There is no winner. I'm talking about the hot subject in the news lately...do I get x-rayed at the airport security...or do I let them grope me?
This is not an easy subject to find a side to stand firm on. The world as it is today...has created a monster...and we all become the loser to the monster.
With some of the radical lunatics out there who want to cause harm...we have to find ways to protect ourselves.
One way is the x-ray machine. But it doesn't come without cost. Our bodies are getting a small amount of radiation...that we don't want. Our images are being seen...and stored (I don't believe them when they say they aren't or can't be saved...and looked at by others).
If we don't want the x-ray...it's no longer just having a 'wand' waved over you to check for metal...because the lunatics have found ways to make bombs without metal. So the option now is a 'hands on' pat down...that includes the breast areas and groin.
Now...as in most professions...most people who do their job...are good at it...and professional. But as with every job...there are a few who take liberty with their liberties...and you can't tell me there aren't a few guys who take advantage of 'feeling up' a few of the pretty girls...because they can.
I have a family relative whom it happened to...so you can't tell me it doesn't happen. Her choice was...let it happen...or take the risk of them not letting you on the plane.
I am glad I am not flying this Thursday. It sounds like there is a ground swell of people who intend to raise a fuss...at not getting x-rayed...and not getting groped. Their complaints...are simply going to tie up the system...making it longer for everyone to get on the plane...and risk not getting on it at all.
On the other hand...we simply can't allow everyone to get on the plane without some kind of check system to make sure we will be safe on that plane.
Both sides are a little wrong...both are a little right.
Until we can find a way that we all win...a little more than what we feel we're losing...it will be ugly.
Dan
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
GRANDMA
Well...since I talked about granddad on Saturday...I guess it's only fair I talk about grandma today. This time...on moms' side. Today grandma Fravel would be 130 years old.
Grandma was born in 1880. And yes...I do remember her. She died in 1965...I had just turned 11.
Grandma lived down on the south end of town in Owensville. My mom and dad and my brothers and sisters lived near there too...before my time. They moved to the house I 'do' remember before I was born. But I remember grandmas house.
The funniest story I remember about grandma, was when my cousin and I were playing outside her house...and she came out to ask us if we had seen her glasses...she couldn't find them. I remember telling her that they were 'on top of your head'. She had...as we glass wearers are sometimes known to do...pushed them up on top of her head...and forgot. Then she obviously spent some time looking for them in the house...before coming out to ask the grandkids if they'd seen them or done something with them.
I suppose I'll do something goofy to my grandkids...if I haven't done it already...that they'll recall 50 years from now.
I hope so.
Dan
Grandma was born in 1880. And yes...I do remember her. She died in 1965...I had just turned 11.
Grandma lived down on the south end of town in Owensville. My mom and dad and my brothers and sisters lived near there too...before my time. They moved to the house I 'do' remember before I was born. But I remember grandmas house.
The funniest story I remember about grandma, was when my cousin and I were playing outside her house...and she came out to ask us if we had seen her glasses...she couldn't find them. I remember telling her that they were 'on top of your head'. She had...as we glass wearers are sometimes known to do...pushed them up on top of her head...and forgot. Then she obviously spent some time looking for them in the house...before coming out to ask the grandkids if they'd seen them or done something with them.
I suppose I'll do something goofy to my grandkids...if I haven't done it already...that they'll recall 50 years from now.
I hope so.
Dan
Saturday, November 20, 2010
GRANDDAD
Today is the day my granddad was born. I'm a papaw to my grandchildren...my dad was papaw to his grandchildren...but my grandfather was 'granddad'.
Granddad was born 129 years ago...and amazingly...I still remember him. Many of my readers might think...and say...geez you must be old. You remember someone that would be 129 years old!!
As most of my readers know...I was born late in my parents life as parents. Granddad was 73 years old when I was born...so by the time I was old enough to know he was my granddad...he was pushing 80. Luckily for me...granddad lived into his 90s so I had a long time to grow up and remember him.
Even with that...I never really got close to granddad. He just wasn't a guy that kids got close to. But when I'm 80 and going into my 90s...maybe the kids won't wanna get close to me either.
I hope not. I want my g-kids and g-g-kids and g-g-g-kids to remember me as somebody they liked being around and was a cool 'old' guy.
Dan
Granddad was born 129 years ago...and amazingly...I still remember him. Many of my readers might think...and say...geez you must be old. You remember someone that would be 129 years old!!
As most of my readers know...I was born late in my parents life as parents. Granddad was 73 years old when I was born...so by the time I was old enough to know he was my granddad...he was pushing 80. Luckily for me...granddad lived into his 90s so I had a long time to grow up and remember him.
Even with that...I never really got close to granddad. He just wasn't a guy that kids got close to. But when I'm 80 and going into my 90s...maybe the kids won't wanna get close to me either.
I hope not. I want my g-kids and g-g-kids and g-g-g-kids to remember me as somebody they liked being around and was a cool 'old' guy.
