build, and build and build, in my mind. I will probably have to be sedated and taken by ambulance to the operation. I had to have a catheter taken out one time. I was almost hysterical by the time I got to Doctor Will's office. I felt so sorry for me, a poor old man, been ill, had three operations, layed up for 3 months, the degrading aspects of having an ostomy bag glued to your stomach, often leaking.
And now, I was going to have to have this mile long tube pulled out, through my penis. The thought of the pain and agony involved was almost more than I could stand.
They called my name, I meekly answered, slowly arose from the chair, slowly walked, staggered, old, at the end of my life, pathetic, I felt so sorry for him, or me. She ushered me into an office. Had me lie down. The doctor came in. He said hello, tried to be pleasant, he know that, I thought, the end was near.
My body grew tense, every muscle was alert and ready. I tensed, wating for the excruciating pain that I knew was forthcoming ... I waited ... ready to scream out ...
"OK, do it!"
"I already did."
"OH"
"AM I DONE?"
"Yes"
So, I got up, brisly walked to the waiting room, got my wife, and got out of there. That was many years ago, but, I still worry about things like that.
LED
I woke up early this morning, it was still dark. For some reason, I layed there in bed, and started counting lights that were on. LED's, I think they are. The little red and green eyes that let us know that something is on.
Our bedroom had 5, the TV, clock radio, portable telephone, VCR, and a strip plug. There could be others I can't see. I went in to the spare bedroom, where we have computers set up. It looks like a little alpine village in there. It would make a nice little Christmas scene with a tree in the middle. Two computers, 2 printers, LSD box, router, telephone, three strip plugs, web cams, lights everywhere. 37 in there. 6 in the living room, 4 in the dining room, and 5 in the kitchen. I forgot, 3 in the bathroom.
How did we ever get by without these little eyes of light? I've kept some visible by windows for a long time. I thought they might deter criminals. And, I've had my video cam high in a window, looking out on our parking lot, on my cars. Had it very visible.
I guess they don''t use much electicity, but they must use some. 60, altogether, that I could see. At least it explains why we don't need a nightlight, anymore.
Our bedroom had 5, the TV, clock radio, portable telephone, VCR, and a strip plug. There could be others I can't see. I went in to the spare bedroom, where we have computers set up. It looks like a little alpine village in there. It would make a nice little Christmas scene with a tree in the middle. Two computers, 2 printers, LSD box, router, telephone, three strip plugs, web cams, lights everywhere. 37 in there. 6 in the living room, 4 in the dining room, and 5 in the kitchen. I forgot, 3 in the bathroom.
How did we ever get by without these little eyes of light? I've kept some visible by windows for a long time. I thought they might deter criminals. And, I've had my video cam high in a window, looking out on our parking lot, on my cars. Had it very visible.
I guess they don''t use much electicity, but they must use some. 60, altogether, that I could see. At least it explains why we don't need a nightlight, anymore.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
WHAT A GREAT IDEA
I had an inspiration yesterday, going to start a new venture. Vacations for retired persons. I got to thinking, when you are retired, why go on vacation. YOU ARE ON vacation, all the time. So, my idea.
Put them to work for a month. Some retires executive, put him to work for a month at GM, they can let one of their exec's go on vacation, while my guy does his job for a month. Alll GM has to do is put them up in a motel, feed them, and use that fountain of talent and information to their advantage.
NO pay, all my people are just "contract labaor."
Just think what GM gets .... all that experience, new viewpoints, maturity, all that knowledge, and even more, ENTHUSIASM. My people come in "fired up" ... ready to get to work. They are not worried about retirement, job security, the future ... they live in the future. So GM probably gets a years work in one month, and new viewpoints. They can say what is on their mind.
I forget what the figures are on "retired" people in this country. What a work force they are. Just think what they have to offer. There is probably more experience, knowledge and ideas in the retired force, than there is in the present work force. Our people work one month a year, and rest for 11 months .... instead of working for 11 months and resting for one.
Now all I need is the ability to find them all, get them all in the computer, find potential employers, get them in the system, figure out some way to match them up, work out all the legal ramifications, I suppose workmans comp in each state, or something, then figure out about the IRS .... no real income .. I guess the motel and the food is income ... but they are retired, a mainframe, a staff to run the whole thing. Well that's true, my retired workforce may not know how to do all that, need some younger folks ... more techie ... ..... what ..... how much .... that much? Wow, more than I though it would be.
OK, I'm retired and have a lot of time on my hands, I'll keep this thought going, the idea is great, I'll just work on it some more, but I'm going fishing tomorrow, and I have that job I'm doing for the City, that's gonna take a couple of weeks, that. Oh, I forgot too, one of my retirement jobs is doing demos at WalMart, just a couple a week, keeps me busy. I may cook ribs in a competition in July sometime, and we may go visit the kids for a week in July also.
Put that on hold for a while.
jbd
Put them to work for a month. Some retires executive, put him to work for a month at GM, they can let one of their exec's go on vacation, while my guy does his job for a month. Alll GM has to do is put them up in a motel, feed them, and use that fountain of talent and information to their advantage.
