Exercise vs Lethargy

I admire folks who exercise.  But I'm not talking about fanatics with bulging muscles and thighs the size of tree trunks.  Yes, they exercise, but I sometimes wonder if they aren't addicted to it.

No, I am writing of those who exercise despite hating it.  Those who run on treadmills three times a week or take spinning classes twice a week or who jog outside for 10 miles a week.  These are people who know they have to do it, and do it.  I've never been that kind of person.  For me, exercise is an enemy who I fight against and frequently conquer from the comfort of my couch.  The gym is akin to having a prostate exam by a nearsighted doctor.

My wife is one of those folks I admire.  She generally goes to the gym three times a week; running, working her abs, doing squats, and generally sweating through the pain.  She is amazing.  She has run 5k races, 10k races, and has done it despite claiming that she doesn't like it.  She looks good.  She looks over a decade younger than her chronological age, and she is as healthy as can be.  I wish I could be more like her, but I'm not.  I run ... if chased.  I plank ... when playing pirate games.  I have a tee shirt that shows the silhouette of a T-Rex chasing a guy with the saying, "Exercise - Some motivation required."  That's only because they didn't have one that said, "Exercise - Not even if being chased by a dinosaur."

How do people do it?  They run on treadmills with their earbuds plugged in and seem to have boundless energy.  They pump iron and jump rope and crunch and generally keep at it until they can't do it anymore!

I especially admire those overweight folks who have made the decision to lose the pounds and go to the gym despite the musclebound behemoths eyeing them as strangers invading their territory.  No, Goliath, they deserve praise for their determination.

So I ask myself: "Self?  What can you do to get motivated?"  Fear of an early grave doesn't seem to work.  I just think of going to the gym and my brain gives me a million excuses why I can't.  I think and I ponder and I try to figure out an exercise that I will enjoy and will keep doing.  I tried tennis and enjoyed it until I had a motorcycle accident and dislocated my foot.  Now I've been away from it so long that I have no desire to grab a racket.  Jogging outside doesn't appeal to me, because any change of weather that moves the temperature above or below 65 degrees will give me an excuse not to go.  Weights?  No thanks.  Classes?  Absolutely not.  Those women are crazy!

I'll keep thinking, and I'll keep trying to find my exercise niche.  For some reason, my wife and son don't believe that playing baseball and soccer on my Playstation counts as exercise.

Fiat gets it right

When the Fiat left the United States in 1984, their reputation was rubbish.  People loved to use the expression "Fix It Again, Tony" when describing their cars.  In many ways, that reputation was deserved, and the United States was left without a true Italian car in their market.  Oh sure, there were Lambos and Ferraris for the rich and famous, but Fiat was nowhere to be seen.

Fast forward to the year 2011, when Fiat returned to our shores with the Fiat 500.  It was retro cool, and it was tiny.  But there was something appealing about that little car.  With a combination of old-fashioned looking buttons but modern technology, the 500 was a great choice for Fiat to try to pry its way into a Japanese-ruled small car market.

This year, circumstances dictated that my wife and I buy a second vehicle.  We have a Honda Civic in very good shape that we use for everything that requires a four door mode of transport.  But for our second car, we wanted something inexpensive, good on gas, low cost to insure, and small.  And being small, whatever car we chose needed to be a manual transmission, so that we could really enjoy driving it.

We narrowed our choices down to the Chevrolet Sonic, the Ford Fiesta, the Honda Fit, and the Fiat 500.  There are no subcompact cars out there that score perfectly on Consumer Reports' reliability scale, so we did our homework, did some test drives, and made our decision.

The Honda Fit was out of the running quickly.  Although a great car with Tardis-style room on the inside, it is not very attractive and was unavailable in the Sport model for anything less that $18,000.  That's more than we wanted to pay.

The Chevrolet Sonic was next, but we just weren't that impressed.  Granted, it's a step up for Chevy from the Aveo, but the car itself didn't move us.

We test drove the Ford Fiesta.  The price was right for the model we wanted (we got a quote of around $14,000 for the SE model with a stick).  We made an appointment with the dealer for a test drive and headed out.  When we arrived we were incredibly annoyed that the sales department had not arranged for a manual transmission to be available.  What?  We make an appointment to test drive a manual and when we arrive there isn't one?  Strike one.  We decided to at least drive the automatic.  It wasn't quick, it wasn't fun, and the audio system in the center console was a complete nightmare.  Strike two.  While the car is excellent in terms of quality and build, it is a four-door, and we already have one of those.  If we were going to buy another one, the car had to be enjoyable to drive.  The sales person said that if we wanted to leave a $500 deposit, they would arrange to have a manual transferred over for us to drive.  What?  What?  Strike three.

Finally, we went back to Fiat.  First of all, kudos to Fiat of Sacramento for having their final prices on their website.  Too many dealers list just the MSRP on their site and expect you to wheel and deal with them.  Not Sacramento Fiat.  We saw the prices, and that's what they were.  We test drove a Fiat Pop (the base model) listed at $14,100.  While the interior was very nice and the build felt solid, the little engine just didn't have the "pop" (sorry) that we were hoping it would.  It would be fantastic for city driving, but the long clutch play and the softness of the suspension wasn't exactly what we wanted.  Still, it was one up on the Fiesta.

Then we drove the new 500 Turbo.  Oh ... my ... goodness.  The clutch was completely different, as was the engine.  The sound was more guttural, and the turbo gave it the kick it needed.  There was leather everywhere, and the suspension was tight and responsive.  Granted, it was a bit more expensive (it was listed at $16,900), but what a difference.  It didn't take long to know that we were down to a tough decision:  the Pop at the lower price, or the Turbo with the better feel.  After talking and thinking and calculating, we contacted the dealer and let him know we wanted the Turbo.  Everything went smoothly at the dealership, and we climbed into our little Italian 500 and drove off.  Then, something amazing happened.  As we hit the freeway and merged into traffic, I looked at my wife.  She had a smile on her face.  I realized that I had the same smile!  Yes, I had just parted with a large chunk of money, but I had no regrets.  For the first time in my life, I felt perfectly at ease with a car purchase.  Yes, my Honda is great.  But this Fiat pushes all the right buttons.  Bluetooth voice controls, leather, sport feel, retro but modern, a kick to drive, a blast to maneuver, a breeze to park, and complete confidence in the solid feel to the build and sound to the entire vehicle.  We were happy as could be, and a week and a half later, we're happier still.

Fiat wasn't great in the early 80s.  But today, I'm proud to say that I am the owner of a Fiat 500.  Welcome back to America, Fiat.  Here's hoping you stay.

Been awhile, hasn't it?

OK.  I know what you one or two readers are thinking:  "Oh, here we go again."

Blogs are funny things.  You start out writing and hoping that someone will read what you write, will think it's interesting, will comment, will tell others, etc., etc.  Or, you write for your own enjoyment, not expecting any kind of feedback or results.

I wrote for the prior reason.  However, I wasn't consistent in my writing, and I certainly didn't promote the blog.  (Gee ... and nobody read it?  What a surprise!)

Let's try this again and see what happens, shall we?

And let's start with a video review.  Really.

I really like going to musicals.  Not high school type performances, but real honest-to-goodness professionals who can sing and dance displaying their skills in a wonderfully written format.  I have gone to a number of such musicals, and can attest that my favorites, in no particular order, are "Cats", "Les Miserables", and, shockingly "Mamma Mia!". 

When it was announced that Les Miserables was being produced for the big screen, I was excited and hoped that it would be as good as the 10th anniversary performance DVD that stars Colm Wilkinson as Valjean, Phillip Quast as Javert, and Alun Armstrong as a fantastic Thernardier. 

Then I heard the casting news:  Hugh Jackman as Valjean.  (Thought it would be okay with his musical background.)  Anne Hathaway as Fantine.  (Thought she would be great, as I heard her sing at the Oscars and was impressed.)  Then, as they sing in the musical, "it all went wrong".  Russell Crowe as Javert?  Amanda Seyfreid as Cosette?  Sasha Baron Cohen as Thenardier?

I decided to give it a chance, but never got around to seeing it in the theater, or even on dvd until this weekend.  The result?  I turned it off.  I have vowed never to watch said dvd ever again.  Yes, that's a bit dramatic in itself, but let me just jot down some issues I had with almost the entire cast.  (Nina Gold is listed as being in charge of casting.  Shame on you, Nina.)

Hugh Jackman disappointed me.  His singing wasn't strong, and for some reason I never saw him as Valjean.  Not the worst performance, but there was little power to his voice.

Anne Hathaway was great.  No complaints there, but let's face it ... Fantine can't carry an entire movie.

Russell Crowe:  Oh lord ... someone made a dire mistake here.  I blame everyone, including the director for this miscasting.  There was no force to his singing, or his character.  Go back and watch Phillip Quast in the 10th anniversary show.  That is how Javert should be played.  That performance got the audience on their feet, appreciating that even the bad guy can be a great performer.  Crowe should have been writing parking tickets for horses in violation of local ordinances.

Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter:  Kill me now.  Sasha couldn't decide if his accent was French or English, and they were about as humorous as an impacted wisdom tooth.  I was left begging for Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway.

Amanda Seyfried's voice reminded me of Snow White's.  The vibrato and pitch made our neighbor's dog howl.  (Ok ... that may be an exaggeration.)

Overall, while I was impressed with the grandeur of the film, the performances left me absolutely flat.  I want to take this dvd, package it with the film version of Mamma Mia!, and drop them down a pit somewhere.  They are that bad.  Fortunately, I'm going to see Les Mis performed live again in June, so I'm hoping that will wash away the bad sounds still ringing in my ears.  All those responsible for this film should be ashamed.  They wasted a lot of time and a lot of money for a performance that was miserable in so many ways.

