Afternoon Eddy

It began with a song that popped into my mind, without warning and without precursor. A song from my childhood, sitting in the living room in front of the record player. A fun song to be sure, and a bonus because it had my name:


From there it went to a handful of other Jim Croce songs, and then following the trail YouTube laid out before me like Reese's Pieces, I fell into old favorites by Crosby, Stills and Nash, America, Seals and Croft, and the Eagles. I even hit The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel (I like the cannon-shot sounds at the end).

I have a soft spot for songs of that era that tell stories, as I may have mentioned on previous posts on John Denver and Tom T. Hall. I was tempted to indulge in a certain Cat Stevens song, but as I have an idea for a future post involving that song and the memory of an old blue Mustang, I stayed clear of the silver spoon and the man in the moon.

I'm not sure anything productive came out of this afternoon's eddy, and I suppose that's okay. It may even be the point. But it is advisable to keep moving, so life won't pass me by.

A Change of Pace

I am not a runner. I've never enjoyed pounding the pavement, or the strain it puts on my knock-knees. I'll gladly run bases on a ball field, but running for the sake of running? Not my favorite thing to do. I have run on occasion though. There was the time one of my college roommates convinced me to go run with him at the university track. There was a whole summer right after graduating college, where I ran about a mile every other day or so to get in shape for a month-long mission trip to Brazil. And then there was an event almost 4 years ago, down at Disney, called the Race for the Taste. In an attempt to spur interest in my then almost 10-yr old son in running as a physical activity, we trained for a couple of months to run a simple 3K fun run at Epcot. That was in 2009.

Today, I hit the track for the first time since that 3K race.

I am still not a runner. Back in late January, I realized to my chagrin that a change of pace was required. One random morning, I stood on the scale and discovered that I was as heavy as I had ever been in my life. Call it a mid-life revelation or whatever you want, but I realized that at my age, if I didn't start to get control of this thing, I never would. I don't know if it is really true that it is harder to get in shape and stay that way once you hit your 40s, but true or not, I resolved that something had to change. And in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about all the races my brother-in-law and sister-in-law have run, the bib numbers they wear, the pictures of runners, walkers and woggers at the finish line. But I had some work to do first before I could even think about running.

The first step was to get my eating habits under control. Taking a tip from my wife, I started tracking my food using MyFitnessPal.com. Counting calories in this fashion allowed me to see what I was eating, and to make better choices about what I ate. Like cutting way down on sodas. Giving up my twice-a-week Taco Bell habit. Going grilled instead of fried. And it seems to have worked so far, for the weight has come off. Since the beginning of February, I'm down 27 pounds. This is important, because getting this weight off makes the next phase of this current fitness kick a little easier. I also decided to take advantage of some modern technology, and got a Fitbit. The idea here was to simply track my steps. I started parking farther from the door at work or wherever I happened to be, just to burn that little bit more. The Fitbit tracks my steps and syncs to MyFitnessPal. Being confronted with the data daily has had a remarkable impact on my eating discipline. I go over my calorie goals every now and then, to be sure, but far less often than before I tracked it. And I feel better. In fact, I haven't had a serious migraine in 5 months. Hmm.

My strategy has been simple. Phase 1 - change my eating habits and get some weight off in preparation for Phase 2. Phase 2 - get in shape. Just because I weigh less doesn't mean I'm in shape. Phase 2 will involve moderate weight training (Bowflex dumbells and a bench), and yes, running. The stamina has to come from somewhere, and because I have a desk job, I need something active that keeps me in motion. I could buy a bike, I suppose, and maybe someday I will. For now, running seems the most straightforward option. Getting in shape is the goal, moreso than arriving at any particular weight. I can live with being above my so-called ideal weight if I am "in shape." But I need a marker, something to shoot for, if I'm going to be successful in Phase 2.

I'm not a runner, but that fact notwithstanding, my goal is to be well prepared to do a 5K race by early fall. To help myself train, I bought a Garmin Forerunner 10, a GPS watch that tracks my run and allows me to see the results online. To make it more fun, the Garmin also syncs to my Fitbit account and thus to MyFitnessPal. I'm hoping that being able to easily capture and see the data will help in my discipline the same way counting calories has.