NO pay, all my people are just "contract labaor."
Just think what GM gets .... all that experience, new viewpoints, maturity, all that knowledge, and even more, ENTHUSIASM. My people come in "fired up" ... ready to get to work. They are not worried about retirement, job security, the future ... they live in the future. So GM probably gets a years work in one month, and new viewpoints. They can say what is on their mind.
I forget what the figures are on "retired" people in this country. What a work force they are. Just think what they have to offer. There is probably more experience, knowledge and ideas in the retired force, than there is in the present work force. Our people work one month a year, and rest for 11 months .... instead of working for 11 months and resting for one.
Now all I need is the ability to find them all, get them all in the computer, find potential employers, get them in the system, figure out some way to match them up, work out all the legal ramifications, I suppose workmans comp in each state, or something, then figure out about the IRS .... no real income .. I guess the motel and the food is income ... but they are retired, a mainframe, a staff to run the whole thing. Well that's true, my retired workforce may not know how to do all that, need some younger folks ... more techie ... ..... what ..... how much .... that much? Wow, more than I though it would be.
OK, I'm retired and have a lot of time on my hands, I'll keep this thought going, the idea is great, I'll just work on it some more, but I'm going fishing tomorrow, and I have that job I'm doing for the City, that's gonna take a couple of weeks, that. Oh, I forgot too, one of my retirement jobs is doing demos at WalMart, just a couple a week, keeps me busy. I may cook ribs in a competition in July sometime, and we may go visit the kids for a week in July also.
Put that on hold for a while.
jbd
Monday, May 29, 2006
A Very GOOD Read
For many years Ben Stein has written a biweekly column called "Monday Night At Morton's." (Morton's is a famous chain of Steakhouses known to be frequented by movie stars and famous people from around the globe.) Now, Ben is terminating the column to move on to other things in his life. Reading his final column is worth a few minutes of your time.
Ben Stein's Last Column...
============================================
How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today's World?
As I begin to write this, I "slug" it, as we writers say, which means I put a heading on top of the document to identify it. This heading is "eonlineFINAL," and it gives me a shiver to write it. I have been doing this column for so long that I cannot even recall when I started. I loved writing this column so much for so long I came to believe it would never end.
It worked well for a long time, but gradually, my changing as a person and the world's change have overtaken it. On a small scale, Morton's, while better than ever, no longer attracts as many stars as it used to. It still brings in the rich people in droves and definitely some stars. I saw Samuel L. Jackson there a few days ago, and we had a nice visit, and right before that, I saw and had a splendid talk with Warren Beatty in an elevator, in which we agreed that Splendor in the Grass was a super movie. But Morton's is not the star galaxy it once was, though it probably will be again.
Beyond that, a bigger change has happened. I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to.
How can a man or woman who makes an eight-figure wage and lives in insane luxury really be a star in today's world, if by a "star" we mean someone bright and powerful and attractive as a role model? Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails.
They can be interesting, nice people, but they are not heroes to me any longer. A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. Instead, he faced an abject Saddam Hussein and the gratitude of all of the decent people of the world.
A real star is the U.S.soldier who was sent to disarm a bomb next to a road north of Baghdad. He approached it, and the bomb went off and killed him.
A real star, the kind who haunts my memory night and day, is the U.S. soldier in Baghdad who saw a little girl playing with a piece of unexploded ordnance on a street near where he was guarding a station. He pushed her aside and threw himself on it just as it exploded. He left a family desolate in California and a little girl alive in Baghdad.
The stars who deserve media attention are not the ones who have lavish weddings on TV but the ones who patrol the streets of Mosul even after two of their buddies were murdered and their bodies battered and stripped for the sin of trying to protect Iraqis from terrorists.
We put couples with incomes of $100 million a year on the covers of our magazines. The noncoms and officers who barely scrape by on military pay but stand on guard in Afghanistan and Iraq and on ships and in submarines and near the Arctic Circle are anonymous as they live and die.
I am no longer comfortable being a part of the system that has such poor values, and I do not want to perpetuate those values by pretending that who is eating at Morton's is a big subject.
There are plenty of other stars in the American firmament...the policemen and women who go off on patrol in South Central and have no idea if they will return alive; the orderlies and paramedics who bring in people who have been in terrible accidents and prepare them for surgery; the teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children; the kind men and women who work in hospices and in cancer wards.
Think of each and every fireman who was running up the stairs at the World Trade Center as the towers began to collapse. Now you have my idea of a real hero.
I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters. This is my highest and best use as a human. I can put it another way. Years ago, I realized I could never be as great an actor as Olivier or as good a comic as Steve Martin...or Martin Mull or Fred Willard--or as good an economist as Samuelson or Friedman or as good a writer as Fitzgerald. Or even remotely close to any of them.
But I could be a devoted father to my son, husband to my wife and, above all, a good son to the parents who had done so much for me. This came to be my main task in life. I did it moderately well with my son, pretty well with my wife and well indeed with my parents (with my sister's help). I cared for and paid attention to them in their declining years. I stayed with my father as he got sick, went into extremis and then into a coma and then entered immortality with my sister and me reading him the Psalms.