Fortunately, I have the other performances on CD, mp3, and DVD.  I'll watch Colm Wilkinson as Valjean instead of the Bishop (which he also did well), and feel the goosebumps as the cast sings "Can You Hear the People Sing?"

You Get What THEY Pay For

Anyone who is complaining about the gridlock in Washington D.C. right now needs to understand an important fact:  it is the voters who put these folks in office.

But who put them up for election?  The ones with the money, of course.  One of the most vital aspects of any modern day campaign is the "war chest".   Who has the most money for advertising?  Who can spread the cash around? 

It is like any advertising campaign for a product or service.  A beverage can taste like malted battery acid, but if that company puts out clever and frequent advertising, and gets some important folks to say that the product is great, then people will buy.  It is the crowd mentality at work.

Now, apply the same idea to elections.  Whoever is the loudest; whoever puts the "product" out there; whoever gets the famous people to back them - that is who wins the election because of the crowd mentality.

On top of that, primary elections appeal to the most fervent of each political party, as the middle-of-the-road voters don't cast a ballot until the big elections.  That's how you end up with candidates like Rick Perry and Michelle Bachman getting the attention that they get.  It isn't that they will do what is best for everyone, but they are the ones who appeal to the extremists of their party.

Don't tell me that I have to vote to complain.  My candidate is ignored in human elections, and I watch the news and wonder if the members of the U.S. Congress can even agree to discuss the thermostat level. 

Money talks...advertising sells...and the voters end up choosing the lesser of two evils...or the greater.  In any case, they get what someone else pays for.

Tragedy in Reno

I have always had a problem with air shows.  Oh, I like airplanes well enough (except when I am white knuckling my way through turbulence), and I think some of the old prop driven aircraft are amazing.  But I have issues when planes traveling hundreds of miles per hour are flashing by grandstands of people.  It is a recipe for disaster, and that recipe was served up in Reno last week.

Granted, accidents do happen.  People are killed on highways every day.  People slip and fall in their homes.  But in general, society takes certain precautions to try to prevent such accidents.  We have laws for seat belt use and for speed limits.  We put rails on stairways and tell our kids not to run with scissors.  And yet, we place grandstands alongside runways as modified aircraft go streaking by overhead, passing within feet of each other and the ground.  Then we stare in shock as accident after accident takes place.

How about we use some common sense when it comes to air shows.  You want to have air shows?  Fine. Have them.  Just keep them away from populated areas and make sure that the grandstands are quite a distance away from where the event is taking place.  Trust me, the planes are in the sky, so people will be able to see them.

A number of people are dead in Reno, Nevada.  I have friends in Reno, and am very glad that none of them were there that day watching this tragedy.  I am sad, however, to think that this terrible event could have been averted; if only common sense ruled.

Memory ... (Not from Cats)

I'm reading a book right now called "Moonwalking With Einstein". It's all about memory, and how human society has moved away from the need to memorize things internally.

It's really fascinating and quite true. In the days before books, humans had to memorize information that needed to be passed on. It was vital. Now, we trust that everything is available at a moment's notice, and because of that, we find that we memorize less, and our ability to memorize falters.

I have to present parts in French. What does that have to do with memory? Well, my ability to memorize anything except useless trivial information is bad; terrible, in fact. So, add to that the need to actually speak in French, and I find myself reading everything from the printed page rather than speaking extemporaneously. I hate that. And I hate that I have to search for every piece of info...every scripture...every magazine tidbit that I need instead of being able to recall it with ease.

Unfortunately, I have finished 70% of the book (according to my Kindle) and am no closer to improving my memory. Oh, I have learned a lot about how memory works and how there are some memory pros out there who compete in freakish contests of memory, but I haven't learned the tricks myself.

And yet I find myself meditating on the benefits of having a trained memory. Imagine being able to quote scripture (in English or French) with book, chapter, and verse as easily as you might order lunch. Imagine being able to give a 30 minute talk from memory, without looking at notes. Imagine remembering the name of the person you have met at work no fewer than 20 times. (Guilty..)

We live in a society where we value convenience, and are completely satisfied with having snippets of information spoon-fed to us rather than a deep understanding of a subject. We prefer 30 second bursts of info rather than an intense "digging into" a matter. I'm as guilty of this as anyone, as my ADD causes me to flit from one subject to another like a bee buzzing around a garden. It's annoying, and it causes me to worry about what my memory will be like in 20 years...heck, in 5 years!

The time has come. It is time to begin the search for memory. It is time to learn something extraordinarily useful. From never needing a shopping list, to not needing to consult my iPhone for someone's number, to remembering how long I've been married (kidding!!), the training of my memory seems to be a noble undertaking. So, after doing a bit more moonwalking with Doctor Albert, I think I'll get down to it. Mnemonics is something that requires effort. Maybe that effort will reward me in other ways. I just hope I remember to study.

Modern Movie Musicals

I admit it. I like musicals and am secure in my man-hood, so leave my man card alone. I'm a big fan of Gene Kelly - Singin' In The Rain is a masterpiece - and I could probably watch Gigi several times a month.

Recently, the cinema has touched a bit on a sort of rediscovery of musicals. There is a problem, however. Casting crews, in their infinite cluelessness, have decided to go with big name stars rather than people who can sing and/or dance. I can give you two examples in particular.

The Phantom of the Opera - I'm not a big fan of this musical. I think the lyrics are insipid and it harkens back to the Umbrellas of Cherbourg in that all of the dialog seems to be set to music...and I mean ALL of it. I can excuse that, as I did with the Umbrellas. What I cannot forgive, however, is that the folks responsible for casting thought that the title role of the Phantom could be handled by Gerard Butler, who readily admitted that - wait for it - he could not sing. "That's okay," they said. "We will teach you, because you look so darn good!" Alas, they could not teach him, and his singing was only a bit more pleasant than a jackhammer running non-stop when you have a migraine.

Mamma Mia! - I'm no ABBA fan, by any stretch. But when I saw this musical performed at our community center theater by the off-Broadway touring company, I had a great time. The singing was fantastic, the acting was great, and I found myself laughing frequently and smiling incessantly as I left the theater. Then came the film, and the overpowering sensation that I had just been sentenced by Dick Chaney to a fate worse than waterboarding. I won't go into too many details here, as my psychiatrist says it isn't healthy. In the name of all that is decent, who thought that Pierce Brosnan was a singer? His idea of making something better is to sing it louder. In reality, it just sounds as though the lion has reached the jugular of the poor antelope and is finishing it off in an agonizing fashion. Colin Firth? Really? Mister Darcy? Christine Baranski and Amanda Seyfreid were the only saving glories of this film, and they didn't do enough to pull it out of the pit that the casting directors ... well ... cast it into. (sorry about that)

What is the point of this tirade? Can't you guess? If you want to make a musical into a movie, for heaven's sake grab the actors who performed it successfully on stage! Or at least grab a performer who has proven their chops in the required skill set.

Now.... rumor has it that the next musical to be made into a movie is one of my favorites: Les Miserables. A fantastic musical with great songs, it could be magnificent. However, that depends on the cast. Two names have leaked out, and I'm torn.

First off is Anne Hathaway as Fantine. While not THE most important role in the musical, it is important. My question is: can she sing at all? I've never heard her, and Fantine's songs are meant to be extraordinarily powerful and moving. I just think that Anne may not be up to it, but I'm willing to wait and see.

The most important role, by far, is that of Jean Valjean. The rumor here gives me hope. The lead is to be played by an actor who has been very successful in film, extremely successful doing voices in animated film, and has been wildly successful as a ... here we go ... Broadway performer! That actor is: Hugh Jackman! Yes! Actor, singer, dancer...he moves with grace and can play a variety of roles, of which Jean Valjean could easily be one. Is his voice powerful enough? If it is strong enough to star in The Boy From Oz and Oklahoma!, I'm sure it is. Finally, someone has it right. Let's just hope that the other choices are as good.

Musicals can succeed. Just grab the actors and actresses who have shown the ability to carry a show on stage before you put it on film.

Guilty of Liking Kids Movies

I'm guilty. I admit it. These days I seem to prefer movies that are "made for kids". You'll notice the quotation marks. That's because the really good "kids" movies have a lot of stuff in there for the "used-to-be-kids" like me. There is so much crap out there that passes itself off as entertainment, but it all tends to look like sex, violence, and dirty jokes. What's left after you throw those into the bin are some pretty good kids films that entertain me every time I watch. I'd like to list a few for you here.

Cats Don't Dance: I included this one first for the sole reason that I watched it again yesterday. Anyone who has any knowledge of the heyday of Hollywood and the old MGM musicals will love this. Scott Bakula does the speaking and singing voice of Danny, the "song and dance cat". He is paired up with Jasmine Guy, who does the speaking voice of his love interest / antagonist Sawyer, and Natalie Cole does the singing voice. Interestingly, the dance routines relied on a very special technical adviser: Gene Kelly in the last bit of work he did before he died. This is just a joyful and fun movie that people should give a chance. I never get tired of it.

Flushed Away: Not going to go into as much detail on this one. Let's just say Hugh Jackman as a rat (watch for him deciding if he should wear a Wolverine costume at the beginning...HA!) who gets flushed down the toilet...hence the title. Toads, puns galore, and singing slugs. What more could you ask?

Others to watch without my detailed reviews:

The Emperor's New Groove
MegaMind
Cars
Shrek

Nonanimated

Support Your Local Sheriff (James Garner could do comedy...that's for sure)

There are certainly more to add...but it's Monday, and I don't have a lot of time. I may amend this list in the comments section, and readers (all 2 of you, I think), are welcome to add your own ideas.