So this morning, I hit the track. My objective: two miles using a run/walk approach at 1 minute intervals. It was early, about 64 degrees and a bit muggy, and I had the track to myself for most of the run. I managed 2.09 miles in 28 minutes, using the run/walk method. This was bookended by additional .25 mile warm-up and cool down laps (walking).

When I got home, I uploaded the data from the Garmin got some really interesting data.

This is actually pretty neat stuff. And what's better, I actually feel okay, post-run. I had a protein bar prior to the run, and a small bottle of Gatorade G2 to replenish electrolytes after the run.

I'm not entirely sure when the next run will be. But I imagine it will need to be soon. In the meantime, I'll be happy with today's effort. But I still attest that I am not a runner. At least, not yet.

42

The answer of course.


Now, what was the actual question?

Terms and Conditions

And the berries just keep blooming on the weed. A month ago, we were all talking anew about Benghazi, the IRS, the DOJ and the Associated Press, and the EPA. Now we have all of those plus the NSA and the State Department (again). Probably the only thing that surprises me at this point is the fact that these are being both investigated and reported. It is enough that I'm looking for a peaceful place on the internet to get away from all these stories, because even as a political junkie, it's getting harder to ignore the fact that the social compact between citizen and Government is taking some severe blows to the head. If there is such a safe haven, let me know so that I can buy some virtual real estate there.

Let's throw out some obvious truisms: "He who controls the information, controls the world." "Knowledge is power." Where does this information come from? It comes from us. We provide it willingly every time we sign our name to a form, click the box to accept "Terms and Conditions" from whatever service requires our registration, or otherwise entrust our personal information, numbers, emails, and SSNs to anyone who asks. It is an incredible act of trust to turn over our information in the hopes that the recipient of that information (corporate or government) will keep it private and use it only for the explicitly stated purpose for which it was required. But we do it, because we like our social media, we like our smart technologies, we like being able to see the doctor, have insurance, drive a car, go fishing, run a business, and be employed. To receive the requisite privileges, we are required to pay with our money and our personal information. We are by definition complicit, because we agree to these terms.

Are we due certain protections? I'd like to think so. But the fact that abuses occur like that of the IRS and possibly the NSA should surprise no one. And sadly, it is not at all clear that these abuses are technically illegal, although it may feel like they should be. The truth is that this oh-so-glorious Information Age has accelerated the evolution of the modern Surveillance State. Our information is no longer our own, and quite frankly, once you turn it over you can never get it back. You will never be able to elect a single politician who will champion, much less succeed, in rolling back the Surveillance State. The siren song of data is too alluring, too powerful, too deafening to be silenced. The citizen can at best minimize their exposure, but even this offers little protection.

I don't know how all of this is going to play out. There will be Congressional hearings, a season of wailing and gnashing, and quite possibly a major breakdown somewhere within the homeland and foreign security apparatus. But after a time, we'll all go back to our Facebook, our Twitter, our smartphones and our digital lives. Maybe we'll be a little wiser, or maybe not.

Why? Because we've already accepted the terms and conditions. The modern age is shiny. And we do like our shiny things. Unfortunately, so does he:

Been a Little Busy

Sorry for the infrequent posting here lately - lots of distractions are occupying my time these days, not the least of which is the effort to get the house completely finished so that we can once and for all sign our name and initials a thousand times on a set of mortgage papers. Things at work have also been a bit draining. In the end, while things are going okay, there simply hasn't been enough left in the tank for writing the past couple of months.

I hope to get to the point where I can stop, take a deep breath, and capture my thoughts. How soon I can get back into a rhythm, I'm not sure. But I'll get there. I thank you for your patience.

I'm attending the annual meeting of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church this week. During tonight's opening worship, we sang a hymn based on "O Waly Waly", an old, old folk song I wrote about here. Such a lovely, haunting tune, and now as I lay me down to sleep, its sweet melancholy strains are repeating in my mind over and over and over again. I suppose there are worse ways to fall asleep.

Peace to you all. I'll be back at this in a few days.

The Time For Debate is Over!

The battle has raged back and forth for years. Advocates for each side digging in their heals at the line of demarcation, each calling the other uneducated, one side elitist, the other side backwoods. But now we know, and the time for debate is over.