This was the only point at which my life touched the lives of the soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York. I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others He has placed in my path. This is my highest and best use as a human.
Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.
By Ben Stein
Ben Stein's Last Column...
============================================
How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today's World?
As I begin to write this, I "slug" it, as we writers say, which means I put a heading on top of the document to identify it. This heading is "eonlineFINAL," and it gives me a shiver to write it. I have been doing this column for so long that I cannot even recall when I started. I loved writing this column so much for so long I came to believe it would never end.
It worked well for a long time, but gradually, my changing as a person and the world's change have overtaken it. On a small scale, Morton's, while better than ever, no longer attracts as many stars as it used to. It still brings in the rich people in droves and definitely some stars. I saw Samuel L. Jackson there a few days ago, and we had a nice visit, and right before that, I saw and had a splendid talk with Warren Beatty in an elevator, in which we agreed that Splendor in the Grass was a super movie. But Morton's is not the star galaxy it once was, though it probably will be again.
Beyond that, a bigger change has happened. I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to.
How can a man or woman who makes an eight-figure wage and lives in insane luxury really be a star in today's world, if by a "star" we mean someone bright and powerful and attractive as a role model? Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails.
They can be interesting, nice people, but they are not heroes to me any longer. A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. Instead, he faced an abject Saddam Hussein and the gratitude of all of the decent people of the world.
A real star is the U.S.soldier who was sent to disarm a bomb next to a road north of Baghdad. He approached it, and the bomb went off and killed him.
A real star, the kind who haunts my memory night and day, is the U.S. soldier in Baghdad who saw a little girl playing with a piece of unexploded ordnance on a street near where he was guarding a station. He pushed her aside and threw himself on it just as it exploded. He left a family desolate in California and a little girl alive in Baghdad.
The stars who deserve media attention are not the ones who have lavish weddings on TV but the ones who patrol the streets of Mosul even after two of their buddies were murdered and their bodies battered and stripped for the sin of trying to protect Iraqis from terrorists.
We put couples with incomes of $100 million a year on the covers of our magazines. The noncoms and officers who barely scrape by on military pay but stand on guard in Afghanistan and Iraq and on ships and in submarines and near the Arctic Circle are anonymous as they live and die.
I am no longer comfortable being a part of the system that has such poor values, and I do not want to perpetuate those values by pretending that who is eating at Morton's is a big subject.
There are plenty of other stars in the American firmament...the policemen and women who go off on patrol in South Central and have no idea if they will return alive; the orderlies and paramedics who bring in people who have been in terrible accidents and prepare them for surgery; the teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children; the kind men and women who work in hospices and in cancer wards.
Think of each and every fireman who was running up the stairs at the World Trade Center as the towers began to collapse. Now you have my idea of a real hero.
I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters. This is my highest and best use as a human. I can put it another way. Years ago, I realized I could never be as great an actor as Olivier or as good a comic as Steve Martin...or Martin Mull or Fred Willard--or as good an economist as Samuelson or Friedman or as good a writer as Fitzgerald. Or even remotely close to any of them.
But I could be a devoted father to my son, husband to my wife and, above all, a good son to the parents who had done so much for me. This came to be my main task in life. I did it moderately well with my son, pretty well with my wife and well indeed with my parents (with my sister's help). I cared for and paid attention to them in their declining years. I stayed with my father as he got sick, went into extremis and then into a coma and then entered immortality with my sister and me reading him the Psalms.
This was the only point at which my life touched the lives of the soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York. I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others He has placed in my path. This is my highest and best use as a human.
Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.
By Ben Stein
Sunday, May 28, 2006
What happened?
Pathetic, really pathetic.
Just think how we are controlled. What all rules the world? Marketing and advertising control a lot of it. Just think of what we actually watch and listen to. Trash. TV is trash, all advertising generated. TV shows are just an excuse to have commercials. It''s getting close to 50/50 now. Just think about it. The shows are stupid, no substance to them, so that when the commercials come on, you pay attention. YOUR life is driven by commercials. They tell you what to buy, and teamed up with marketing, they control. Look at all the products in the store. Look at cereal.
One whole aisle, both sides, 216 different breakfast products alone. And, few of them are good for you. Look at yogurt, yogurt is yogurt, yet, look at all the different varieties. And then, some genius came up with the idea of turning it into a drinkable liquid ... the smoothy. What next?
How, what force, can possibly convince anyone, that poker is fun to watch. Now they are going to do blackjack. That harvesting crabs is exciting. Just think of some of the subjects that are now fodder for TV shows. Nothing is exempt from TV cameras.
I suppose I am too old, but .... well .... music... well not really music, because it is not. Singers, well not really. Melody, none, lyrics, questionable. What is it then. Noise, it is noise ... .noise with a questionable beat to it and of lot of ... well ..... abdominal contractions and undulations ... with attire that stems the tide from little to none ... to .... oversized ... draped .... laden with gold. The industry has been a blessing for some though. Because, it takes NO talent, just guts, and the ability to yell. I think I could do an album, and go GOLD, or even platinum .. by putting recording equipment ... in a delivery room at any hospital on a full moon night. No video.