Apple (and Jobs) - Love it or Hate It

With the announcement of Steve Jobs' retirement from Apple, I thought it appropriate to discuss an observation I have made about Apple products: There is no middle ground.

I'll bet that if you asked 100 people their feelings about Apple products, there would only be about 5 that hover in the "no opinion" category. The rest would be either "love" or "hate". I think I can understand why.

For many years, Mac users had the image of being bearded, suspender-wearing "better than you" types who had the money to pay for what PC users claimed was a worse product. That was, of course, an image. How many schools had their first computer labs consist of all Apple products? Mine did.

Fast forward to what I like to call the "wholesale change in thinking". No, it wasn't the clamshell, bright-colored iBook laptop or the all-in-one iMac with no CD drive. What changed everything was the iPod. (That and iTunes.) How many people just HAD to have one once they became the be-all and end-all of mp3 players? No other player came close to the style, the ease of use, the ease of downloading, etc., etc. Once folks had their iPod, then the iMac or iBook wasn't that big a leap. As Microsoft released ever-buggier operating systems and the MacOS became sleeker and virtually uncrashable, the tide turned. Fast forward again to the introduction of the iPad. Honestly now...how many of you made jokes about the name when it was first announced? Honestly, I said! And yet...HP had to pull its version of the tablet after a bit more than a month because it just couldn't compare to the iPad2.

The tide has turned, and yet the battle goes on. But this time, the battle isn't between Microsoft and Apple. No, Microsoft has been virtually vanquished (which no one thought would happen). Instead, the new battle is Apple vs. Google. Who is winning? I have no idea, but the same "us vs. them" attitude is on display in this new battle. Apple users swear by their products, while Android users revile Apple. Frankly, I can see the positives in both systems. I'm an Apple user, and I really love how all of the products just simply work; no muss, no fuss...they just work together. That's what I like. My friend loves his Android products because he can customize them however he wants. That's cool. More power to him. Despite those differences, we are, indeed, friends.

Still...I see him leering over my iPad2. A year from now?

He will be assimilated...

Movies vs. Television: My Entertainment Dollars

As a typical resident of the United States, and not one of the upper 2% who have the vast majority of wealth, I have a limited budget for entertainment. And let's face it, there are literally hundreds of forms of recreation just begging (symbolically and literally) for my money. Some of this entertainment is not in my "moral wheelhouse", so we can discount that right off the bat. (Sorry strip clubs...you're out.) Other forms are not in my physical realm or in the realm that I consider sane, so things like bungee and BASE jumping are gone, too.

I have friends and relatives who go for rock climbing. Good for them. I'm sure it's jolly good exercise. I'll pass.

For the sake of this blog entry, I have decided to limit the fields of entertainment to two, with a surprise third entry at the end. Let's begin with the cinema or, to put it in normal language, the movies. There is a huge glut of films to choose from. Some of these are rated "R", and these fall out of my moral wheelhouse as well, so let's just eliminate those. What's left? Violence, sex, stupidity (see Hollywood Hot Tub for example), and children's films (which may also include violence, sex, and stupidity, but of a different sort). Frankly, the stuff out there right now doesn't thrill me. I have trouble laying out over $10 for something that isn't worth my time and effort to go see. Cars 2? Cute, but I can see that on DVD. I'm in no rush to go out to see it with a bunch of screaming kids. Captain America? Meh. I might see that on DVD, but it feels like another "super American soldier" kind of flick (see GI Joe). How about the new film, The Help? Chick flick, for sure. Brownie points from the wife if I go see it, but the man card goes right in the bin. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing it, but I find myself in the same boat with this one as others; I can watch it on DVD 4 months from now and be just as happy with my choice.

Let's move to television, then. Here's where I find some quality stuff that I like. Granted, there is crap out there, too. (Jersey Shore...take a bow...off a cliff) And yet, if you have read my blog before, you'll know that I sing the praises of shows like Doctor Who, Top Gear, Leverage, Eureka (r.i.p.), and Psych. Good fun, and well-written shows are worth it to me. And yet, I am paying Comcast / Xfinity / XMen / XRay about $150 per month for television and internet! I am beginning to doubt my sanity and conservative spending ways! This is why it is a choice between movies and television, and not choosing both of them. Television is no longer 3 channels plus UHF for free. It costs money - every month.

So here's the third option, and mock me if you will: video games. I know, I know...childish and wasteful of precious time. But aren't movies and television in the same category? Let' s imagine that one buys a PlayStation system for around $250. If you buy a game for $60, that seems like a lot of money. But ask yourself how many hours of play you can get for $60! You get 4 hours of bowling for the same price. 5 theater tickets run more than $60. Video games begin to seem like a bargain!

In the end, there is one final option: read a book. Some say that readers like Kindle have ruined the book industry. I disagree. If it makes reading convenient and enjoyable, so be it. Just make sure that authors get paid for their work. We can save a few trees while still getting people involved in good stories.

Just leave the Harlequin Romances alone.

Who Made Compromise a Dirty Word?

As an outsider on matters political, I can only stare in wonder at the rubbish coming out of politicians mouths these days, especially on the right wing. A recent quote attributed to one Republican candidate is, "I don't compromise." And yet this candidate claims alliance with the ideals of the men who founded the United States. It's sad that history gets twisted and forgotten in the midst of political campaigns. If those same founders of the U.S. had not been willing to compromise, these candidates would probably not be running for office.

After the Articles of Confederation were accepted as the "law of the land", the U.S. floundered. These initial efforts gave quite a bit of power to the states rather than the Federal Government. As such, nothing was stable. The new country was left in a daze. It took compromise on all sides to create a new constitution. Yes, the same Constitution that the right wingers look to as the "be-all, end-all", even though they ignore it whenever convenient.

Today, the left looks weak as they try to compromise to get things done, and the right refuses. It is as though the past doesn't matter, and the Republicans want to keep trying to pound that square peg into the round hole until one or the other shatters. Relatively harmless when talking about a wooden block; dangerous when running a country.

Whenever I have to meet with others to make decisions as a group, the first thing we do is look to the rules to see what they say. Then, we discuss matters, allowing all sides to have their say. Finally, we decide, and the minority goes along with the decision of the majority, representing a united front. However, by the time the vote is taken, all sides have been heard, and all views are considered compared to the rules, the needs of the whole, and the wisest course to take. Things get done and compromise isn't seen as negative. We don't compromise when it comes to the standards we have to follow. We compromise when the views of others are taken into account as important.

Our rule book in this case is the Bible. We will not compromise on that. However, where there is room for discussion, we discuss.

Government officials, you have your rule books. If the rules need changing, there is a method in place for changing the rules. If they don't, then look to the best interests of everyone rather than just your "followers" and those that throw money at your campaign. The so-called leaders of this country are a laughing-stock for the rest of the world. The reason is simple: the vocal minority have made the word "compromise" synonymous with "surrender". It just isn't so.

Funny Stuff, and Another Annoyed Eureka Fan

There's nothing out there in the movies that stirs within me the desire to go out, fight the crowds, buy a ticket, and fight through the retching that comes with seeing some of the terrible films out there today. Thus, I turn to television and Netflix to provide me with light entertainment. I would like to touch on a few programs that have filled me with either a) whimsy and happiness, b) "meh", c) "blah", or d) sadness.

Let's start with one that produces some laughs, and that is the British series "The Thin Blue Line" starring Rowan Atkinson. A bit risque' at times (as much of British tv can be), but for those who only know Mr. Atkinson as Mr. Bean, it is well worth watching. He is the star, but the rest of the cast definitely adds to the show. It is well worth your time, as is the BlackAdder series.

Next, a "meh" goes to "Alphas". I really couldn't get into the series. I felt as though I was watching a dysfunctional mix of "Heroes" and "The A-Team". Sorry SyFy, but you didn't capture me with this one.

Here's a "blah" for you. It's a show that tries to pick up where M*A*S*H left off, but without the comedy, character development, or plot that makes it worth watching. It is called "Combat Hospital". My son likes it, but I've seen it a few times and I have to say that I would rather watch Alan Alda's later years in his series where he got all preachy. No...I didn't like those either, but that's the point.

Here comes the sad part. It has just been announced that the fantastic Eureka is being cancelled by SyFy. They say it is too expensive, but will allow the show to finish its fifth season and have a concluding episode. Once again, the station that used to be SciFi network has moved away from its initial demographic and chooses so-called reality programs and idiot tv instead of good, interesting, and imaginative plotlines, dialogue, and great acting. I tweeted one of the V-Ps of programming for USA Network - where the majority of excellent programs can be found these days - and asked him the chances of his network picking up the show. His response? Since both networks are owned by the same company, it isn't going to happen. Pity. It would have been great alongside Psych and Burn Notice. Eureka has been nothing short of excellent, and the actors, especially Colin Ferguson, have been top-notch. So, a big "bleah" to SyFy, who has canceled the only show I watch on their formerly good network, and a fond farewell to Eureka. Here's hoping that Colin Ferguson lands on his feet and gets another series that spotlights his enjoyable personality and talent.

One more thing...Top Gear and Doctor Who come back soon. Yay BBC America!

That's a Riot...but not funny.

A quick one today. I've been reading about the riots going on in London right now. It supposedly started because of a police officer shooting someone. It's understandable that someone would get upset about that, and if it was an unjustified shooting, then that should come out in court. But those people who are rioting right now are not doing it for that reason. Get real. They are doing it because they are a bunch of lawless thugs, trying to get something for nothing by taking advantage of the insanity and looting stores, or are just trying to be violent without much fear of recourse.