The GIF image format has been with us now since 1987, and remains to this day the most common graphical element in the Internet age. In 1996, this disturbing little gem made the big time:


Yet as innovative as the technology has been, professionals and amateurs alike have come to blows over the simplest of issues: how do you pronounce GIF? Is it hard-G (as in "get"), or soft-G (as in "Gemini")?

Now we know, and the facts are indisputable. By the authority invested in the creator of the GIF format (emphasis mine):

Since retiring in 2001, Mr. Wilhite has led a quieter existence than his creation. He goes on RV trips. He built a house in the country with a lot of lawn to mow. He dabbles in color photography and Java programming. He uses e-mail and Facebook to keep up with family.

He is proud of the GIF, but remains annoyed that there is still any debate over the pronunciation of the format.

“The Oxford English Dictionary accepts both pronunciations,” Mr. Wilhite said. “They are wrong. It is a soft ‘G,’ pronounced ‘jif.’ End of story.”

And that's the way it should be.

Comic Relief: The Government Can

For today, how about a little levity on an all-too-serious subject. I know some of you few don't like my preoccupation with socio-politics, but it is what it is.

So here's a Tim Hawkins special from 2009 that I somehow missed. Tim Hawkins is quite funny, and I suggest you peruse YouTube for more of his comedic routines. Enjoy!

Berries on a Weed

Oh, where to begin? Scandal mania has hit Washington, and if the people elect to turn a blind eye now, then such is their folly. What's happening in our government to allow Benghazi debacle, the IRS targeting conservatives, the seizing of personal communications from the Associated Press, and the selective waiving of fees by the EPA based on political persuasion? Incompetence? If so, then why haven't people been fired or forced to resign? No one is being held accountable, no one is accepting responsibility - all are pointing fingers, obfuscating, and hoping it will all just go away before anyone really starts to pay attention. You thought trust in government was low before. What happens to America when all trust breaks down between the government and its citizens? Nothing good.

Benghazi: I've talked about this one a lot. This one comes closest to touching the White House, and at least the State Department. But don't worry, "there's no there, there."

EPA: You probably haven't heard of this one, but it's out there. Apparently the EPA is playing favorites when it comes to who has to pay for requests for information. Perhaps not a major scandal, but the appearance of selective or disparate treatment is worth investigating further.

DOJ and Associated Press: This one is just strange. On the surface, the fact that DOJ may have been trying to identify sources of leaks of classified information isn't inherently bad, but the manner in which they "seized" this information from a press very friendly to this administration is just bizarre. One thing for sure, the press didn't like it, and ticking off the press cannot be a positive development for this administration. The DOJ has been over-politicized, and gives the appearance of being just that - an enforcer for partisan politics rather than just law and order.

>> Daily Mail: Eric Holder points finger at his DEPUTY who secretly obtained journalist's phone records

>> NPR: Holder Isn't Sure How Often Reporters' Records Are Seized

IRS: This is the big one, or at least, the one that will suck all the oxygen from the room, because the IRS is everyone's favorite whipping boy. Bottom line, the IRS has admitted to targeting conservative groups purely on the basis of their political persuasion. IRS officials have been caught in lies, but so far, no heads have rolled. The administration is rushing to blame it on incompetence and mismanagement, but in my view the problem is too far reaching and too systemic, for too many years to be anything but intentional. We might be talking Nixon-level stuff here. If not authorized by the administration or its handlers, this activity certainly wasn't frowned upon, and was likely encouraged. Oh, and just to make you feel better, the IRS is in charge of enforcing Obamacare. We can all expect to be answering a lot of IRS questions in the next few years. Don't skip these links. You need to know what's going on.

