Hand Prints

Men love flowers too!

2012-02-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

Now I like to think of myself as a manly man. I like the outdoors, sports, Jack Daniels, westerns, action films and fast cars. When I'm in the department store I head straight for the tool department. If it's more upscale and doesn't have a tool department but does have a sporting goods or outdoors department I'll hang there instead. In other words I have absolutely no doubts about my masculinity. Even so there is a part of me that enjoys things normally associated with those of the fairer sex. For instance, there are some chick flicks I like such as When Harry Met Sally or Thelma and Louise. There is however one area where I think women are totally lacking in understanding about many men when it comes to Valentine's Day - flowers. Believe me, men love to get flowers on Valentine's Day and more specifically they love to get them at work. Actually men love to get flowers on any day but just like women, Valentine's is special. It's not the flowers themselves we like so much as the attention we get in the office when they are delivered, or when you're seated at the restaurant waiting for her and she walks in with a big bouquet for you. Oh, sure there will be those guys who are snickering about you getting flowers, but those are the same guys who are probably going to be going home to an empty house at the end of the day and in all likelihood haven't slept with a woman they didn't have to pay for in eons. Getting that flower arrangement is a statement for men, just like it is for women, a statement that says "yes I have a wonderful person in my life who knows how to treat me right and that makes me a very lucky man (or woman)."
So, ladies, take pause and consider the value and benefits you'll reap this Valentine's Day when he discovers the flowers left at the receptionists desk has a card with his name on it! You can thank me later :)

Fighting for our freedom?

2011-08-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

There have been several instances over the past few years when I've heard the term "fighting for our freedom" in reference to the men and women in our armed forces involved in the war... a war that doesn't even seem to have an official name other than the "War on Terror" or the "war in Afghanistan," but I digress. What I want to know is exactly how are these servicemen fighting for our freedom?
Seems to me if they were fighting for our freedom there would be barricades, barbed wire and sandbags all around Washington D.C. and the deck of cards would feature most, if not all of our so-called leaders. Of course you'd probably have to have several decks of cards to fit them all in but my point is that our freedoms are more seriously in jeopardy due to the anti-American and unconstitutional positions of much of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government. Every time a Christian is chastised for speaking their beliefs in a public forum or anti-gun zealots make headway in their gun control agenda our freedoms die just a little bit.
In no way is this post meant to deride the sacrifices made by our armed forces. I grew up in the military and have a very high regard for these men and women but I feel they suffer an injustice when their purpose is misrepresented in the press and in public forums. As long as they are there we at home should support them in every way. If you want to say they are fighting for the Iraqi's freedom or the Afghan's freedom then I suppose that is okay, but that gives rise to the question of why are we fighting their war - shouldn't they be doing the fighting? Fighting for our freedom? No. Sorry, don't see it. "Terrorists threaten our freedom" you say. Sure they do, but it is the CIA, NSA and other intelligence services that should be seeking those zaniacs out and then passing the buck to the military forces of whatever country they are in to deal with them. At most we should provide advisers to not only assist but to confirm the results of operations.
I was all for sending the military in after 9/11 though admittedly I had not a clue where we should send them. Like most Americans I wanted revenge, I wanted to strike back at those who imparted fear into our national psyche. I wanted someone to pay. While certain of our freedom's may have been suspended in the aftermath of the attacks it was only temporary and now ten years on our military should be at home, not overseas dying for nothing and I fear that is what it is - dying for no cause. I'm reminded of a passage in "The Walking Drum" a book by my favorite author that I would like to leave you with:

"To die for what one believes is all very well for those so inclined, but it has always seemed to me the most vain of solutions. There is no cause worth dying for that is not better served by living."
-- Louis L'Amour

Let freedom ring.

Is another American Civil War possible?