I'm all for freedoms; freedom of belief, freedom of speech, etc. I am not, however, a believer in the freedom to riot and commit violent acts.

It's one of those times where I look at the news, shake my head, and wonder why society would tolerate actions like this. Government officials who remain on vacation instead of taking action are committing a criminal act in their own right; it is called criminal negligence.

My new definitions: London Rioters - thugs and idiots who should be punished to the full extent of the law. British Politicians responsible for security - idiots who should be removed from their jobs immediately. British Police - brave and under-appreciated.

Final definition: Anyone who thinks the rioters have the right to do what they are doing - mouth-breather who should shut up and use his or her brains for a change.

Flying the Friendly Skies...of Southwest?

I never post ahead of time when I have to travel; I'm neurotic that way. This last weekend, however, my family and I had to fly from Sacramento to Ontario, California, and I was not looking forward to the trip. There are just so many things that stink about air travel - parking, TSA agents getting familiar with body parts, long waits and delayed flights, crowded and uncomfortable planes, waiting for baggage, getting your rental car, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum - that I had no hopes for a good trip.

Still, as negative and nasty as I can be, I have to give credit where it is due. And based on this trip, a lot of credit is due. I'll take it in chronological order, rather than best to worst.

1) Sacramento "International" Airport - Parking in the garage across from the Southwest terminal was a snap. Second floor of the parking garage, easy to get to the terminal. Nice.
2) Southwest Airlines check in - I had checked in online the day before, so when I got to the counter, I just had to plug in the confirmation number, check my bags (which didn't cost extra - thanks SWA), and head to security. Very fast, very neat, and they got me on my way without a hitch.
3) TSA. Yes....you read that right. The agents at the security checkpoint were professional and helpful. You know something? If you read the rules and cooperate, they appreciate it and things go quickly. It's the idiots who don't put their metal items in the bin or who whine and complain that make it bad for everyone. Yes, there are bad agents out there who seem to get a kick out of frisking babies, but on this trip, all was fast and professional. Nice job, folks.
4) Sac "International" food court...to a point. Nice selection, but does anyone else feel completely gouged by the time you pay for a small snack? Ouch.
5) Southwest gate and flight. So easy. Boarded on time. Got my seat. Got my beverage. Arrived on time. Got off quickly. What more do you want?
6) Ontario baggage claim. 15 minutes and out of there. Nice.
7) Budget Car Rental at Ontario International. Got a great deal on my rental car. Ended up with a pristine Toyota Camry that drove great and was perfect for our needs. At the counter and away to my hotel in about 15 minutes total. Again...nice.
8) Hampton Inn - Even though they didn't particularly choose to be so close to our meeting place...3 minute drive? Fantastic. Room was clean, free breakfast was very nice. Only complaints: thin walls, peanut-sized swimming pool, exercise room with no weights. And yet, I was there to sleep. I wasn't there for a spa package.
9) Tokai Sushi in Corona, CA - All you can eat for $22. They didn't limit you to 2 pieces at a time, either. Good food, plenty of it, nice wait staff. Made for a fun evening, even if they did have to wheel me out because I ate too much.
10) Budget Rental returns: Took 10 minutes with a friendly staff member. On our way in a hurry. Only complaint is that the signs in Ontario leading you to the rental return area stink. Get better signage, city of Ontario. And make it fast!
11) Southwest check-in again. See above.
12) TSA - Again...see above.
13) Southwest gate and flight....see above. Even pushed away from gate five minutes early!
14) Sac "International" baggage claim. Crowded, but well-organized. We were out of there in a shot.

Thumbs down to:
1) Ontario airport food selection. A small bag of Jelly Bellies...$5. A slice of Round Table Pizza: $9. A bunch of restaurants closed at 6:30 p.m. Leaving my money in my wallet: priceless.

And a thumbs-down to one aspect of the trip in particular:
1) Sac "International" Parking fees: Okay, let's see if I can make this make sense. The fee is $15 daily along with hourly if not a full day. Arrived around 6 pm Thursday. Picked up car around 9 pm Sunday. That makes...3 full days and about 3 hours. That should be about $45 plus a little more. My cost: $60. Really?? Sixty bucks?? My flight cost around that much. Shame on you guys. That's a bit ridiculous.

All in all, it was a surprisingly easy trip. Kudos to the above agencies and companies for making it so.

A Quickie for Today

This is just a quickie for all those who say that humans are not affecting the climate...really?

Do you really want to say that almost 7 billion (billion with a "b") human beings going about their daily lives using machinery, cars, exhaling, passing gas, etc., are not going to have some impact on the planet? Are you really saying that cutting down forests, draining rivers, and raising millions upon millions of cows, as well as paving everything in sight...doesn't change environments?

Hellloooo Southern U.S. and others!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14410932?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

To all of you...get a clue.

Does Something Smell Back East?

Ever wonder why people hate politicians? Me either.

Just look at all the posturing and hubbub in D.C. and you'll get a clear indication why people don't trust anyone in the government. And the funny thing is, in a year you'll see the same time of people elected or re-elected.

It's sad how extremes on each side of the table seem to control the entire room. I'm sure that the vast majority of people find their beliefs somewhere in the middle of the road. The problem is that the far right and the far left have the biggest mouths, and the deepest individual pockets, and thus get the most attention.

I'm right down the middle...in that I don't support either side or, indeed, any side. I am a-political. I'm also apoplectic, annoyed, and aggravated. I'm just wondering why there is even such a big discussion about who should pay what and what should be cut. Shouldn't we just follow the guidelines in the Scriptures? (Right wing so-called Bible Thumpers take note.)

The Bible always called for taking care of widows and orphans. You can look at either "testament" and see that for yourselves. That also extends to the poor, the sick, and the mentally ill. Therefore, those are the people that should always be cared for...regardless. In a prosperous land, it is ridiculous and rotten that anyone should have to do without the basic necessities of life.

Beyond that...divvy up the rest as you see fit. I don't care. But if you drive, you need to pay for roads. If you prefer some form of protection, you had better pay for police and fire departments. (Getting the picture yet?) And as for taxes...I'm cool with those. But everyone...and I mean everyone, need to pay their fair share. That includes big corporations and rich fat cats. No loopholes. Pay for play. (And if you can make the tax forms a bit easier to use...thank you very much in advance.)

None of this will ever happen, of course. People are just too self-centered and greedy to ever change. Electors will keep voting in the one who is the best liar, rather than the one best-suited. And I...I will keep praying and working for the best government of all. Which one? Do you really have to ask? (see Matthew...chapter 6...verse 10...in whatever translation you prefer.)

A Whovian...Evermore

It used to be so uncool. In my younger days, friends and schoolmates would ask me what I liked on television. There would be the typical early '80s answers, but then I would pipe up with "Doctor Who". By far the majority would ask, "What the heck is that?" But I would watch episodes on our local PBS affiliate with Tom Baker as the toothy and bescarved Doctor, traipsing throughout time and space in a small blue box, outwitting rubbery fake-looking monsters and overacting evil-doers with panache and an offer of "jelly babies". The writing was always imaginative, though, and the Doctor and his companions were always fun.

Once the 7th actor to play the Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, left the air, there was a long gap in the program's existence until some folks in the U.S. tried a Doctor Who made-for-tv movie with Paul McGann as the Doctor. The movie wasn't great, but it was so wonderful to see the Doctor again that I didn't care. I taped (yes...taped) it and watched it many times.

Fast forward to 6 years ago, when the Doctor returned to the BBC, and Christopher Eccleston took on the role, and the show hasn't looked back. David Tenant and his somewhat out-of-place, enthusiastic cry of allons-y added a huge number of fans, both male and female. Finally, the newest and youngest actor to play the role, Matt Smith, along with Karen Gillan as companion Amy Pond (come along, Pond!) have moved the show into the stratosphere. At the most recent San Diego ComicCon, 6500 fans crowded a room to hear the two stars chat about the program. And that 6500 was standing room only. A coworker attended and loved it. ("She is so thin!")

The show, broadcast over BBC America, constantly draws huge numbers. A recent poll in England determined that the average British person's television show to watch is Doctor Who. The terms "sonic screwdriver", "regeneration", "TARDIS", and "fezzes are cool" are no longer met with blank stares 100 % of the time. Now it's closer to 60%, I suppose. Still, even though I hate the idea of being a "hipster" who loved Doctor Who before Doctor Who was cool, I am happy that I recognized the fun of the show long ago, and take pleasure at seeing each new incarnation of the Doctor. Being a Whovian isn't so strange anymore.

Now, grab yourself a bag of jelly babies, a banana ("bananas are good"), put on your fez or Stetson, and sit down in front of your telly and either grab the dvd for Doctor Who season 1 with Eccleston, or join in when the show returns in August. Old-timers like me will welcome you with open arms.

Even if, upon seeing the show for the first time, you will ask (as all companions and visitors do), "How is the TARDIS bigger on the inside than the outside?" You'll see...and you'll love it.

What a Weekend

I had to ask myself a question: How do I look at the events of this weekend and find any semblance of sanity in the world? The answer? I can't.

Let's start with the worst of it all - Norway. The details are still coming out, but the gist is that a lunatic blew up a government building and the same lunatic, or a cohort, went to a youth camp and killed a large number of young people. His excuse seems to be that he was trying to alert everyone to the dangers of Islam. The dangers of Islam? When you shot a bunch of young people? Instead, what we see is the dangers of overreacting, hatred, guns, extremism, etc., etc.