>> Politico: The IRS wants YOU — to share everything

>> Washington Post: Inspector general says ineffective management at IRS allowed agents to target tea party groups

>> USA Today>: IRS approved liberal groups while Tea Party in limbo

>> Daily Mail: Document: IRS ordered conservative educational group to turn over a list of high school and college students it trained

Remember which branch of government is responsible for running the State Department, the EPA, the IRS and the Department of Justice. It's the executive branch. All of this, ALL of this, the president has to answer for, because it is under his purview, his appointees. It is a reflection on his executive abilities. The bureaucracy has its own culture, to be sure, but you have to ask what kind of culture is being encouraged under this administration? I don't like asking such questions, and I don't like pointing out such things, but it is becoming painfully obvious that the so-called "politics of personal destruction" has been taken to a whole new level. If your right to freedom of expression and association falls victim to the heavy hand of government, your freedom is abridged, and the seeds of tyranny are sowed.

All of these stories, individually, are just berries on a weed. Each terrible and frightening in their own right, but not surprising. Why? Because the real scandal here is the accelerating unhinging of our political culture from any established norms required to maintain America's traditional social compact between the citizens and their government. When rules are optional to those in power, when accountability isn't even in the vocabulary, systemic abuses will follow.

Ingest too many of these berries, and you're bound to get a stomach ache. Indeed, it will poison your outlook, and leave you increasingly cynical. The ideal of America is not at fault - its practitioners are, and for that, we are all responsible.

The oligarchy of the bureaucracy, the press and the government are all fighting each other now. This may yet blow over and get swept under the rug again. Such to our peril. But I don't know. Maybe eyes will open this time, and people will see what we have created, and change course.

In the mean time, however, the feudal lords are fighting. Peasants beware.

Benghazi Breakthrough?

Well, maybe. I have made no secret on this blog of my feelings about Benghazi. What happened last September 11, the weeks and months leading up to that day, the months and months of obfuscation by all the major players, is nothing but a despicable travesty of the truth, of right and wrong.

I had all but given up on the story. The vaunted press, whose cause célèbre to shine the light on government has so clearly taken a backseat to an almost propagandizing patronage, has undeniably turned its back - for now - on its cherished Watergate heritage. Whereas then the press successfully exposed a government cover up, its modern progeny is working feverishly to assist in the effort to make Benghazi "go away." Today, however, there are signs, albeit small ones, that maybe - just maybe - the country might actually hear actual news reports and testimony about that horrible night. And maybe, they'll start asking questions.

This week, high level State Department whistleblowers testified at a House Committee hearing. These aren't some low-level lackeys, either. One is Mr. Greg Hicks - the deputy to the late Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who was killed that night in the attack. Another is Mr. Mark Thompson, in charge of the Foreign Emergency Support Team who had direct knowledge of the alleged orders to "stand down" and not deploy a rescue force. Finally, there is Eric Nordstrom, assigned to head up Benghazi security, whose requests for enhanced security support for the consulate was repeatedly denied in the months leading to the attack.

If you go looking for balance in the American newspapers, you're not likely to find anything but an effort to paint these hearings as a Republican effort to beat a dead horse in the faint hopes of damaging Hilary Clinton's presidential prospects. The bile just drips from their words, dismissive and derogatory. Politics always matters, yes. But so does the truth, at least in the world I want to believe in. You'll have better luck gleaning information from UK papers, if you can believe that. But what is more interesting is that the big three networks - ABC, CBS and NBC - may be showing small signs of actually covering the story if not objectively, more objectively than their newsprint counterparts. Consider:

CBS: Diplomat: U.S. Special Forces told "you can't go" to Benghazi during attacks

NBC: NBC's Lisa Meyers: Benghazi Hearing "Reopens" Case Against Hillary Clinton See also: Democrats Actively Working to Undermine Testimony of Benghazi Whistleblower

ABC: Exclusive: Benghazi Talking Points Underwent 12 Revisions, Scrubbed of Terror Reference

Go to the ABC link. Read the article, watch the video at the top of the page. Get informed. Will these questions lead to investigations, in turn leading to revelation of the truth? That remains to be seen. Careers should end over this, but unfortunately, the audacity of our present oligarchy and their loyal subjects in the press will do everything possible to avoid that outcome, honor and rightful shame be damned. But for the moment, kudos to ABC for the actual practice of investigative journalism.

Finally, though normally I wouldn't point to a political ad like this, this is just politically brutal, but it would have resonated if it had aired (which it did not).

Truth matters. And if an "objective" news source ever says a story "doesn't matter", question their objectivity. As the Wall Street Journal says, let the chips fall.