2011-08-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to have another civil war in the U.S.? If so what would it be over? How would it be fought?
I have often reflected that another civil war in the U.S. could never happen because we are ONE nation now, united in our goals... or are we?
What cause, issue, law, or reason could possibly ever cause the United States to once again enter into a civil war?
I believe we are far past the time when race could cause such a fracture in our country. We’ve endured despair brought on by economic woes (during the Great Depression). We pride ourselves on being religiously tolerant so a religious civil war is unlikely.
With the vehement divisiveness of our leaders in Washington over the recent debt ceiling issues and the ever-widening gap between the political philosophies of both our leaders and our citizenry I can’t help but wonder if the gaps continue to widen will our tolerance also reduce to such a level as to instigate violence, especially on a large or national scale?
As I sit back and read the feeds on Facebook I am increasingly worried that the rhetoric is constantly heating up, especially from the liberal side which seem to be extremely intolerant of any view not coinciding with their own. Likewise, over on the conservative side the feeling is of a beaten down dog that is just about to the point that they’ve had enough and all it will take is one more bit of abuse to break their restraint and attack back. Neither side is a pretty picture. But as the tension and gap between the left and the right continues to widen it can only serve to poise us on the brink of violence and once violence begins it will be a quick domino effect that will once again bring our nation into the cauldron of bloodshed brother against brother.
It could never happen you say? Don’t be so quick to jump to that position.
Imagine a confluence of incidents within a short time span. For instance, a riot at the site of a the mosque being built near Ground Zero in New York, it turns violent and several are injured, some perhaps killed. About the same time a demonstration either in support of or against illegal immigration in one of our Arizona border towns also turns violent and bloody, leaving several dead, including children. Meanwhile over in San Francisco a sniper is targeting gay individuals and accidentally kills a pregnant woman. In the south tensions are already high because jobs have been lost to illegal immigrants and when a bill is passed that basically amounts to amnesty for illegals it causes more than a rash of hate crimes against Mexicans. Add to all this the anxiety and desperation felt by the population already because of the highly inflated price of gasoline (much more than it is now), increased taxes, escalating unemployment, the loss of Social Security, Medicare and other like programs and tempers will reach the boiling point. Hispanic communities will be targeted and in retaliation a contingent of Mexicans will strike against the “gringo” population. En masse the citizenry will take up arms to protect and defend their homes and communities and firefights will ensue. The federal government will impose Martial Law, though due to military cut-backs there will not be enough troops to enforce Martial Law. Add to that the disparate ethnic nature of the armed forces and many troops will be reluctant to engage those civilians of their own ethnicity, further weakening the ability of the military.
The government in Washington will begin to crumble as opposing liberals and conservatives will be unable to compromise and find common ground. The country will follow suit, further driving a wedge between the citizenry.
An American Civil War II will not be marked by an identifiable geographic faction such as the North versus the South versus the West. The ACWII will be notable as a war of liberals and conservatives.
How long will it last and how will it end? Ironically it will be extremist from a foreign nation who bring us to our senses. Because our reduced resources of the military, FBI, et al will be focused on enforcing Martial Law and civility across the nation, several members of an extremist group will be able to take advantage and subvert the law and immigration to launch an attack on the U.S., most likely in Washington D.C., New York or Los Angeles. This attack, much like 9-11 and Pearl Harbor before it, will focus American’s attention on the bigger threat of a foreign attack on American soil and providing an effect of “we can fight among ourselves cause we’re family but if an outsider tries to hurt us we rally together to fight the outsider and protect ourselves.”
American’s are strong individuals, but more than that they are also stubborn individuals. We may not encounter another Civil War, but there will be divisiveness, even bloodshed before the days of wine and roses return.

Three little dots...

2011-08-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

One of the three great loves of my life contacted me last night on Facebook. Twenty-four years have passed since we last spoke, not because of any bad feelings though, our lives just followed different paths. During the course of our chat on Facebook we caught up as best we could through that forum. She's happily married with three beautiful kids now. Trying to fill her in on my life over these many years was difficult because for some strange reason I wanted her to be proud of me. I have enjoyed life but have little to show for my years and quite a few less than happy events so I worked around those parts as best I could, often using the common notation of three dots (you know - "..." ) to indicate there is more information. She made the comment "those three dots can cover a lot more than can be typed on fb." That simple statement really packed a punch for me. How true it is! There was so much more I wanted to tell her and hear from her and yet all I could do was type three little dots.