It's amazing that anyone could try to justify such a reaction in their own mind. This guy thought that he was helping to wake up Norway to the dangers of a religion by killing people who weren't even of that religion. And yet, we see similar attitudes (although not taken to that level) in right wing fundamentalists, extreme left-wingers, zealots, and others. These folks should be asking themselves if they aren't a little bit wacko themselves. And Glenn Beck should be ashamed, as should his sponsors, for opening his big yap by saying that the youth camp in Norway "sounds a little like the Hitler youth". Really? These guys were training for antisemitism and concentration camps? Really? Why does anyone even listen to this moron?

Folks...this gunman is nuts. He thinks he has done a favor to the world. Instead, he has just proven the sickness that exists in the minds of extremists.

How about another story? Amy Winehouse. Is anyone shocked? I mean, are you really shocked that she died young? The woman may have had talent, but she was a walking billboard for the dangers of drug abuse. It is sad, and the people that enabled her drug habit should be ashamed and held accountable. But people, when you are checking TMZ for stories on drug abusing celebrities and drool over each tidbit of info that comes out, don't be surprised when they pop up dead on a regular basis. It's another example of the sickness pervading this world.

Finally, let's look at football and the U.S. government. Football...labor deal...arguing over billions...while how many people are unemployed? You people stink. Not because you are trying to make a living in the sports / entertainment industry, but because you lose sight of the big picture. People are suffering out there, and you are more concerned with getting your "fair share" of billions. That's sick.

Along with that, the Republicans and the Democrats are so focused on getting reelected by their extremist money-donating base of voters, that they don't see what they are doing to Joe Average who needs a job. Again I say...you people stink. Get off your ego trip and do what is right. Everyone...and I mean everyone...who has the means needs to pay their fair share. And it is disgusting that a single human being in this country should go hungry or go without medical care or a place to eat when CEOs and other muckity-mucks are raking in millions of dollars in salaries every year. Is their job tougher or more demanding than that of the guy trying to earn a living pulling weeds? I'm not saying they should be equal, but the government needs to remember that people are hurting, and that cutting the most needy never fixes the problem.

What's the point of all of the ranting THIS time? Go back and read the "model prayer", also known as the "Lord's prayer". You wonder why Jehovah's Witnesses go door to door telling people that God's Kingdom is the only solution that will work? Read the news from this weekend again. I dare you to ask that question.

Summertime Blues

The United States is currently sweltering under a massive heat wave. This meteorological misery is causing temperatures to feel like it is 115 degrees or more when you add the humidity. Roads are even buckling in some places due to the heat. (To those who don't believe that man can affect the environment adversely, I say "bleah"!)

Here in the Central Valley of California, we have dealt with late rains, relatively mild heat, and a strangely mild summer. What that means to most people is a more comfortable visit to the California State Fair, less sweating, and more drownings in local rivers because people are too stupid to take precautions against cold, fast currents.

What it means for me is that it is still too hot. I hate summer. I hate heat. I hate sweat. And I happen to live with two people who love the sun. I'll be calling the authorities on them soon to have them checked for insanity.

It also means higher utility bills, as I am one of those insane people willing to plop down an extra $50 or so a month to remain comfortable in my "man cave". Let other people fan themselves and perspire. I want air conditioning, and I want it now! Sadly, it also means that I am probably contributing to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. (Great! Now I have guilt! - Rex from Toy Story)

I'm not sure what point I'm trying to make here. Is it just for the purpose of blogging? Perhaps. But perhaps it is also to point out to all of those "sun worshipers" out there that not everyone likes the heat. It is also to send out an invitation to the following people:

River recreation folks who don't take precautions
People who go out for hours and hours in the sun without sunscreen
People who think that hot weather calls for riding motorcycles in t-shirts and shorts

The Darwin Awards are accepting applications.

Shows I Watch

It's been a little while since I discussed television shows, so now, without further ado (or further adon't) it my list of currently watched television shows. You may feel free to disagree with my choices, but you would be wrong.

Leverage: This season has started out a bit weakly, but the chemistry between the characters is still strong. I would like to contrast this show with another one that I immediately decided was not for me: Alphas. As I watched that show, I decided that I would rather have all of the characters violated by the TSA rather than root for them to succeed. The characters were all intensely dislikable, and thus an interesting concept landed with an overwhelming SPLAT.

Deadliest Catch: Why? Why? Why do I continue to watch this show? I hate reality shows, and this one is about crab fishing...every season. And yet, I watch. I watch, and I cannot resist. I will be petitioning the FCC to determine if this show is adding subliminal messages causing me to keep watching.

Top Gear: Do I really need to explain? I'm just waiting for season 17 to begin so that I can get my fix. If you haven't watched this on BBC America, you are a fool. I hereby assign you to do penance by watching either the Bachelorette or Basketball Wives for 3 hours straight. At which point, you will die. Or wish you were dead. Instead, watch Top Gear and be a very happy camper.

Burn Notice (with a caveat): This show is very close to jumping the shark. I am watching suspiciously, but something had better change. And soon.

Eureka: One of the most imaginative shows on the air....again. I just watched the first episode of the new season and it is still great. I just hated waiting so long for it to return. Where else could you find an artificially intelligent robot deputy wanting to marry a house endowed with artificial intelligence. What...she wasn't ready to settle down? On top of that, the Sheriff rode off with his injured robot deputy on the back of a horse to save the day and what do we hear? The deputy (Andy) yelling, "I'm on a horse!" Classic.

Doctor Who: On break until the end of summer. Nooooooooo!!! I need my fix!!! Now!!!

That's it for now. Other shows that make honorable mention are NCIS (on break), NCIS:LA (on break), Top Gear USA (need new presenters), and Psych (on break...otherwise it goes to near the top of the list!)

Don't like my choices? Let's debate! Oh...you lose.

Budget Battles

Does anyone really think that the people in charge of the government have people's best interests at heart? There they are...meeting and cajoling and meeting and digging in, and they can't come to any kind of agreement. Why is that?

The simple reason is that they are only interested in doing what gets them reelected. Period. They have to appeal to the most extreme end of their political base so that they get the fringe element, while hoping that those toward the center will choose them as the least harmful choice when election time arrives. In the end, though, it is Joe Lunchbox who gets the shaft.

It's funny. The Bible teaches us to pay to Caesar what is Caesar's, and that includes taxes. Yet the people that are elected to decide how the money is spent stops caring about those who are giving the money, unless of course you are talking about the top 1/2% of wage earners who give a big chunk to campaigns, or big companies that prop up this stupidity.

The model prayer in the Bible teaches us to pray for God's Kingdom to come. And yet there are those who think that humans can do the job. Take a look at the news this evening. I dare you to come back to me and believe that they can. But if you do watch the news, avoid Fox. They might be tapping your phone to see what you think about them.

No Responses

I don't blame anyone but myself. I'd be shocked if anyone even looked at this blog more than once a month. Still, the offer still stands.

On other notes...here's a look at some of the topics that have caught my eye:

Rupert Murdoch: Come on now...is anyone REALLY surprised that this guy is a scumball? Really?

NFL Lockout: Lots of people making lots of money. Getting organized is important, but the rookie wage scale needs fixing. (See: Russell, JaMarcus) Also, they need to take care of the guys who are done with the game who can't even dress themselves or remember their families.

NBA Lockout: Two words will fix most of the problems: revenue sharing. Do you really want 4 teams each in NY, LA, and Chicago? That's where this is heading if small markets like Sacramento can't compete financially.

iPad 2: Got mine. Love it. Only complaints are that I can't afford 3G in addition to my iPhone (when do we get tethering??) and I really wish this "Flash" issue would get resolved.

Cars: (real cars...not the movie) Does anyone else think that the influx of boxes on wheels is ridiculous? I mean, come on...the Scion xB, the Nissan Cube, etc., etc. I really like small cars with some personality: e.g., Mini Cooper S, Fiat 500, or even the Ford Fiesta. You want boxes on wheels? Go back to the U.S. made cars of the 70s.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading.

This Is It

I'm tired of this. I'm tired of starting to write...stopping for awhile...remembering that I have a blog...etc., etc.

How do I get myself excited about writing a blog? And more to the point, how do people decide what to write about?

I've been told that I am a decent writer, and I would really like to write a book. I tried to write a few chapters of the "France" book I had in mind, but it never really took off in my heart. I just couldn't get excited about it. So now I'm stumped.

I'm sarcastic, but I don't want to write a book sarcastically, as that would get annoying to readers, I think. I love the way that Douglas Adams wrote. There is no way that I could or would duplicate his style, and a series like "Hitchhiker's Guide" only comes along once in a lifetime. So what do I do?

I am pleased to note that in the past I have had upwards of 3 readers of my blog. Three! Count 'em! OK...I'm done counting already. But perhaps if those three would tell others, I could get some more people reading and I would be inclined to write more. I would also love it if I could get some brainstorming ideas of what would make a good book for my writing style.

So here is my challenge: anyone who is reading this post...please get another 2 people to read it. Then, I would like it if those folks would comment by either clicking on the "comment" link or by clicking on my profile and sending me an email. I would really be grateful for ... note the following ... useful comments.

Thanks in advance. I'm gone.

Two Dreaded Words

There are all sorts of envelopes that you don't want to see when you open your mailbox. The return address is usually a dead giveaway: IRS, DMV, Franchise Tax Board. But sometimes those can be good things, such as refunds. Yes, that's rare, but it has happened in the past. Still, an envelope that never brings good news for me always shows the return address, "Jury Commissioner".

I hate jury duty. It isn't because I don't value the idea of having a trial by jury if my life ever took a turn in that direction. Frankly, I am pretty sure that I would rather be judged by twelve members of the general public rather than a single, or even a tribunal, of judges who may be bored, angry, unloved, or just plain mean. But that doesn't mean that jury duty is a joy. I hate the idea of arriving at the courthouse at 9 am, waiting for my name to be called (assuming that it DOES get called), and then sitting down and waiting some more for an Assistant D.A. or attorney for the defense tries to find out if I have preconceived ideas, relatives in law enforcement, or even post-nasal drip. Doesn't there seem to be a need for a better way? I mean, sometimes the trial gets postponed, dropped, settled, etc., before it even gets underway. And I have wasted my time going down there just to be told, "Never mind."