Update: I finally get a blog post out on this, and suddenly there's new and interesting developments. Not that we get to hear about it of course. Why? Because the White House decided to hold an off-the-record meeting with select journalists to provide "deep background" on the latest Benghazi developments. Why off the record? Probably because they don't want any names recorded with their quotes. More stories with anonymous sources to come. So, either the adminstration is providing the press a new set of talking points to push, or somebody's about to get thrown under the bus. Either way, it reeks of collusion. (Pardon me while I adjust my tin foil hat). Maybe it's nothing big, but one thing for sure - it sure is strange.

Channeling Joseph Heller

One of the most entertaining books I read in high school was Joseph Heller's Catch-22. In fact, I need to make time to re-read it, as it is a veritable quote machine. I find myself in the need to channel Mr. Heller now, if what follows proves to be true.

According to this report by Breitbart.com, DoD is clamping down on the free exercise of religious faith in the military (emphasis mine):

The Pentagon has released a statement confirming that soldiers could be prosecuted for promoting their faith: "Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense...Court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis...”. The statement, released to Fox News, follows a Breitbart News report on Obama administration Pentagon appointees meeting with anti-Christian extremist Mikey Weinstein to develop court-martial procedures to punish Christians in the military who express or share their faith.

Of course, it depends somewhat on what they mean by "proselytization," as pointed out by retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin in this Foxnews.com video. But one has to wonder about Chaplains, and others who offer support of a religious nature.

I'll wait and see what form this takes, but the Pentagon statement that Fox News says was released to them seems to undermine the idea that this is just some imprecise wording of an inconsequential policy adjustment. I wish I could see the whole statement without the ellipses, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

All I can do now is channel Joseph Heller: "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you." Indeed, "insanity is contagious."

Heaven help us.

More, submitted without comment.

A Dubious Designation

Being on top is not always the best place to be. So it goes with The Weather Channel's Top 10 Tornado Cities. Guess who comes in at the top of the list? I think I liked it better when this place was just hot and muggy all the time.

Behind the data:

Dr. Forbes gathered data from the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center between 1962-2011. He added up the areas of the tornado paths within 75 miles of the city highlighted, including the tornado damage path widths and lengths. This methodology gives a more realistic probability of a particular location getting hit by a tornado than simply by using the raw numbers of tornado that have occurred within a metro area.

This part of the country, in tornadic weather terms anyway, is known as Dixie Alley. Apparently we're known for long-track, violent tornadoes. I don't remember seeing that on the brochure.

Ah well. Like the lady said, "There's no place like home."

The Lights Are On Again

My friends and family, I bring you great tidings of my great joy, so that you may celebrate and share in that joy with us.

We are finally home.

Thirteen months ago, our home was laid to waste by a tornadic storm. You shared in that day and the journey that followed through your thoughts, your prayers, your many expressions of kindness and care. More than you may know, you sustained us through the turbulent days that followed. I give you thanks, and I give thanks for you!

We have rebuilt on the same property. Same floor plan, with upgrades (some by choice, some by code). Landscaping will come over the next few weeks. Nevertheless, we are in.

From the front:

Kitchen (please pardon our progress):

Future teen pad (basement - was unfinished in the first version):

Bonus room over garage:

The bunker:

The new deck:

The view:

Thirteen months ago, I wrote on these pages the following:

With respect to my house, the lights cannot come back on. But in the eyes and hearts of those around us these past couple of days, the light is shining. We are in good spirits, all things considered. The Lord is our rock, and our refuge, in this most certain time of trouble. I will praise Him in good times, and bad, and despite our loss, we have been given much.

As I hold my family close, I cannot help but think: I have been, and remain, very, very blessed.

As I walk around this familiar, but new, home, I am humbled by the grace and mercy that has been extended to me by my Father in Heaven. In good times and bad, I will give Him praise, because I can do no other. We have been, and remain, very, very blessed.

The lights are indeed on once again.

In closing, I offer the following reflection. On behalf of my family, I extend to you and yours my deepest thanks for your thoughts, prayers and expressions of kindness over the last year. May the Lord bless you all, and that abundantly.