I believe those three dots are indicative of how we are losing our ability to communicate in an informative and meaningful way in the 21st century. Several times I've had arguments with female friends over something I texted or didn't text in a message. We try to shorten and abbreviate just about everything we do and it only serves to make life more complicated - especially when I'm dealing with my female friends (sorry ladies it's true - my guy friends could care less about a deeper or hidden meaning behind my emoticons and abbreviations). As a result I try not to live by my phone anymore. I answer fewer and fewer text messages and when I do I keep it to short simple answers, questions and statements. Of course that has it's drawbacks to as a couple of my lady friends want to know why I'm being so curt when I text them! It seems I can't win!

One breath at a time

2011-07-20T04:24:00.000-07:00

This one is gonna be a difficult entry. Difficult because it is very much on a personal level, a baring my soul type thing if you will. This one is about love. I wonder if I'll even be able to post it.
You know, love truly is the reason we live. It's the reason each one of us wakes up every morning, put our clothes on, go to work, interact with others and at the end of the day lay our heads down only to go through it all again the next day.
For some sad individuals it is the love of money, still others it is the love of power or any of the many, many objects of desire. I say it is sad because those people will never find what they seek, their love is in vain. But for the majority of us it is the love of a special person to balance out our lives that drives us to continue on each day.
For me, love is huge. It is powerful. Seeking it is what motivates me. I've found it a handful of times throughout my life. Actually it would likely be more accurate to say I've found the one I want to love forever a handful of times throughout my life. But before I go there, let's go back to the beginning...
My early childhood memories, the ones that actually embedded into my consciousness, are memories of times I felt love had forgotten me. A Sunday after church when the ladies were oohing and ahhing over my baby brother and I was ignored. To this day I still hear one pretty lady looking at my brother in my mothers arms and saying "He's so cute, I just LOVE him!" I'm sure someone said that about me when I was a baby but as a 3.5 year old child that doesn't matter.
Fast forward a few years and I had come to equate having a partner, i.e.-girlfriend or wife, as a symbol of being loved. My parents had each other so I knew they had love. My brother always seemed to have plenty of girls so I figured he had to be loved. But I never had a girlfriend through high school. Had several I wished were my girlfriend but I was never that lucky. In my eyes I wasn't loved.
It was my senior year however that I encountered my first true love. There was something about Christina that spoke to me. She was vivacious and full of life. She laughed at my stupid jokes and dry sense of humor. She was beautiful. She was my friend. And I fell in love with her. She was even the first girl I kissed. She was also the first of the women in my life that I would give my heart to. But it was not to be.
Six years later I had returned to college after graduating to take some more courses. The week classes started was the week I first saw Bethany, and the instant I did I fell in love. Bethany had an exotic look to her (she had some Indian blood in her), her raven hair and curvaceous figure were intoxicating, but only mildly so compared to her personality and spirit. Just like Christina she was outgoing, fun, the life of the party and we were together all the time. I would have married her too except for one problem - she fell in love with someone else. I was shattered, unable to cope, quit school and never saw her again.
It would be many years before I would truly fall in love again. Oh I thought I was in love, and in truth, when I married my wife I did love her - but it never measured up to the love I felt for Christina and Bethany. My ex deserved better than what I gave her.
No, it was a few months after I ended attempts to reconcile with my ex that I fell in love with another woman. I'll just call her "V." Just like Bethany and Christina before her, V was a vivacious woman. She was exotic, her jet black hair made me tingle and her deep blue eyes penetrated my soul. V saved my life. I was at a point where I thought I was undesirable but she proved to me how wrong I was. I fell hard for V and to this day she is the only person on this planet that I would sacrifice my life for without hesitation if she were in peril. Though it did not work out I am thankful we are still good friends. My love for her makes it easy to be happy for her in her new marriage. She married a fine man and I'm fortunate to call him a friend as well.
After a lifetime of being continually hurt, a lifetime of not finding that special someone who would love me without reservation or question I still believe there is a reason to get up each morning, still a reason to put my clothes on and go to work. I believe there is more than one person in this world for each of us, it is just finding that person that is so hard. The hurt and pain I have experienced at losing the three great loves of my life - I would gladly experience it all again just to be able to also know the joy of loving them all over again. I would rather die lonely and have loved them than to die and not have experienced the love I feel.
So for my friends that whine about being alone, wondering if there is anyone out there for them... I say quit your whining, stop looking so hard to find someone and relish the times you have found love in the past. We only get this one shot at life so you better make the most of it, it's too short to lament for long.