I have to report this Tuesday at 9 a.m. What can I bring? What can I do to occupy my mind until I am either seated or released? I could read a book. I could play with my phone until it dies. Maybe I could write letters. Let's see...return address....anything but Jury Commissioner.

The Doctor Is In

I used to be a television addict. When I was young, you couldn't drag me away from television. But now, as I look back at what I used to watch, I shudder in shame. Certain shows just don't hold up with time. (See: animated series from the 80s.) However, some hold up quite well. Go back and watch some episodes of Night Court, Barney Miller, and the Benny Hill Show (a guilty pleasure, but he was an absolute genius with wordplay...even if you think the ladies in scanty clothing was sexist.)

So what do I think of television today? There is still some good stuff on, but I tend to be more selective. I don't watch much, even though from time to time I will look in on a series. Here is a list of some of the shows that I think are good, or even great:

NCIS (both series)

Castle

Mythbusters

Leverage

Eureka

Psych

Top Gear (Absolutely the show I can watch over and over again!)

And leading the pack for over 40 years on the air: Doctor Who.

I know, I'm a geek, right? Well, hear me out.

Doctor Who has been on the air a long time, with props and costumes ranging from the cheap to the silly in the old days of Tom Baker. Special effects have improved dramatically with the newest incarnation of the series, but two things have remained consistent throughout the run of the show: the writing and the Doctor.

The writing has been imaginative, clever, and thought-provoking. It never shies from staring down the bad in humanity, while still expressing hope for what can be good. It also takes us to worlds and times beyond imagining and throws in humor to boot. I love the work that has been done on this series. (Want a great episode? Look for "Blink". You'll never look at a statue the same way ever again!)

But despite the age of the series, it remains fresh thanks to the men who have played the title role throughout the years. In a bit of forethought that remains unrivaled in television, the writers of the early series thought that when the time came for a lead actor to leave the series, the series didn't need to end or even have a new actor try to play the role in the same way. Instead, the Doctor would regenerate, having the same memories but a different face and personality. So, we could have Tom Baker followed by Peter Davison and believe that either one is the Doctor.

Moving to our day, when David Tennant decided to leave the series, many thought it might be the end. Next to Tom Baker, Tennant was probably the most popular Doctor ever. The powers-that-be had the gall to choose the youngest man to ever play the role, Matt Smith. He is young, thin, rather goofy looking...and a fantastic choice to play the Doctor (Geronimo!)

If you have never watched the series, and want to understand it, it's fine to start with Christopher Eccleston (the first man to play the Doctor in the new series) and go from there. If you can get past your pre-conceived notions of what the show is, I'm sure that you will find it to be one of the best things on your television.

For me...my television viewing re-starts on Saturday, April 23, as the Doctor's TARDIS materializes in my television on BBC America. Allons-y!

I Stink At This

OK. Did you ever get the feeling that your entire blog consists of apologies? That's all I seem to do. Still, if it means anything...I'm sorry. I've been very busy.

My topic of the day is the Sacramento Kings and the demise of the Maloof public image. For the longest time, the Maloof brothers, owners of the Sacramento Kings, swore up and down that the team was in Sacramento for the long haul; that they would never move the team. Then, the downhill slide began. The team started losing, the economy soured, the arena got old, the local government couldn't or wouldn't come up with a solution for a new arena...and the Maloofs forgot what made them popular owners.

These brothers began to think that they were the star attractions, making lame Carl's Jr. commercials and thinking they were the be-all and end-all of popularity. They stopped caring about their image with the fans and cared about their image of themselves. They wanted a new arena, but didn't act as though they wanted to help with the plans. Instead, they expected city leaders to hand a new arena to them on a platter. "Here are the keys, Misters Maloof. Enjoy your new playground."

Sadly, the public couldn't justify spending hundreds of millions of dollars of tax money on an arena while teachers were being laid off and thousands of people were losing their homes. What a surprise. Instead of being patient, enthusiastic, or even giving the impression that they cared, the Maloofs instead began losing money themselves; selling their beer distributorship, watching their casino start a slide into the negative category (losing money on a casino??), and putting a poor product on the floor in Sactown to save money. They experienced a new surprise there...fans stopped filling the seats.

Anyway, I digress. The Maloofs showed their final bit of scorn for the fans in Sacramento by not attending the final game of the season against their bitter rivals, the Lakers. Instead, they were winging their way to New York to try to convince the powers-that-be to let them move the team that they swore they would never move.

What is my point? I don't really know. I only feel scorn and disdain for the Maloofs right now. I feel they are cowards and liars. They think that being the worst team in a three team city will be better for them than being the only game in town in Sacramento. What a joke. Wait a few years, Anaheim, and the Maloofs will be moving somewhere else. They will act as though they are in Anaheim to stay, and that they have the best fans in the world. Then, the Pond will get older and the shine will wear off, fans will stop paying to see a third-rate product when they can see their beloved Lakers win and win again, and the Maloofs will have to find somewhere else to park their toy.

Well, begone miscreants! We still have hope for the future. Perhaps Kevin Johnson's plan to bring in financial angels will work. Maybe we will have another team to join the Sac State Hornets (the Sacramento Hornets?). But that just means that New Orleans - a city that has suffered more than any should ever have to - will lose their team. At least they have a Super Bowl championship. All Sacramento has right now of memories of being a jilted lover.

Joe and Gavin...you are the worst kind of cowards. Not just lying to a city, but not even daring to state your case to the fans, or say "thank you" on the last night of the season.

Just go away. I'm done with you and any teams that may have the misfortune of calling you owners.

A Grandmother I'll Never Know

My Grandmother died in January in North Hollywood, California. That's sad. It's sadder still, because I never knew her.

As readers of this blog know, I am adopted. I hired a private investigator to help me to locate my natural mother. Fortunately, the clues and research I already compiled led to the discovery of my mother's address and phone number. The investigator contacted my mother, who quickly told the P.I. that she wanted no contact with me. The amazing thing was that she was at the home of her mother, my grandmother, who was not doing very well. My grandmother was 94 years old as of her last birthday. 94! That was incredible to me, and gave me hope that my genetics would help me to live a good, long life. Still, I had hope that if I wrote to my mother, she might at least agree to send me some information on my family, if for no other reason than tracing my family tree.

As you might already know, she refused and, in fact, didn't even answer my letter.

As I picked up my research again through Ancestry.com, I ran my grandmother's name through a search engine, hoping to pick up some other information. I did. I found a two-line obituary notice, stating that she had died about two weeks earlier.

I didn't know this woman. I don't know what she was like. I didn't know any stories that she might have kept in her memory about her ancestors, and what led her family here to the U.S. from Ireland and Scotland. And yet, I feel a profound sense of loss, precisely because I didn't get to know her.

It isn't the kind of mourning where you weep over someone that you knew and loved. It is just a knot in the pit of my stomach, and a bit of bitterness towards my natural mother who refused my overtures. I'm sure it is hard for her, and a bit shocking, to be contacted by the child you gave up for adoption 47 years before. But I told her that I didn't want a "relationship" of "mother and child". I just wanted to know where my ancestors are from. I just wanted to know a little of what kind of genetic material drives my personality. Perhaps I could find out a bit about my natural father. And perhaps I could have learned a bit from the woman who was born just before World War I began. Now I never will...and I will have the regret that I didn't start my search ten years earlier, which might have allowed me the time to make inroads and perhaps establish contact with my grandmother.

Goodbye, Mrs. P. I never knew you except through my family tree. And I am truly sorry for that.

Kitties are Gone

Life sometimes kicks you in the teeth. And sometimes, it's your own fault.

We had to send the kittens back to the rescue organization today. To make a long story short, Stig wasn't getting any better, the stench was making the other two folks in my household physically ill, and the vet bills were beginning to mount. Overall, it was a lose-lose situation.

How do I feel? Lousy.

I actually grew to love those kittens very quickly. Even though they drove me nuts, I understood that they were kittens, and certain behaviors were common to young kittens. The other members of the family had a harder time with that. Yet, when I think of Jezza sitting on my shoulder asleep, purring in my ear, my heart starts to break.

This is going to take some time to get over.

No pets. Ever again. I'm done. I just can't take the hurt.

The Latest...

Another quick note. Life is hectic right now, especially due to the continuing saga with Stig. He is no better after three antibiotic treatments. We are getting plenty of advise from plenty of people, including our vet, but nothing is helping. Frankly, the frustration level continues to reach dangerous levels. (Dangerous for my blood pressure and sanity.) We just cannot get his issues resolved, and on top of that, my allergy-based asthma seems to be cropping up. Within the next week we may hit a "make or break" situation, where things have to improve or we are going to have to look at getting rid of the cats. If that happens, we'll have to call it a very expensive mistake in judgment.

Please continue to be patient. My family and my congregation requirements take precedent over all other things (including blogging).

I wonder if sticking a cork up Stig's....no....never mind.

Delay of Game

Just a comment to let everyone know the reason for the delay of game in my promised posting.

The kittehs are adapting to live at Chez Moi, but Stiggy is still having some major digestion problems. He has been to the vet, received worming meds, been placed back on his original diet...and still no change. It's odd, because in all other respects, the Stig is an active, fun-loving kitteh. It's just the problems with...well...digestive releases in a gaseous and liquid form that are causing issues. So, between that, friends visiting from the East Coast, and trying to get things ready for next week (4 parts in two days...yikes!) that is causing my "procrastination".