How long it's been since razing wind
Left mark on heart and home
Up from rubble we stand again, but
Now laid open for all to see
At the close of this starry night.

Our canopy, our sanctuary
Our vista so starkly altered
A void where majestic oaks stood guard
Their whispering leaves can speak no more
The ache that echoes is my lament.

Then to the east, a symphony, what light!
My breath abates, "I scarce can take it in!"
On my knees, my knees, I'm blind and yet I see!

Yes, my heart, we've lost the trees
But behold, what joy! For look!
We have gained the sky!

It's Time

This is the week. Thirteen months and two weeks we've waited, sometimes patiently, sometimes with anxiety, for the moment when we finally get to go home. And true to form, nothing about this week is going to be simple. The house passed inspection last Friday, the power gets turned on today, and there is a frantic race to finish off most of the items on our punch list for the interior before we move in two days from now. Work on the house will continue after we move in until all interior items and outside landscaping are sufficiently addressed. While there is some inconvenience there, better to go ahead and move in and get out of the rental, rather than wait another 2-3 weeks.

All the while there are school and baseball schedules to keep, an increasingly critical milestone for a project at work, and continued uncertainty in future funding in the face of the defense drawdown. (These latter two are not entirely unrelated). The move this week is followed by a not-quite desperate effort to clean the rental to leave it in better condition than we found it. By the time we turn in the keys on Monday, I figure we'll be about ready to collapse.

In all things, however, give thanks. And so I will. Because if there is one thing in all this chaos I can hang my hat on, it is this: God is good.

And I am going home.


See you on the other side.

"Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land ..." (Psalm 37:34a)

Ascending Absurdity

The world has gone nuts. Or perhaps it always was, and just seems increasingly so. Or perhaps it is just our culture, suffering from the all too predictable consequences of relativism and progressive fantasies. Too dour? Perhaps. But if there is any truth to the old axiom "The road to hell is paved with good intentions," one only needs to look around or read the news to see the empirical data.

There is a piece on Ricochet.com this morning that illustrates what I, and I hope others, see. Dave Carter, perhaps my favorite contributor on Ricochet, is a retired U.S. Air Force NCO and Senior Historian who now fills his days as a truck driver. I had the pleasure of meeting him some weeks ago and discovered that at one point in his career, his commanding officer happened to be a certain general that my dad had worked for with the 8th Air Force. (As an aside, in attendance at that meeting was his good friend Bob Lee, also an Air Force vet who happened to be stationed at Grand Forks the same time my family was there). At any rate, Dave is a fine fellow, and has a touch with words that I envy. At the bottom of this post, I link to a few other of my favorite Dave Carter posts.

But back to the point. Politicians at all levels like to experiment with new ideas and new policies, promising the world without ever truly counting the cost or the collateral damage. And rarely will anybody perform an honest assessment or audit of results that determines the policy was a bad idea. The answer is always more money or a new policy, not the termination or defunding of a bad one. Our representatives like to think that we always expect them to "do something." Frankly, I wish every now and then that they would "undo something" or "not do something".

Dave writes:

"We mean well but do ill, so we justify our ill-doing with our well-meaning," goes the saying I heard long ago. The idea that security can be achieved through the dismantlement of defenses in the face of gathering threats, the idea that national prosperity is to be found in the confiscation of capital from the productive sector, the idea that people will be happier and safer at city pools if only the distribution of life-saving resources mirrors the current ethnic nose-count, -- these are rank superstitions and would be laughable were it not for the human cost they impose. Does a drowning child wave for help only in Spanish? Can she be saved by a lifeguard who has, "a little bit of fear of the water," and, if not, will her family be comforted that she died while in the care of someone who at least had no "language issues"? If North Korea reduces Seoul to dust, will history record that, while over 10 million people perished, at least our failure to resolutely develop the necessary defensive capabilities was well intentioned rather than provocative? Does it matter to the American who just lost his job because his employer can't afford the demands of Obamacare, that the President's heart was ostensibly in the right place? Is the family traveling down the highway in something the size of a golf cart immune from the laws of physics by virtue of their compliance with ever-rising mandatory fuel standards?

Be sure to read the whole thing.