What July 4th means to me

2011-07-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

As with most national holidays that involve the military, I have to stop and wonder how much we actually think about what the holiday is about and for. Now I'm not against a great cookout or barbecue on these days, and maybe people ponder the sacrifices others have made more than I think they do. With all the commercialization of just about every holiday I sometimes feel the reason for the holiday is overlooked or forgotten. Sure, I'll be doing something fun this July 4th but as always I'll stop and consider for a little while the blessings I have because of those sacrifices made 235 years ago by our founding fathers and the sacrifices made every day since then by our military men and women.
Here are just a few of the things I'll be pondering:

How 235 years ago under penalty of death 56 men famously put their name to a document that declared the reigning authority (King George III) was invalid and the men and women of the colonies of the Americas were free and independent of the tyrannical rule of Great Britain.
I'll consider how over 235 years our national outlook and direction has changed. How there are those among us who attack and seek to remove freedoms we have enjoyed for so long. The freedom of speech is regularly attacked - on college campuses, in the media and in public by those who disdain any view on a subject other than their own. Just because a view or opinion is not shared by another does not give validation to someone or some group to silence that view or opinion.
I'll be thankful that I have the freedom to come and go as I please. I don't have to show papers or identification to cross from one state to the other, despite the fact that each state is autonomous from every other state.
I'll be thankful I have the right and privilege to voice my affirmation or consternation with my government by voting and doing so freely and without fear of recrimination for my vote.
I'll be thankful for and in awe of those men who so wisely worded our constitution so as to allow it the freedom to grow through time. That through amendments no citizen of the U.S. can be denied the right to vote based on their sex (19th Amendment), that slavery is illegal (13th Amendment), and that drinking alcohol is a right (21st Amendment).
I will be proud to be an American regardless of the intolerance to America by other nationalities - even our allies.
I will consider the disrespect displayed by my countrymen at events such as ball games by not removing their hats, not placing their hand over their hearts and not giving due diligence to our flag when the national anthem is played and/or sung.
I will also consider how our country cannot survive the continued illegal immigration which we are overrun with today. Each of those illegals deserves the same right of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness - but in their own country and not at the demise of our country. It is in our best interest to find a way to stop the flood of illegals but also to go further and help them find solutions for their problems in their own country (and not by giving them money).

I am thankful to be an American. Sure there is a lot wrong not only in our world but within our own country. But even so, we are privileged to have the responsibility to not only continue securing our own life, liberty and pursuit of happiness but to also ensure that others seeking the same in their own country are allowed the opportunity to seek the same.
Happy Independence Day!

What three war monuments mean to me.

2011-07-01T03:24:00.000-07:00

At the Vietnam War Memorial

This past weekend I was in our nations capitol to visit a friend. Before I left we went down to the area known as the mall - the great narrow expanse that lies between the Lincoln Memorial on the west end and our nation's capitol building on the east end. It had been, as near as I can recall and figure, 27 or 28 years since I had been there. In that time several new monuments have been erected, monuments that I have been eager to visit. As I stood beside the bronze sculpture of three Vietnam War soldiers at the entrance to the Vietnam War Memorial Wall I reflected on my youth and recalled how, when I was in the second grade, I was terrified I was going to be drafted to go fight. As an adult that seems kind of ludicrous but as a child the images I saw on the nightly news, not only of the fighting in Vietnam but also the backlash against the conflict at home in the U.S. were indelibly etched in my mind. War no longer meant "Combat!," my favorite '60's TV show where the hated Germans were killed each week, no - even as a child I could see that American's were not unified in just who the enemy was or even if there was an enemy and that was terrifying. Men and women, my countrymen, were being sent into the fray for a cause that never seemed defined. Many would never return home and many more still would only return in a flag draped coffin. They would all, years later, be brought together once again when "the Wall" was installed as memorial to them in our nations capitol. Last weekend as I stood at the start of the wall I was impacted at the vast number of names etched into it, but until you stand before it, walk along it, touch the names with your fingers, until you do those things the 58,195 names is just a number.