Dan
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
WATCHIN
I have owned...I believe...about 6 watches in my lifetime. There might be a few more in there that I'm not thinking about...but that's pretty close.
I just started wearing one again in the last few weeks, after not wearing one for many years. That's my usual cycle. Wear one for awhile...let the battery die...not replace the battery...quit wearing a watch.
I never really missed wearing a watch all those years. It's different today than it used to be. Who needs to wear a watch these days? There's a clock on the dashboard of my car...there's one on my cell phone...there's one on the stove, the microwave, the TV...there's one in almost every room of the house...and the 'monster' that wakes me up each morning. Who needs to wear one...you don't have to look too far, or too hard...to find the time displayed on 'something'.
My first watch was given to me by my dad. He worked at the hardware store in Owensville and inexpensive Timex watches were on a display rack there, near the cash register. Since we moved from Owensville when I was 8, I assume dad gave me mine for Christmas in 1961 when I was 7 years old. We moved that next summer.
My next watch that I remember was given to me on Christmas Day 1972. Cindy bought me a watch for 'our' first Christmas together. We were dating then...it would be a couple more Christmases before we'd be married. I wore that watch for a long time.
After Cindy & I moved to Lafayette...and before children...we'd once in a while go to Anderson's Auction Gallery nearby on Friday night for entertainment. It was always interesting to see what would be auctioned that night...old and new...and exciting once in a while to bid on something. As long as you didn't buy...it was cheap entertainment for the evening...and we were pretty cheap in those days. One evening...Colonel John was hawking 'new' digital watches for $5...and I bought one. I think it lasted about as long as you'd expect a $5 watch to last.
Cindy again bought me the next watch I recall...a beautiful watch for my 50th birthday. I happened to get another watch at about the same time...not sure who gave it to me...obviously not Cindy. It was the first time I'd owned 2 functioning watches at the same time. I could alternate wearing one, then the other...until the batteries wore out on both of them and I haven't worn a watch since then...
...until last month, when Jaime & Shawn went to Gatlinburg and strolled through the Fossil watch shop...among the thousands of shops down there...and bought me a new watch as a gift. (For being the world's best dad!)
The old Timex that dad bought me...got lost among the shuffles of life in the last 50 years. The 2 that Cindy bought me are in Cindy's jewelry box. Someday I'll take them to a jeweler and have them repaired...or put in a new battery...whatever it takes to get them running...and I'll hand them down to my grandsons.
I hope they'll wear them proudly...assuming men wear watches then.
Dan
I just started wearing one again in the last few weeks, after not wearing one for many years. That's my usual cycle. Wear one for awhile...let the battery die...not replace the battery...quit wearing a watch.
I never really missed wearing a watch all those years. It's different today than it used to be. Who needs to wear a watch these days? There's a clock on the dashboard of my car...there's one on my cell phone...there's one on the stove, the microwave, the TV...there's one in almost every room of the house...and the 'monster' that wakes me up each morning. Who needs to wear one...you don't have to look too far, or too hard...to find the time displayed on 'something'.
My first watch was given to me by my dad. He worked at the hardware store in Owensville and inexpensive Timex watches were on a display rack there, near the cash register. Since we moved from Owensville when I was 8, I assume dad gave me mine for Christmas in 1961 when I was 7 years old. We moved that next summer.
My next watch that I remember was given to me on Christmas Day 1972. Cindy bought me a watch for 'our' first Christmas together. We were dating then...it would be a couple more Christmases before we'd be married. I wore that watch for a long time.
After Cindy & I moved to Lafayette...and before children...we'd once in a while go to Anderson's Auction Gallery nearby on Friday night for entertainment. It was always interesting to see what would be auctioned that night...old and new...and exciting once in a while to bid on something. As long as you didn't buy...it was cheap entertainment for the evening...and we were pretty cheap in those days. One evening...Colonel John was hawking 'new' digital watches for $5...and I bought one. I think it lasted about as long as you'd expect a $5 watch to last.
Cindy again bought me the next watch I recall...a beautiful watch for my 50th birthday. I happened to get another watch at about the same time...not sure who gave it to me...obviously not Cindy. It was the first time I'd owned 2 functioning watches at the same time. I could alternate wearing one, then the other...until the batteries wore out on both of them and I haven't worn a watch since then...
...until last month, when Jaime & Shawn went to Gatlinburg and strolled through the Fossil watch shop...among the thousands of shops down there...and bought me a new watch as a gift. (For being the world's best dad!)
The old Timex that dad bought me...got lost among the shuffles of life in the last 50 years. The 2 that Cindy bought me are in Cindy's jewelry box. Someday I'll take them to a jeweler and have them repaired...or put in a new battery...whatever it takes to get them running...and I'll hand them down to my grandsons.
I hope they'll wear them proudly...assuming men wear watches then.