I promise...things are coming. Kitteh stories....France stories...and other picture postcards...coming soon.

OK...I promised...

All right. I promised. I have to deliver. Now that I'm back in the States, I'm going to be writing a bit more about France, from the point of view of this vacation. It has been 7 years since my last trip, so I was curious if anything had changed. I must admit that it has, and I'll be trying to chronicle some of the "misadventures" that took place on this trip.

However, that's to come. As for now, I'm just going to place a bit of updated information here.

Today is "kitteh day" in our household. Our rescue kittehs are here, and they have refused to be timid and wait in the single room that we had set aside for them. Instead, they decided that running down stairs and investigating everything was far more fun.

They are still a bit skittish when it comes to noises and being held, but as time goes by we hope that they will relax and become people cats. They already have some of those inclinations, and after the newness wears off, I'm sure they will let it show.

What have I learned about kittehs so far? First of all...poop stinks. Even with deodorizing litter. It stinks. But it isn't as bad as the bathrooms at work can smell, so that's good.

Second, they are indeed "kittehs". I use this spelling as a salute to the "ICanHazCheezburger" website. These two, Jezza and Stig, are already showing major personalities and I can see lots of photo ops in the future. They are nuts and are truly of child/adolescent age, and will attack anything within the immediate area that needs attacking.

Finally, I wish I hadn't waited so long to get cats again. I forgot how wonderful it is to see these creatures at play, and while they can be a pain in the keister, they are also well worth the effort. So, the "kitteh years" begin in our household.

By the way, if you are interested in very helpful information about cats, be sure to check www.about.com and search for the section written by Frannie Syufy. It's quite good.

Back to the kittehs, and watch this space for the vacation observation complications.

Coming Attractions

I can't give any details here, but I will be posting some very new stuff shortly. Give me about 10 days from now. I can't promise you'll enjoy it. I can't even promise that you'll want to read it. But at least it will be new!

Ready For Kitties

You know what? First pets are expensive! When you stop to total everything you need to own a cat, it really adds up.

First, there's the adoption fees. In our case, $75 per kitten. But for that, we have 2 healthy, neutered, well-taken-care-of-and-well-loved little buddies. But let's add the rest, shall we?

Dry food (not the cheap junk that will ruin their health), a variety of healthy canned food to see what they like, litter box, litter, litter disposal container (not required, but huge benefit), pet bed (they have to be comfy), scratching posts and toys (to keep them from destroying what they shouldn't), food bowls, collars, tags...man! It's like preparing a nursery!!

Still, when one considers the cost, one also has to consider the benefit. You get two little creatures who can actually show affection, who lower blood pressure (in some cases), who amuse...I think it's worth it. I don't deal well with losing a pet, but hopefully that's a long way off in the future. For now, I find it amazing that God created creatures like this who can provide humans with happiness and who have such amazing abilities. (How do they jump like that??) And, let's face it, kitties are cute. They are. Even the most jaded heart can't look at a kitten and think, "What an ugly creature." No way.

So, I'm looking at 2 weeks and counting until we have our new little friends. Life will never be the same. And I'm glad.

Long Time, No See

Okay. I admit it. I got lost. Somewhere between recovering from injury and learning French and taking care of everyday mundane matters I forgot that I had a blog.

I do that a lot.

Still, it isn't all bad. Very few people read this blog, and those who do haven't said anything. Until today. Until I got a frowny face with a tear from Asiavou. (Sorry, Asia.)

So where do I go from here? I think I'll try to get back into this over the next few weeks, with new observations about culture shock, cultural differences, and a variety of experiences. One of the newest experiences will be that of raising pets again. No, not children...pets.

My wife and I have gone ahead and arranged to be adopted by, not one, but two kittens. They are about 5 months old and were rescued by an organization called Itsie Bitsie Rescue. We will pick them up at the end of the month, but have already met, and fallen in love with them. I'll give you a brief description in today's blog.

The kitten that caught my eye was a beautiful little orange tabby. He was named Cheeto at the time, but we have decided he will be called Jezza (a salute to Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear). This kitten's markings were so unusual that I had to adopt him. He has a circle on either side of his body, with stripes around them, and three racing stripes down his back. He is a purr-machine and seems to think that he is part parrot, as he loves sitting on shoulders. Why? I don't know. He's a charmer, though, and we can't wait to have him running roughshod over our house.

We were worried about Jezza being lonely, though. So we asked if he had a best friend at the rescue organization. They gave us an enthusiastic "yes" response, and with that we met a cute little white male kitten with a dark gray mask and "cape". The name "Stig" was a natural. He is much calmer, and is a bit hesitant around people, but he was very glad to be held and is best buddies with Jezza. The "foster parent" was worried that Jezza was a bully to Stig, until she watched them interact for awhile. When Jezza would playfully attack Stig, Stig would wait until a bit later when Jezza wasn't looking, and then...revenge! (Best served cold, eh?)

Anyway, we are hooked on these two kittehs (the lolcat word for kittens) and can't wait to get them home. It should be fun, and it will certainly create some experiences to blog about. Stay tuned.

A Waste of Time

It's amazing. I have lost a month. Oh, I've been relatively conscious and aware during this lost amount of time. However, I realized today that a month of recovery time has passed and I have accomplished absolutely nothing. Nothing!

Sure, I've been doing my physical therapy to try to regain mobility. But other than that? Not a heck of a lot.

I have asked myself why this may be. Why have I gone over 30 days without even trying to write a chapter of my book, doing more ancestry research, or even starting a hobby such as trying to build a model using only one foot and no hands? I don't know. I guess it could be some form of depression. Perhaps it is merely incredible Garfield-type laziness. All I know is that I've done nothing.

I still have a few days. Can I do something? Probably not. The only writing I foresee is the writing off of this rehab time as a complete waste.

Yeah...some form of depression. I'll buy that.

Working My Way Back

It has been nearly a month. During that month, I have spent about 95% of my time in my living room downstairs. Stir crazy? Me? Absolutely.

Still, there have been some positives during this time of rehabilitation. For example, I have discovered that the insurance companies that I chose for my health coverage and my motorcycle coverage have been top-notch. Aetna has been great, and I have not had to worry about what is covered and what is not. Sutter Hospital has also been fantastic. I was treated great and had full confidence in my doctors and nurses. When you consider that I am scared of hospitals in themselves, it was nice that they made me feel so comfortable. Finally, I was covered by Allied Insurance for my motorcycle coverage. Not only did they not make me feel like slime for filing a claim, but they processed matters quickly and professionally and seemed genuinely concerned for my recovery. All in all, I was very impressed with all parties involved in helping me get back on my feet.

My motorcycle is dead. The insurance company has determined that it is irreparable and are "totaling" it. Even though I am glad that I don't have to deal with the repair and sale of the bike, I am still saddened by the loss of my pretty little motorcycle. What a waste.

So where am I on my recovery? Well, I am in a walking boot, even though I am not supposed to walk in it. (Should it be called a walking boot?) My right arm is doing better, even though I still have some pain. My left shoulder is still in bad shape. It's going to take a lot of physical therapy to get it back to semi-normal. And yet, I am very grateful that it wasn't worse. I am hoping to get back to work shortly, perhaps as early as next week. I have to get to the point where I can use my left arm to move my wheelchair around my workplace.

Thanks to everyone who has offered words of support and has helped me in concrete ways as well. (e.g., those who provided dinners for two weeks after I got out of the hospital.) I don't wish an accident like this on anyone, but I'm glad it isn't worse. To those who think that riding motorcycles without proper protection is a fun and "free" thing to do...think again. Please...wear armor. Spend the money for a high-quality helmet. Recognize that all it takes is a moment for you to be badly injured or killed. You may not always think so, but it is certain that someone would miss you if you died. And it is also certain that if you were badly injured that someone would have to change their entire life to take care of you. If you won't wear protection for your own benefit, at least consider others.

Broken, But Not Gone

I have found the strength and ability to move my arms to write a quick note here. Why have I been gone?

About 1 1/2 weeks ago, I learned the dangers of motorcycle riding. On a nice Thursday morning, my daily, weekly, and monthly schedule changed, as somehow I ended up hitting the back of a car at 40 miles per hour. I was in and out of consciousness for about two hours and remember nothing of the incident. All I know is that I was transported to the ER of Sutter Roseville Hospital and then to the Trauma ICU. The result of the accident was gruesome in ways, but far better than it might have been.

Here's the scorecard: Dislocated foot/ankle, broken ankle, 1 broken left rib, 2 breaks in my left shoulder blade, broken right radius (elbow), and a mild concussion with a slight bleed in the brain. (No jokes about the exploratory scan needed to find my brain first, okay?)

So, an accident at 40 mph resulted in those injuries. The doctors and nurses were amazed that it wasn't worse. Why wasn't it? Because when I bought my bike, I took the advice of the salesman and bought the best quality helmet I could find (Arai), I wore armor, and was completely covered. But I did not end up unscathed.

Nevertheless, I will not be on a motorcycle ever again. Not because I'm afraid; I don't remember the accident so I really have no fear of it. No, the reason I will not be on a motorcycle again is due to the look on my wife's face, the tears in her eyes, and her fear for my life. No motorcycle is worth that. She is my best friend and my life, and I will never do anything that would cause her to be anxious every day that I leave the house.

I am off work on LOA right now, but the 3+ month original timeline has been destroyed. I told the doctors that I would return to work in 3 weeks, and the most recent estimate holds with that. I give credit to the numerous friends in my congregation and former congregation whose love and kindness have encouraged me. They have given practical assistance, and just as importantly, they have given me spiritual assistance and a wonderful demonstration of love. I owe you all more than you can ever imagine. You have humbled me with your kindness.