The wall at the Korean War Memorial

Across the way is the Korean War Memorial, another two-part monument. Laid out in a triangular shaped area are statues representing the American soldiers from that war. As you approach you realize there is a wall of granite that runs along one side of it, a wall that is covered in what looks like smudgy hand prints, until you come abreast of it and realize the wall is covered in etched images of soldiers, sailors and airmen. At the head of the triangle a Korean War veteran plays host to the crowd and tells what each part of the monument is about.

At the Tennessee pillar of the
World War II Memorial

Further east just before the Washington Monument is the World War II Memorial. With fountains in the middle it is surrounded by pillars, each engraved with the name of a state, a U.S. territory and the District of Columbia - all places from which men and women came to take part in fighting the enemies of our country.
Throughout my visit to these memorials I was struck by two things. First, the unusual number of Asian visitors. Of course all three wars involved fighting different Asian countries, but still it struck me as odd that they would come en-mass to view our monuments to those wars. The second thing which struck me was the somberness evident among the visitors, especially with the Vietnam and Korean memorials. It was eerily quiet for such a large number of gathered people, but then I suppose the number of people alive today who can relate to those conflicts are many more than those who remember World War II.
I've always paid honor to our military men and women. I am humbled by the knowledge they are willing to put their life on the line, even sacrifice their life for fellow American's they never met. I think this July 4th will be even a bit more reflective for me than usual. I'll give due consideration, not only to those men and women who served in the three wars represented above, but also to those who took it upon themselves 235 years ago to declare under threat of death to a tyrannical king an ocean away "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

I love women...

2011-06-21T04:52:00.000-07:00


Bethany, 1986 Pencil drawing by Charlton

I love women. I suppose I'm not unlike most other heterosexual men in this world - or at least in the civilized world - but I tend to believe I take my love of women a step further. It's not just that I love women but rather that I adore them. Always have. I put women on a metaphoric pedestal and in a sense, worship them.
I freely admit that I'm a chauvinist. Now there are different meanings to the word chauvinism, including the one we all are most familiar with: smug irrational belief in the superiority of one's own sex.* It is, however, another definition of the word that I associate myself with: biased devotion to any group, attitude, or cause.* To me that means I believe in opening doors for women, not letting them carry heavy loads or do manual labor that requires brawn. It also means that I treat them with the same respect I would afford to any man who is worthy of my respect. In my mind it is a mortal sin to raise a hand against a woman, even pretending, to strike her. I tend to be a gentle man but if there were one thing that could drive me to kill another man it would be seeing him strike a woman. There never has been and never will be an instance that could justify a male hitting a woman. Period. If a man finds himself in a position where he is being threatened with violence from a female, well, God gave him two legs to use and run as fast as he can from her. Some might think a man running from a woman is an act of cowardice or humiliating but the truth is to do so would show strength.
I also believe it is important to teach our children these same principles. When I was married and raising my two boys I made sure they learned and understood the value of never hitting a woman.
Women are equal to men in many ways and more often than not I believe them to be far superior to men. It has been my observation that generally most women tend to be smarter than men, they are more focused, logical and patient than men.
Obviously I love women for their sexual nature too, but it goes far beyond sex. The Johnny Depp film Don Juan deMarco is a glorious little movie that presents the title characters view of women in a way that could be my own. One line though sums it up nice and succinctly:

By seeing beyond what is visible to the eye. Now there are those, of course, who do not share my perceptions, it's true. When I say that all my woman are dazzling beauties, they object. The nose of this one is too large; the hips of another, they are too wide; perhaps the breasts of a third, they are too small. But I see these women for how they truly are... glorious, radiant, spectacular, and perfect, because, I am not limited by my eyesight.
-Don Juan deMarco as portrayed by Johnny Depp

Though I certainly don't profess to share in Don Juan's success at sexual conquest, I do share in his proclivity to appreciate the fairer sex. It is the way a woman's blouse drapes around her breasts, or the way her evening gown accentuates her hips or her necklace lays against her neck, these are the visions that make manifest a woman's beauty. While a naked woman has her allure, I am inclined to become more sexually attracted to a woman who knows how to wear clothes that accentuate her shape and form. As an example take actress Kate Hudson in two different films. In Fool's Gold there is a beach scene where she is in a bikini which she wears well and looks great in and obviously showing lots of skin. Next consider her appearance in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days when she appears at her apartment door in a yellow backless dress. The dress accentuates her shape and makes her far more alluring and sexual than the bikini in Fool's Gold. I suppose this concept is why I've always admired the women's fashions of the 40's & 50's.
Watching women is probably my favorite past-time, so ladies if you see me out and about and I seem to be staring at you, please forgive me - I'm just admiring God's most glorious creation.