Just think how we are controlled. What all rules the world? Marketing and advertising control a lot of it. Just think of what we actually watch and listen to. Trash. TV is trash, all advertising generated. TV shows are just an excuse to have commercials. It''s getting close to 50/50 now. Just think about it. The shows are stupid, no substance to them, so that when the commercials come on, you pay attention. YOUR life is driven by commercials. They tell you what to buy, and teamed up with marketing, they control. Look at all the products in the store. Look at cereal.
One whole aisle, both sides, 216 different breakfast products alone. And, few of them are good for you. Look at yogurt, yogurt is yogurt, yet, look at all the different varieties. And then, some genius came up with the idea of turning it into a drinkable liquid ... the smoothy. What next?
How, what force, can possibly convince anyone, that poker is fun to watch. Now they are going to do blackjack. That harvesting crabs is exciting. Just think of some of the subjects that are now fodder for TV shows. Nothing is exempt from TV cameras.
I suppose I am too old, but .... well .... music... well not really music, because it is not. Singers, well not really. Melody, none, lyrics, questionable. What is it then. Noise, it is noise ... .noise with a questionable beat to it and of lot of ... well ..... abdominal contractions and undulations ... with attire that stems the tide from little to none ... to .... oversized ... draped .... laden with gold. The industry has been a blessing for some though. Because, it takes NO talent, just guts, and the ability to yell. I think I could do an album, and go GOLD, or even platinum .. by putting recording equipment ... in a delivery room at any hospital on a full moon night. No video.
Friday, May 26, 2006
The Sneeze
THE SNEEZE
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium with rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.This class would not pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!! !!The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, " GOD BLESS YOU, each and everyone of you!" And he walked off stage...The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval. Isn't this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your friends.........and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
In God We Trust, United We Stand.This is a true story; happened at the University of Maryland.
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium with rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.This class would not pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!! !!The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, " GOD BLESS YOU, each and everyone of you!" And he walked off stage...The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval. Isn't this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your friends.........and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
In God We Trust, United We Stand.This is a true story; happened at the University of Maryland.
Something to think about
TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS !!
Subject: Thoughts on Immigration from a Teacher's Husband
Passing on as received.
Something You Won't Read About In the Papers During the
Immigration Debate.
As you all listen to the news about the student protests over illegal
immigration there are some things that you should be aware of.
My wife is in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at
large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1
school, meaning that its students average lower socio-economic and
income levels. Most of the schools you are hearing about South Gate
High, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park etc., where these students are
protesting are also Title 1 schools.
My wife tells me that 100% of the students in her school and other Title
1 schools are on the free breakfast, free lunch program. When I say free
breakfast I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll... but a full
breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a
Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and
trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten. She estimates that well
over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight.
About 75% or more DO have cell phones.
The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant
girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the
inconvenience of having to arrange for baby-sitters or having family
watch their kids.
She was ordered to spend $700,000 on her department or risk losing
funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for
anything; her budget was already substantial. She ended up buying new
computers for their computer learning center. Half of which, one month
later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who
obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America.
She has had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers
whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the
country less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female
teachers, calling them "Putas"--whores--and throwing things that the
teachers were in tears.
Free medical, free education, free food, day care etc.. etc.. etc.. Is
it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to
demand rights, privileges and entitlements?
To my bleeding-heart liberal friends who want to point out how much
these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE
their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less f or tomatoes:
spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the
TRUE costs. Higher insurance, Medical facilities closing, higher medical
costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools,
overcrowding, new diseases etc.. etc.. etc.. For me--- I'll pay more
for tomatoes.
We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster because
we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right mind
really think they will leave and return voluntarily?
There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute to our country and many that I consider my true friends. We should
encourage and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and
legal way. It does, however, have everything to do with culture. A
third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children
getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to
assimilate... and an American culture that has become so weak and
politically correct that we don't have the will to do anything about it.
Subject: Thoughts on Immigration from a Teacher's Husband
Passing on as received.
Something You Won't Read About In the Papers During the
Immigration Debate.
As you all listen to the news about the student protests over illegal
immigration there are some things that you should be aware of.
My wife is in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at
large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1
school, meaning that its students average lower socio-economic and
income levels. Most of the schools you are hearing about South Gate
High, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park etc., where these students are
protesting are also Title 1 schools.
My wife tells me that 100% of the students in her school and other Title
1 schools are on the free breakfast, free lunch program. When I say free
breakfast I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll... but a full
breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a
Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and
trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten. She estimates that well
over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight.
About 75% or more DO have cell phones.
The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant
girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the
inconvenience of having to arrange for baby-sitters or having family
watch their kids.
She was ordered to spend $700,000 on her department or risk losing
funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for
anything; her budget was already substantial. She ended up buying new
computers for their computer learning center. Half of which, one month
later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who
obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America.
She has had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers
whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the
country less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female
teachers, calling them "Putas"--whores--and throwing things that the
teachers were in tears.