More important is the love, attention, care, and strength that my wife has given me. She is the best woman I have ever met, and I am grateful that she is in my life. I have no way of expressing what I feel for her in the lines of a blog.

Anyway, please be careful when riding. Even if you are a careful rider, accidents are just that...accidents. They happen. If you ride, wear protection. I got lucky. Several others delivered to the hospital that weekend by LifeFlight weren't as lucky.

The Doctor Has Regenerated. Long Live the Doctor!

I have been a fan of Doctor Who for as long as I can remember. How big a fan? Somewhere in this house of mine I have a VHS recording of the made for TV movie with Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor. For real! (I wish they would have made some BBC episodes with McGann as the Doctor. He would have been great.)

When the BBC decided to resurrect the series, I was pumped. I didn't know what kind of job they would do. I only hoped that they would treat it with respect. Enter Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. Fantastic! (With apologies to Eccleston for stealing his tag line.) He had energy, smarminess, and just the right feel for the role. Then, after a solitary season, he was gone. What? One season? Come on! Even my wife, who was new to the series, was ticked. Still, she was willing to give the show a chance once she understood how things worked in the world of Doctor Who. Eccleston was the 9th actor to play the role, and the whole concept of regeneration meant that the new actor would still be the Doctor, but could bring a new take to the role. And he did...

David Tennant, the skinny Scottish Doctor number 10 was great as well. Amazingly, his popularity surpassed just about every other Doctor, except maybe #4 Tom Baker. Still, he was great, and his intensity, humor, and energy carried the series along through Rose, Martha, and Donna as sidekicks. The wife loved him. And then, at the height of his popularity, David decided the time was right for him to leave. Allons-y and goodbye. (Yes, I'm stealing again.)

Oooh. Was my wife mad. Me? I was fine. I have been a fan long enough to know how this works. But when I saw the actor they chose for the role, I must admit I was taken aback. He was a skinny, long-faced...well...kid!! Matt Smith was chosen for the role, along with Karen Gillan as Amelia Pond, the new companion. But, despite my somewhat hesitant acceptance, I grew more excited as the first new episode neared.

I won't go into details about the episode. Watch it yourself, for goodness sakes! But I will say the following:

Matt Smith (the Doctor): PRO - Funny (fish fingers and custard after spitting evil beans into the sink), energetic, expressive, with just a tad bit of overconfidence (that appears well-deserved...DUCK!). The swimming pool IS in the library. "Is this world protected?" "Yes." "Now...run" Raggedy Doctor. CON - He's so young! Don't say "hell" so much. Terrible outfit.

Karen Gillan: PRO - Beautiful, great accent, her own person...not the timid scaredy-cat. Love the look on her face as the Doctor was undressing. Priceless! CON - None yet. Really like the character.

Overall, I give the new series very high marks to start. Even the wife has decided she really liked the show and the new Doctor. Now THAT is high praise! If you have never seen the show, watch it, preferably from the season starting with Eccleston. As for me? I'll be in front of the screen, every week, eagerly anticipating whatever comes next. Or, as Matt Smith is fond of saying..."Geronimo!"

UFL in Sacramento

OK...I admit I'm glad to see football in Sacramento again. Even if it is the UFL.

But come on...the Sacramento Mountain Lions? Really?? That's the best you could come up with? That's almost as bad as the California Redwoods. (Last I checked, trees aren't really good at running.)

Why not bring back a bit of Sacramento history? I suggested the classic "Sacramento Surge". The only problem is that the NFL might not give that up from the WLAF days. Sacramento Gold Miners is another part of history (remember the CFL in the United States?). But they might not want to give that up either.

Still...the Mountain Lions? Couldn't use the Pumas? Is there some conflict with Nike or Reebok here?

No wonder the UFL stinks.

No Word Yet

Earlier, I said that whatever my biological mother decided was fine with me. I was simply hoping to get some information about my biological father. So, last Monday, I sent my letter with little hope of response.

As of today, almost two weeks later, I still have no response. I expected this...really. And yet, I find myself a bit annoyed. Why? If I expected nothing, I should be fine with nothing. But I have to admit to myself that I was hoping that she would come through. I was hoping that her interest would be piqued enough to scribble a note or something to acknowledge my existence. Is she rude? Was she traumatized by her pregnancy at the time? I don't know. Still, it is 46 years after the fact. Would a note be asking too much.

Perhaps she will write. Perhaps she will do me the favor of giving me a clue of the other branch of the tree. I don't think that I am asking too much, am I?

I guess I care more than I thought.

Where Does the Time Go?

Ok, I admit it. I'm a bad little blogger. I don't post regularly, I procrastinate, and I'm not very interesting. So sue me. Still, between the French Congregation and my new hobby, I'm quite busy.

New hobby? Yes indeed. By my previous posts, you can probably guess where this is headed. I've been completely immersed in genealogy. Now that I know who my biological mother is, I have been able to trace hundreds of people in that side of the family tree. As I learn more, I want to know more. I've gone mental over this. I have even been watching the series "Who Do You Think You Are?" In this series, famous people use the website and experts to help them to find out something about their past that they didn't know before. It's amazing.

I think that the desire to trace our lineage goes back past ancient Israel. The Bible uses very precise genealogy to trace Jesus' lineage back past the time of David. It was important to them because inheritance depended on knowing your lineage. It was also important for the determination of the Messiah, but that's another matter. Nonetheless, I think that we have this basic need within us, and the discovery of my biological mother has aroused this curiosity in me. But now I realize that I'm stuck. No, I still have lines to trace on my mother's side. That's still available to me. But I also recognize that not only may I never discover my biological father, the information that I have hints that he, too, was adopted. If so, and he has no history of his biological family, then my search on that side ends. Unless... Unless I at least use DNA testing to see where the paternal line comes from. That's a possibility, but I find it less satisfying. Still, it helps to see where I'm from.

You might ask what is the most exciting thing I have found so far. Well, it isn't that I'm related to a king or queen, that's for sure. I guess the most exciting thing is that I have strong links to Scotland and Ireland. I have always had an affinity for those areas, and now I have a hint as to why this is so. Believe what you wish about ties to a land, and I'm not sure that I believe it, but I do feel a link there, and I always have. As I go deeper, I hope to understand more and to find a connection. Until then, please bear with me.

Just Waitin' For The Hammer to Fall

Well, the hammer fell. We are now officially touched by this rotten economy and the imbeciles in charge of the state budget. My wife is being laid off from her position as an instructional aide.

This may not seem like much to some. In some schools, an instructional aide is a luxury. Some schools don't have enough teachers. I don't disagree with that image. However, whether it is a teacher, an aide, a clerk, a nurse, or a janitor, the ones that suffer are the children. While district administrators wrangle over getting an extra $30k a year because they have degrees, teachers with degrees are waiting tables or sitting at the Employment Development Department hoping for a job. I'm sorry, but cuts like this directly affect the kids, and make it tougher for a state like California to have the intelligent future adults they will need to compete with the rest of the world.

There was an episode of the West Wing that I liked. Rob Lowe, playing the character of Sam Seaborn, went into a tirade about how schools should be palaces, and how teachers should be paid six figures. If you get a chance to see that episode, do it. (For the life of me, I can't remember the episode title. Just go watch them all. It's worth it.)

It is amazing to consider the amount of waste that goes on in government and school administration. Just a bit of accounting intelligence and wise choices would allow our kids to have what they need in terms of materials, teachers, and even healthy meals. Instead, many of these kids are going to be stuck in crowded classrooms, with some teachers who are only there due to tenure and aren't really good teachers (not saying all teachers - there are some really excellent teachers out there), and bathrooms that look like a "before" picture in a Scrubbing Bubbles commercial.

What's the solution? Ask the idiots in charge. You won't get a clear answer, because most are just worried about spouting the party line or protecting and enhancing their own positions. And the worst part is that they keep getting elected by people who think Fox News is the truth and parrot the words of Glenn Beck by rote, and others who are so wimpy that they won't stand up for what they believe. (Just another reason to have zero faith in the political systems of this world.)

As for us? Well, I guess we'll do as others do. We'll tighten our belts, cut down on spending (which further harms the economy), and do the best that we can while my wife searches for another job. We'll focus on our spiritual lives and trust in God to get us through. And every now and then, we'll see a child and wonder what kind of education he or she can expect with the idiots in charge of things. And we'll worry about them.

A Treasure Hunt

It's been a couple of months now, and my search continues. Yes, I'm talking about my search for my ancestry. Using a website called Ancestry.com, I have put together the beginnings of a family tree for one side of my biological family.

It's been a hunt for my identity in many ways. As I was growing up, I was told I was adopted. But I was also told that I was of this heritage and that heritage, but nothing was definite. So, what have I discovered? Congratulate me. I'm a mutt. Seriously. I have traced the one side of the tree from Utah to Canada to New Jersey to England, to Ireland, and to Scotland. I have discovered Pringles, Durwards, and Garrigans. But when it comes down to it, what have I discovered about myself? I mean, besides being a mutt.

I have discovered that as I look at the different names and places, I get a feeling for certain sections of the tree. I am particularly drawn to Scotland and Ireland. I don't know why. Perhaps it is a calling that God has put inside us to find out where we are from. Anyone who takes a look at the Hebrew Scriptures knows how important genealogy was in the Bible. But I think that certain traits and characteristics, certain likes and dislikes, certain desires and longings have always drawn me to those two lands. I look at the other places, including one line that goes through France, and don't feel the call as strongly.

I can't say that it has been worth the time, money, and effort that it has taken to find out these things. But then again...