Signs for stupid people

2011-06-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

On my way home today I passed a new sign which stated "See the Light, Move to the Right" with a graphic of a head-on view of a fire truck with lights blinking. When I read it, the words just seemed to hit me the wrong way. I'm tired of everything being dumbed down so the stupid people can understand it too. Same goes for the "Click it or Ticket" slogan. I'm tired of it. I mean if people are really so dumb that they can't remember to pull over when they see emergency vehicle lights or if they are so stupid they don't understand that riding without a seat-belt warrants a ticket if you're pulled over, well if people are just that stupid then I don't want them on the same roads with me and they need to have their license taken away! Seriously! If someone is so stupid they have to have signs like that to remind them of the rules of the road then they shouldn't be driving. Then again I suppose I can be thankful I don't live somewhere that the people feel the need to have a sign that tells me not to cross when the cars are still moving. Really? No! You're kidding! I thought the idea was to try and cross the street while the cars are zipping by and try not to get hit in the process.

If you get hit, you lose! I think we should have signs put up that say "Cross Only When Traffic Is Moving" - maybe then we'd get rid of some of the stupid people that are throwing the curve way off and making it necessary to have stupid signs!
I really think if the government is going to waste our money by putting up stupid signs I'd rather they spent it on magnetic signs people have to put on their car when they do something stupid. Cops and judges could sentence people to drive around with a big magnetic sign on the car door that says "I got this sign because I was STUPID and was texting while driving." Or how about a sign that says "I didn't "Click it" and all I got was this STUPID sign!"

I guess if we have to have stupid signs though they should also be funny and give us something to laugh about. Like the sign in Europe at a train or subway stop that says "Keep back from the platform edge - or you may get sucked off." Seems to me that one would have everyone lining the edge of the platform!

Stereotyping is not a bad thing

2011-06-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

We've all done it. We've all looked at someone else and formed an opinion about them based solely on what we see. Blacks, whites, Jews, old, young, rich, poor, Mexican, Arabic, Muslim, Christian and the list could go on. Stereotyping people is nothing new and chances are pretty damn good you've practiced it several times already today in some shape, form or fashion. Stereotyping is a natural part of our makeup. We take information, be it aural, visual, olfactorily, or tactile or even information from some previous encounter that has embedded itself in our brain, whatever the source - we make decisions based on that information. Stereotyping is not necessarily a bad thing. Using an oft cited example to illustrate, suppose you are walking down a street and a group of leather-clad, rough looking men are hanging out and talking around their motorcycles on one side of the street, but the other side of the street is populated by women pushing babies in strollers, men are dressed in suits and a couple of priests are talking. You have to go down the street on one side or the other. Chances are pretty good you're going to choose the side of the street with the babies, businessmen and priests.The reason you choose that side is stereotyping. It doesn't matter to you that the bikers on the other side of the street are actually gathering at the start of a benefit ride to raise money for a child they don't know who is dying of cancer. You made your decision based on a stereotype.
Stereotyping is a method of making a judgement based on current knowledge and/or previous experience. That knowledge may be in error OR it could be based on fact. Either way it is playing the percentages. Insurance companies do it every day. You may be the most economical driver in the world and always careful to go the speed limit but the second you shell out the money for that hot new Dodge Challenger or Charger your insurance is going to go through the roof. Why? Because insurance actuaries have stereotyped you as a speed demon eager to do the quarter mile against every car next to you at a stoplight - simply because you are driving a muscle car. It may not be fair but the insurance company is playing the percentages.
Author Ninos Malek has an excellent article on his blog that illustrates this even better. You can read it here.
In recent years another form of stereotyping has often made headlines: Racial Profiling. Whenever racial profiling is mentioned it is unfairly heralded as a negative. Truth is though, racial profiling is stereotyping. It shouldn't be seen as racist but as a logical tool in authorities arsenal to prevent crime and terrorism or to catch criminals and terrorists. Sure it can be maddening, even insulting if you're on the receiving end of profiling but in the interest of bringing a criminal to justice or preventing a terrorist act it is more than justifiable. A low-rider Malibu filled with a bunch of tattooed, hairnet wearing Hispanic men cruising slowly through any neighborhood at three o'clock in the morning is a prime target for the police to pull over and question. Why? Because, if the cops were doing their job they would be stereotyping the car full of Hispanics in the interest of public safety. Do those men have the right to be cruising around at 3:00 am? Sure, and after a cursory stop by the police they should be free to continue cruising. Any police officer or other figure in a like position who does not profile - they are not doing their job. When you think about it though, isn't that what the police do every time they parade a line-up in front of a one-way mirror? Yes it is and it should not be vilified.
At the start of this blog entry I said "Stereotyping is not necessarily a bad thing" and I stand by that statement. What is a bad thing though are people who choose to rely solely on their stereotypical view of something and not be open to additional information which might change their view. These are the bigots of the world - people who are so close-minded about someone or something that they refuse to consider alternative or additional information that might possibly change their perspective or their stereotypical views. Stereotyping is a tool we use to build an opinion. You wouldn't build a house with just a hammer and you shouldn't build an opinion with only one tool.