Dan
Thursday, November 11, 2010
VETERAN'S DAY 2010
My brother-in-law served in WWII. My brother served in Korea. Another brother served in Vietnam. My nephews served in Vietnam and Desert Storm. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.
Cindy's dad served in WWII. Her uncle served in the Army. With as many uncles as she had...I know there were many of them that served in WWII and other armed service areas.
Today is Veterans Day. A day to pause, reflect and thank those who served...and are serving...in any capacity.
A touching story is attached...about a group of men who have honored those who served and who have fallen...at over 57,000 funerals.
Remember those in your family...those of your friends...who have served. We have privileges beyond our imagination...because of them.
Dan
Cindy's dad served in WWII. Her uncle served in the Army. With as many uncles as she had...I know there were many of them that served in WWII and other armed service areas.
Today is Veterans Day. A day to pause, reflect and thank those who served...and are serving...in any capacity.
A touching story is attached...about a group of men who have honored those who served and who have fallen...at over 57,000 funerals.
Remember those in your family...those of your friends...who have served. We have privileges beyond our imagination...because of them.
Dan
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
IT AIN'T RIGHT
Ever been swimming...in deep water...and got into trouble? And for a few brief seconds...that may have seemed like minutes...you thought that you might drown?
I have. It's a frightening feeling. I'll bet if a poll were taken...a vast majority of people would state two ways that they DO NOT want to die...burning to death in a fire...and drowning in water.
Sorry about the morbid thoughts...but I read the headlines today about George Bush's book...in which he authorized 'waterboarding' on some men while he was in office. And he still feels he was right in doing so.
Waterboarding...as I understand it...is basically simulated drowning of a person...and then stopping at the last second...saving them so they don't drown. And then maybe repeating the steps. And then maybe again.
The idea...again as I understand it...it that a person who is 'tortured' in this way...will 'break' and tell the torturers 'anything they want to hear'. Otherwise...the next time...maybe they won't stop the 'drowning' at the last second. And we've already decided this is 'one' way we don't want to die.
If I were to be waterboarded...I'd tell you anything you want to hear. Did I kick your grandmother in the knee? Damn right I did...if you won't drown me. Did I steal a box of pens from my workplace? Damn right I did...if you won't drown me.
Anyway you look at it...in my opinion...this is torture of the highest degree. I can't find it in my soul...to say it is the proper thing to do...even if the guy is a 'bad guy'.
Well...let me restate that. If somebody waterboaded one of my loved ones...and I knew who did it...I might find it in my soul to return a little 'eye-for-an-eye'.
And maybe that's the way those whom we waterboard...and their loved ones...and those of similar beliefs...feel about us. Maybe that's why they don't like us. No...HATE US!
George Bush is wrong. And if Barack Obama agreed with it...I'd say he is wrong too. And if in 2012 there is a new president...and that person says it would be okay...I'd say they were wrong too.
Dan
I have. It's a frightening feeling. I'll bet if a poll were taken...a vast majority of people would state two ways that they DO NOT want to die...burning to death in a fire...and drowning in water.
Sorry about the morbid thoughts...but I read the headlines today about George Bush's book...in which he authorized 'waterboarding' on some men while he was in office. And he still feels he was right in doing so.
Waterboarding...as I understand it...is basically simulated drowning of a person...and then stopping at the last second...saving them so they don't drown. And then maybe repeating the steps. And then maybe again.
The idea...again as I understand it...it that a person who is 'tortured' in this way...will 'break' and tell the torturers 'anything they want to hear'. Otherwise...the next time...maybe they won't stop the 'drowning' at the last second. And we've already decided this is 'one' way we don't want to die.
If I were to be waterboarded...I'd tell you anything you want to hear. Did I kick your grandmother in the knee? Damn right I did...if you won't drown me. Did I steal a box of pens from my workplace? Damn right I did...if you won't drown me.
Anyway you look at it...in my opinion...this is torture of the highest degree. I can't find it in my soul...to say it is the proper thing to do...even if the guy is a 'bad guy'.
Well...let me restate that. If somebody waterboaded one of my loved ones...and I knew who did it...I might find it in my soul to return a little 'eye-for-an-eye'.
And maybe that's the way those whom we waterboard...and their loved ones...and those of similar beliefs...feel about us. Maybe that's why they don't like us. No...HATE US!
George Bush is wrong. And if Barack Obama agreed with it...I'd say he is wrong too. And if in 2012 there is a new president...and that person says it would be okay...I'd say they were wrong too.
Dan
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
20 YEARS AND COUNTING...DOWN
I didn't know this about chocolate. Cocoa trees are only in the equatorial part of the world...and they are not being replenished as fast as they are being used.
The article implies we might run so low in 20 years that few will be able to afford chocolate.
Say it ain't so!!
Dan
The article implies we might run so low in 20 years that few will be able to afford chocolate.
Say it ain't so!!
Dan
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