Free medical, free education, free food, day care etc.. etc.. etc.. Is
it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to
demand rights, privileges and entitlements?
To my bleeding-heart liberal friends who want to point out how much
these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE
their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less f or tomatoes:
spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the
TRUE costs. Higher insurance, Medical facilities closing, higher medical
costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools,
overcrowding, new diseases etc.. etc.. etc.. For me--- I'll pay more
for tomatoes.
We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster because
we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right mind
really think they will leave and return voluntarily?
There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute to our country and many that I consider my true friends. We should
encourage and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and
legal way. It does, however, have everything to do with culture. A
third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children
getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to
assimilate... and an American culture that has become so weak and
politically correct that we don't have the will to do anything about it.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
There is NO 50/50 Anymore
Where has all the 50/50 gone. The older I get, the more the odds change.
Example: Electrical plug. When I go to plug something in, about 85% of the time, the plug is wrong. I have to turn it around. And, if I have to reach, or it is in a difficult area ..... 98% of the time ... backwards.
Traffic Lights: 87.6% of the time, I get a YELLOW or a RED light. The RED is not so bad, but I hate that YELLOW ... that means you have to sit the MAXIMUM time, and some intersections, that is a long time.
I knew today was not going to be a good day. I got up, slipped on my hooded West Point sweatshirt, and it was backwards. Throws off the whole day. At first, you think you haave gone blind, and then you realize that you have to start the whole day over .... pull it off, turn it around. Not a good way to start.
Celebs, why, why are people so obsessed with them. I suppose TV has had a lot to do with that. Years ago, it was the movies, but not everyone went to the movies ... now TV, everyone watches TV. Just think who we are making millionaires, and more importantly, WHY? Just look at who we are holding up in high esteem. It is frightening. Roll Models for our kids. We are in deep trouble.
Example: Electrical plug. When I go to plug something in, about 85% of the time, the plug is wrong. I have to turn it around. And, if I have to reach, or it is in a difficult area ..... 98% of the time ... backwards.
Traffic Lights: 87.6% of the time, I get a YELLOW or a RED light. The RED is not so bad, but I hate that YELLOW ... that means you have to sit the MAXIMUM time, and some intersections, that is a long time.
I knew today was not going to be a good day. I got up, slipped on my hooded West Point sweatshirt, and it was backwards. Throws off the whole day. At first, you think you haave gone blind, and then you realize that you have to start the whole day over .... pull it off, turn it around. Not a good way to start.
Celebs, why, why are people so obsessed with them. I suppose TV has had a lot to do with that. Years ago, it was the movies, but not everyone went to the movies ... now TV, everyone watches TV. Just think who we are making millionaires, and more importantly, WHY? Just look at who we are holding up in high esteem. It is frightening. Roll Models for our kids. We are in deep trouble.
Back at It
Been off for a while, gotten some EMails expressing concern, thanks to all who wrote. Actually, just in a dry spell for writing. Been busy working has had something to do with it .... and ... getting old.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Monday Morning Updaate
We've made it through another week. Diner was pretty busy last week. A lot of trials at the courthouse, a lot of the attorneys and jurors come over here to eat. If I think someone is guilty, I give the jurors lousy service, they take that attitude back, and find a GUILTY verdict. Food does amazing things.
Duke basketball. Sad way to end the season with a loss to NC, but, that's what rivalry is for. NC is good, I think right now, better than Duke and that is why they won. They have more than 2 good players. They will be a power for years to come. Duke, well, we'll have to see.
A lot of talk about PORT SECURITY last week. I never felt anyone knew what they were talking about though. It was just easy to say that WE should protect our own ports. That actually makes sense. I guess NCR has the horses to do it, makes sense that they should, rather than a foreign country. I think Bill Clinton knows them well though, so maybe they are OK. They gave him ..... so I have heard ... over 20 million to help build his library .... so he has a vested interest. Wonder what his wife thinks of that?
Diners are making a comback around the country. I guess some old ones are being worked on and re opened ... and some new ones springing up. One only does "comfort food." I like to think thats all we do here, comfort food. Diners have always been "home" atmosphere for lot of reasons. Comfort, relaxes, not pretnetious. The White Casstle has always been the same, at least the older ones.
There are a coupld of companies that manufacture diners. Then they move them to your site, and up and running in no time at all. I'd put another one up here in town, if I wasn't so old.
Later
Duke basketball. Sad way to end the season with a loss to NC, but, that's what rivalry is for. NC is good, I think right now, better than Duke and that is why they won. They have more than 2 good players. They will be a power for years to come. Duke, well, we'll have to see.
A lot of talk about PORT SECURITY last week. I never felt anyone knew what they were talking about though. It was just easy to say that WE should protect our own ports. That actually makes sense. I guess NCR has the horses to do it, makes sense that they should, rather than a foreign country. I think Bill Clinton knows them well though, so maybe they are OK. They gave him ..... so I have heard ... over 20 million to help build his library .... so he has a vested interest. Wonder what his wife thinks of that?