We are (and have been) in an age of hyper-legislation, where our politicians are hyper-regulating, hyper-bloviating, hyper-infiltrating every facet of daily living. In a word, they're hyper. And they are ignoring the real and painful consequences of this progressive push to perdition. Will they, will we, ever come to our senses, and truly count the cost and weigh the consequences of our intentions? And whether, in fact, those intentions are even good at all?

I long for hope, but it seems to be in short supply, not unlike everything else these days.

If we suffer the foolish to lead us, we will reap the result of what they sow. Indeed, we already are.

A sampling of Dave's writing:

Life on the Move

Of Memories and Quiet Peace

Unsuitable to the American Palate

I encourage you to read them all.

The Force is Not Strong with Lego

Look, I get it, okay? I get that there are people and cultures that get sensitive about things. I get that perhaps we should at least take care not to be blatantly in-your-face offensive when we know it might cause hurt or harm.

But we're talking about Legos, here.

A $20 $150 Star Wars lego set.

From the article:

Lego will cease production of a popular “Star Wars” toy set after Muslim communities complained about the product as the company says the criticism played no part in the decision to do so.

The Independent reports that several Muslim groups in Austria claimed “Jabba’s Palace” was anti-Muslim as it showed popular “Star Wars” character Jabba the Hut in a mosque-like lair with a hookah, guns and an imprisoned Chewbacca.

“This sort of thing does not belong in a child’s bedroom,” Melissa Gunes, spokeswoman for Austria’s Turkish Cultural Association, told The Independent. “The game is pedagogical dynamite. It depicts Muslims as terrorists.”

It's true that Lego has a rotation on its playsets (heaven knows there are sets I've tried in vain to look for over the years near birthdays and Christmas). But the timing provides an awfully convenient cover that is nevertheless ridiculously transparent. It is no secret that some in the Arab and Turkish world hate what they perceive as the George Lucas caricatures of their cultures in the Star Wars movies. But this is a toy - a $150 toy on Amazon (a bit pricy for most people) - based on a movie. Last I checked, there were no Muslims on Tatooine. For that matter, there aren't any Christians there either.

I suppose we should be grateful that Lego still provides blasters and light sabers with their Star Wars playsets. For now.

An Artistic Diversion

Spring Break has come and gone, with sadly little family time to show for it. I did manage to take Friday off to spend with the boys, highlighted by a trip to the bowling alley. It always feels good to know that even after 10 months or so since my last trip there, I can still pull down a 160+ average over 3 games. Not great, but certainly passable.  But I digress.

Saturday, we took a trip as a family to the Huntsville Museum of Art, where our youngest son was among many area students selected to have their artwork displayed. It was quite interesting to see a nice-quality caption card with his name affixed to the wall next to his piece. Almost 10, I still marvel how one day he looks older than his years, and the next day, just by the angle of the pose, he seems even younger. The boy likes to draw, and I think I'm finally starting to figure out how, as a parent, to get out of the way (sometimes) and let my children explore their capabilities and their interests.

Here's a close-up of his piece, a mixed media creation using watercolor and crayon:

After the trip to the museum, we went over to Hobby Lobby so the boys could buy some models.  The photo below, taken at the museum beforehand, gave me the notion to also buy him a sketch book and some charcoal pencils.

I have no idea how long this hobby will last, but I for one am certainly not going to do anything but encourage it.  After a little tutoring today in charcoal pencil technique, he's diving right in.  I can't wait to see what imagination comes to life on paper.

Page 17

On this special day, brimming with meaning, I offer this performance of my favorite hymn. The group is called Reprise. There are few hymns as rich in meaning, expressing what every soul deeply needs to express, as the Spirit-inspired words found here. Its timelessness spans beyond the years, be it 19, 93 or 128, to an eternity of wonder and praise.


Amen.

PS: Page 17 is a reference to the 1966 edition of the Methodist hymnal (the old red hymnal). Some will insist on it being page 77 (1989 edition), but for me, it belongs on page 17.

3 Weeks. Could It Be?

Two days ago, I sent an email to the property management agent for our rental house, officially setting the date for what I hope will be our last day of occupancy. We have finally broken through a few major bottlenecks, and once again Chase Manor 2.0 is a beehive of activity.