Diners are making a comback around the country. I guess some old ones are being worked on and re opened ... and some new ones springing up. One only does "comfort food." I like to think thats all we do here, comfort food. Diners have always been "home" atmosphere for lot of reasons. Comfort, relaxes, not pretnetious. The White Casstle has always been the same, at least the older ones.
There are a coupld of companies that manufacture diners. Then they move them to your site, and up and running in no time at all. I'd put another one up here in town, if I wasn't so old.
Later
Thursday, February 16, 2006
The Diner is Buzzin
Not gonna make any money today, coffee is goin out fast, no one is eating, just talking and drinking coffee. Cheney this and Cheney that, THEY did have weapons of mass destruction, are we gonna hear more about that? Olympics, not a lot of talk about that, one table is talking about Curling .. they don't know what they are talking about, but they are interested in knowing more about the sport, I guess it's a sport.
Sutton going in to re-hab, again .. should coaches that drink that much be coaching athletes .. he had been drinking when he had his last wreck. I bet he had others. I've know a lot of coaches ... coaching drives you to drink.
Indiana coach ... gotta be out. Too many good Hoosier HS players leaving the state. If Bobby was there ... next year ... Indiana .... OUTSTANDING ... if they had gotten all that talent going to Ohio State.
Cheney ... I don't think we know anything that happened .. something stinks. I've been hit in the ass with that kind of shot .... stealing apples from an orchard, years ago .. he didn't like dogs. Alcohol and guns don't mix. My guess is his cardialogist was not with him .... all that food, drink ... excuse me .... heart problems??? Hey, he's from Wyoming, he grew up on Coors ... AND ... with a shotgun in his hand. If anyone knew GUN SAFETY ... he did ... SO something went wrong .. it sure wasn't his FIRST HUNT .... accidents can happen .. USUALLY not with experienced hunters .... WE WILL NEVER KNOW ..
Baseball .... SPRING TRAINING ... I love to hear that .. SPRING is getting close, want to lay in the sun again .... tanning beds are REALLY expensive.
The grill is full, I feel better, those coffee drinkers are gonna be the death of me yet .....
Sutton going in to re-hab, again .. should coaches that drink that much be coaching athletes .. he had been drinking when he had his last wreck. I bet he had others. I've know a lot of coaches ... coaching drives you to drink.
Indiana coach ... gotta be out. Too many good Hoosier HS players leaving the state. If Bobby was there ... next year ... Indiana .... OUTSTANDING ... if they had gotten all that talent going to Ohio State.
Cheney ... I don't think we know anything that happened .. something stinks. I've been hit in the ass with that kind of shot .... stealing apples from an orchard, years ago .. he didn't like dogs. Alcohol and guns don't mix. My guess is his cardialogist was not with him .... all that food, drink ... excuse me .... heart problems??? Hey, he's from Wyoming, he grew up on Coors ... AND ... with a shotgun in his hand. If anyone knew GUN SAFETY ... he did ... SO something went wrong .. it sure wasn't his FIRST HUNT .... accidents can happen .. USUALLY not with experienced hunters .... WE WILL NEVER KNOW ..
Baseball .... SPRING TRAINING ... I love to hear that .. SPRING is getting close, want to lay in the sun again .... tanning beds are REALLY expensive.
The grill is full, I feel better, those coffee drinkers are gonna be the death of me yet .....
Friday, February 10, 2006
Some answers to the Clinton Question
Bill and Hillary
Bill Clinton registers for the draft on September 08,
1964, accepting all contractual conditions of
registering for the draft.
Selective Service Number 326 46 228.
Bill Clinton classified 2-S on November 17, 1964.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on March 20, 1968.
Bill Clinton ordered to report for induction on July
28, 1969.
Bill Clinton refuses to report and is not inducted
into the military.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-D after enlisting in the
United States Army Reserves on August 07, 1969, under
authority of Col. E. Holmes.
Clinton signs enlistment papers and takes oath of
enlistment.
Bill Clinton fails to report to his duty station at
the University of Arkansas ROTC, September 1969.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on October 30, 1969, as
enlistment with Army Reserves is revoked by Colonel E.
Holmes and Clinton now AWOL and subject to arrest
under Public Law 90-40 (2)(a) registrant who has
failed to report...remain liable for induction.'
Bill Clinton's birth date lottery number is 311, drawn
December 1, 1969, but anyone who has already been
ordered to report for induction is INELIGIBLE!
Bill Clinton runs for Congress (1974), while a
fugitive from justice under Public Law 90-40.
Bill Clinton runs for Arkansas Attorney General
(1976), while a fugitive from justice.
Bill Clinton receives pardon on January 21,1977, from
President Carter.
Bill Clinton FIRST PARDONED FEDERAL FELON ever to
serve as President of the United States.
All these facts come from Freedom of Information
requests, public laws, and various books that have
been published, and have not been refuted by Clinton.
After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, President
Clinton promised that those responsible would be
hunted down and punished.
After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed
five US military personnel; Clinton promised that
those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia,
which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military
personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible
would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa,
which killed 224 and injured 5,000; Clinton promised
that those responsible would be hunted down and
punished.
After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed
17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors; Clinton promised that
those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
Maybe if Clinton had kept those promises, an estimated
3,000 people in New York and Washington, DC that are
now dead would be alive today.
AN INTERESTING QUESTION:
This question was raised on a Philly radio call-in
show. Without casting stones, it is a legitimate
question.
There are two men, both extremely wealthy. One
develops relatively cheap software and gives billions
of dollars to charity.
The other sponsors terrorism. That being the case, why
was it that the Clinton Administration spent more
money chasing down Bill Gates over the eight years in
office, than Osama bin Laden?
THINK ABOUT IT!
It is a strange turn of events. Hillary gets $8
Million for her forth coming memoir. Bill gets about
$12 Million for his memoir yet to be written. This
from two people who spent 8 years being unable to
recall anything about past events while under oath.
Sincerely,
Cdr. Hamilton McWhorter USN (ret)
P.S. Please forward this to as many people as you can!
We don't want this woman to even THINK of running for President
Bill Clinton registers for the draft on September 08,
1964, accepting all contractual conditions of
registering for the draft.
Selective Service Number 326 46 228.
Bill Clinton classified 2-S on November 17, 1964.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on March 20, 1968.
Bill Clinton ordered to report for induction on July
28, 1969.
Bill Clinton refuses to report and is not inducted
into the military.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-D after enlisting in the
United States Army Reserves on August 07, 1969, under
authority of Col. E. Holmes.
Clinton signs enlistment papers and takes oath of
enlistment.
Bill Clinton fails to report to his duty station at
the University of Arkansas ROTC, September 1969.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on October 30, 1969, as
enlistment with Army Reserves is revoked by Colonel E.
Holmes and Clinton now AWOL and subject to arrest
under Public Law 90-40 (2)(a) registrant who has
failed to report...remain liable for induction.'
Bill Clinton's birth date lottery number is 311, drawn
December 1, 1969, but anyone who has already been
ordered to report for induction is INELIGIBLE!
Bill Clinton runs for Congress (1974), while a
fugitive from justice under Public Law 90-40.
Bill Clinton runs for Arkansas Attorney General
(1976), while a fugitive from justice.
Bill Clinton receives pardon on January 21,1977, from
President Carter.
Bill Clinton FIRST PARDONED FEDERAL FELON ever to
serve as President of the United States.
All these facts come from Freedom of Information
requests, public laws, and various books that have
been published, and have not been refuted by Clinton.
After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, President
Clinton promised that those responsible would be
hunted down and punished.
After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed
five US military personnel; Clinton promised that
those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia,
which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military
personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible
would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa,
which killed 224 and injured 5,000; Clinton promised
that those responsible would be hunted down and
punished.
After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed
17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors; Clinton promised that
those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
Maybe if Clinton had kept those promises, an estimated
3,000 people in New York and Washington, DC that are
now dead would be alive today.
AN INTERESTING QUESTION:
This question was raised on a Philly radio call-in
show. Without casting stones, it is a legitimate
question.
There are two men, both extremely wealthy. One
develops relatively cheap software and gives billions
of dollars to charity.
The other sponsors terrorism. That being the case, why
was it that the Clinton Administration spent more
money chasing down Bill Gates over the eight years in
office, than Osama bin Laden?
THINK ABOUT IT!
It is a strange turn of events. Hillary gets $8
Million for her forth coming memoir. Bill gets about
$12 Million for his memoir yet to be written. This
from two people who spent 8 years being unable to
recall anything about past events while under oath.
Sincerely,
Cdr. Hamilton McWhorter USN (ret)
P.S. Please forward this to as many people as you can!
We don't want this woman to even THINK of running for President
Friday, February 03, 2006
I think a SAD commentary ...
Heard excerpts from a speech made by a BIG TIME football coach. HIS New Years EVE is the day before prospects SIGN. And his New years Day, is after they have all sign. Those are his HOLIDAYS. He didn't comment about Christmas. I imagine his Christmas is determined by the quality of the recruits he gleans.
He didn't sasy anything about his players, how they are doing in school, their accomplishments, he just wants a GREAT RECRUITING CLASS. But remember, he is making more money than he ever dreamed he would, MILLIONS he is raking in. Explains why he needs those GOLDEN RECRUITS ... keep those GREAT recruiting classes and he keeps his job and continues to rake in the millions. Makes sense.
"Woody" Hayes A COACH, Bo, a COACH, and there are others who deserve being called COACH, not just MARKETING IMAGES ... with no substance. Woody, I have often heard comment, "OH, he is doing great in his chemistry class, and has a GPA of 3.9, he wants to go on to Med School. His Mom Hazel and his Dad Bob, are so proud of him. OH, and he is a FINE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN." And incidentally, as I racall, he always turned down PAY RAISES, he loved to COACH at The Ohio State University. HE was called COACH, or THE COACH, deservedly so.
He, and a few others, were COACHES, made for COACHING, not for TV.