Cabinet frames have been installed, countertops and sinks too. Flooring started yesterday and will continue through next week. The electrician has been on site, and appliances are on order. HVAC and plumbers are at the ready. A race is underway to schedule and pass an inspection by the second week of April. Our goal is not completion, in the sense that we have a closing on the house and the construction loan. Rather, we are shooting for a certificate of occupancy that will allow us to get out of the rental and into the new house, while outside work (landscaping and retaining walls) continues. Insurance support for the rental has dried up, so the sooner we get into the house, the better.

Here's a shot of our new Corian countertops, an upgrade over the original Formica:

Deck construction is also underway. This is one feature that I am very much excited to see, and I pray that it is done well. The original house had a screened deck under roof, with a small landing for a long set of stairs that went down to ground level. With the loss of our towering oaks, however, I wanted an extension that could take advantage of the view. The result is a creation of our own design, handed off to the builder. And now it is finally coming together:

It is hard to describe how I feel, knowing now that this time next month, perhaps, I'll be sitting inside a recreation of my home. It is not a feeling of pure joy, or even relief, though I'll allow there is some of both. We've been so consumed by this chapter in our lives, that the prospect of it coming to an end is strangely unnerving. I'm not sure that makes sense, to have even a little trepidation of this next transition. Maybe I'll better understand it all once it comes to pass.

One thing I know for sure: We'll be home soon.

Killing the Mood

I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover. I know that our perceptions and attitudes are often shaped by our environment and our upbringing, those cultural peculiarities that are impressed upon us from a very early age. I know that I should never ever judge a thing by the color of its "skin."

But the man in me just cannot wrap my mind around this. I found that I couldn't even bring myself to approach what ultimately may be a fine product, because I was instinctively repulsed by the blinding glare that filled my vision.

And at Sears, of all places. Right next to the stellar, sleek lines of Craftsman grey, black and red.

Forgive my prejudice. But I just can't. If this were in my garage, it would totally kill the mood. It's just .... wrong.

Stop the Presses: The Senate Drafts a Budget!

After 4 years of blowing off one of their primary Constitutional responsibilities, the Democrat-controlled Senate finally came up with a draft budget. I guess we should chalk this up to "progress." At issue is the direction this so-called progress would take us (emphasis mine):

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats unveiled a largely stand-pat budget on Wednesday that calls for $1 trillion in new tax revenues over the coming decade and increases spending while protecting the party’s domestic policy priorities and adding $4 trillion more to the national debt than a slashing alternative from House Republicans.

The plan by Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray of Washington blends about $1 trillion in modest cuts to health care providers, the Pentagon, domestic agencies, and interest payments on the debt with an equal amount in new revenue claimed by closing tax breaks.

But because Democrats want to restore $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts over the same period — cuts imposed by Washington’s failure to strike a broader budget pact — Murray’s blueprint increases spending slightly when compared with current policies.

I guess adding another $4 trillion to the national debt, already over $16 trillion now, is no big deal. After all, the president has told us that there is no debt crisis.

Here's what an Alabama senator had to say (emphasis mine):

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, summarized the contents of that budget effort: “The Senate Democrat plan offers $7.3 trillion in new debt in the first 10 years, with interest payments climbing to $791 billion in the tenth year and total debt rising to $24.4 trillion. Debt remains permanently elevated above the danger zone of 90 percent of GDP, resulting in slower growth and lost wages. Excluding war spending gimmicks, net deficit reduction is only $279 billion. In the Senate Democrat plan, the deficit in 2023 is $566 billion; the House Republican plan, in contrast, produces a surplus in the tenth year.”

Obviously, I'm in no position to assess the veracity of these descriptions, as the spin cycle is already in full force. In fact, a later version of the AP article removes the sentence about adding $4 trillion to the national debt.

In 2008, the national debt stood at about $10 trillion, and we thought it was bad then. If the Senate's budget were ever enacted (which it will not as long as the Republicans hold the House), by 2023 - a timeframe of a mere 15 years - we will have fully doubled the national debt.

So you'll have to forgive my snarky attitude and my pessimism about the fiscal direction of this nation. It is just plain stupid. Not a nice thing to say, I know, but it is true.