He didn't sasy anything about his players, how they are doing in school, their accomplishments, he just wants a GREAT RECRUITING CLASS. But remember, he is making more money than he ever dreamed he would, MILLIONS he is raking in. Explains why he needs those GOLDEN RECRUITS ... keep those GREAT recruiting classes and he keeps his job and continues to rake in the millions. Makes sense.
"Woody" Hayes A COACH, Bo, a COACH, and there are others who deserve being called COACH, not just MARKETING IMAGES ... with no substance. Woody, I have often heard comment, "OH, he is doing great in his chemistry class, and has a GPA of 3.9, he wants to go on to Med School. His Mom Hazel and his Dad Bob, are so proud of him. OH, and he is a FINE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN." And incidentally, as I racall, he always turned down PAY RAISES, he loved to COACH at The Ohio State University. HE was called COACH, or THE COACH, deservedly so.
He, and a few others, were COACHES, made for COACHING, not for TV.
Star Struck
WHY do they think we are all "star struck"? That we want, or need to know ALL they do, when they do it and why? I, personally, get tired of hearing about them, and even more offended that "they" think that I want to know.
I guess news people are so desperate for anything to put on the air, that they grasp at anything .. even who is going out with whom. I for one, don't care.
Tonights news, good example. A lady thought she had her foot on the brake, instead, on the gas, and she ran into her own apartment. I don't care about that.
Some time, evaluate the importance of each news story on the 7 o'clock news, news, ain't news anymore, it is just FILLER. That is why they love catastrophic events. The SUPER BOWL, good example. REalistically, it is just a football game, often, played by two teams that have already played each other ... but now, THE SUPER BOWL. Instead of just on a Sunday, they can stretch it out for almost 2 weeks, and revive the careers of obsolete entertainers, becuase people remember them. And, groups today, go so fast that they are not around at gametime. But, The Rolling Stones, all the old people who they want to watch the game have hard of them ... from a lllllgoooonnnngggg time ago. Does that show how desperate they are for "talent." Geriatrics watch, so they clean out the nursing homes for "entertainment."
Not too many years ago, Red Grange played, because he loved to play football. Then, along came TELEVISION, and MARKETING created the NFL, convinced us we could not live without football. Look at the success of MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. MARKETING, SALES, FILL AIRTIME. When there is a timeout on the field, during a TV football game. There is one man on the sideline ... who gets his cue from somewhere, HE signals the ref, and the game continues. He works for the TV network, they control the game. They control the number of time-outs, and generally, the when and where of them.
TElevision, rules the SUPER BOWL this SUNDAY, the revenue from this day keeps them going. The end camp, and the displays at WalMart today, all geared for the "game." They are even BEAMING it to our troops in IRAQ .... MAYBE THEY COULD CALL A truce and all watch the game.
I guess news people are so desperate for anything to put on the air, that they grasp at anything .. even who is going out with whom. I for one, don't care.
Tonights news, good example. A lady thought she had her foot on the brake, instead, on the gas, and she ran into her own apartment. I don't care about that.
Some time, evaluate the importance of each news story on the 7 o'clock news, news, ain't news anymore, it is just FILLER. That is why they love catastrophic events. The SUPER BOWL, good example. REalistically, it is just a football game, often, played by two teams that have already played each other ... but now, THE SUPER BOWL. Instead of just on a Sunday, they can stretch it out for almost 2 weeks, and revive the careers of obsolete entertainers, becuase people remember them. And, groups today, go so fast that they are not around at gametime. But, The Rolling Stones, all the old people who they want to watch the game have hard of them ... from a lllllgoooonnnngggg time ago. Does that show how desperate they are for "talent." Geriatrics watch, so they clean out the nursing homes for "entertainment."
Not too many years ago, Red Grange played, because he loved to play football. Then, along came TELEVISION, and MARKETING created the NFL, convinced us we could not live without football. Look at the success of MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. MARKETING, SALES, FILL AIRTIME. When there is a timeout on the field, during a TV football game. There is one man on the sideline ... who gets his cue from somewhere, HE signals the ref, and the game continues. He works for the TV network, they control the game. They control the number of time-outs, and generally, the when and where of them.
TElevision, rules the SUPER BOWL this SUNDAY, the revenue from this day keeps them going. The end camp, and the displays at WalMart today, all geared for the "game." They are even BEAMING it to our troops in IRAQ .... MAYBE THEY COULD CALL A truce and all watch the game.
A Great Read ...... the Story of a Penny
Story of a penny
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this
twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home onthe waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have
this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer
was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants.
Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind
of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that
evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.
Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had
found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a
single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could
stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a
coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his
pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many
pennies before! What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."
She read the words "United States of America."
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes,"
"And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin.
Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every
single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a
message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is
God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.
It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of
pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!
And, God is patient...
Have a blessed day!
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this
twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home onthe waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have
this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer
was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants.
Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind
of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that
evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.
Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had
found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a
single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could
stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a
coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his
pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many
pennies before! What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."
She read the words "United States of America."
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes,"
"And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin.
Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every
single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a
message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is
God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.
It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of
pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!
And, God is patient...
Have a blessed day!
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