My Bucket List

2011-06-15T03:56:00.000-07:00

We all have one but it took the 2007 Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman film The Bucket List to give an identifying moniker to the list of things we dream of doing before we die or "kick the bucket." The film also did one other thing that I feel is important - it depicted the characters actually writing down their lists not just saying what is on their list. Everyone should have a Bucket List and have it written down and placed somewhere that it is easy to access from time to time. One thing I've learned about a Bucket List over the years is that quite often some things on it will change or seem more or less important. Sometimes things will drop off your list and sometimes you'll add to it. The point of a Bucket List isn't so much to do things as it is to dream about doing them. Don't get me wrong, I think it is important to actually DO the things on your Bucket List but I think it is also very important to keep yourself mentally young by always dreaming about doing the things on the list.

Ice Diving in Antarctica

So, that being said, here are the dreams that make up my Bucket List.

SCUBA dive the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize.
Travel to Antarctica and do an ice dive.
Travel to Europe and visit The Volkswagen plant and museum in Germany, the Louvre in Paris and kiss a beautiful woman at the top of the Eiffel Tower, take a canal ride Venice and tour Rome, visit the Normandy coast where the allies came ashore on D-Day, tour Athens, Greece.
Sail around the world.
Fly in an open cockpit vintage bi-plane and actually take the controls for a bit myself.
Drive a Model T Ford.
Get cast as an extra in a Hollywood blockbuster.
Ride a motorcycle the entire length of Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Fly an ultralight aircraft.
Talk about diving, the oceans, and shipwrecks over cigars and tequila with my favorite living author Clive Cussler.

Obviously some of my dreams are attainable and some I'll have to really work at. Mine aren't in any particular order and I've left a few off that are too personal to share in this forum but I'd be willing to bet you have some interesting ones on your list as well so take a moment and share them with me.

NO excuses! - YOU'RE responsible!

2011-06-13T05:15:00.000-07:00

Aren't you just a little bit tired of people too scared to take responsibility for what they say or do? I know I am. I'm tired of reading in the news about people who don't take responsibility for the words that come out of their mouth or the actions they get caught in or doing. It seems the more people get caught or called on something the less merit the words of their apologies have. I don't for a second believe most people are truly sorry for what they said or did that caused them to feel they had to apologize. Sure they're sorry they got caught or they're sorry they lose their job or social standing because of what they said or did but I don't believe they are truly sorry for the actual words that came out of their mouth or the actual actions they did.
Take a look in the news just about any day and you'll find someone apologizing because they were on the hot seat. Look at that congressman Weiner (is it pronounced "weener" like a hot dog or "winer" like a cry-baby? guess either way would be appropriate). The guy was evidently sending "messages and photos of explicit nature with about six women in the last three years"according to CNN.com. That in and of itself isn't so surprising in this day and age but the fact that he is married (to a pretty and exotic looking lady in my opinion) and a member of congress puts him in the frying pan. If those text or emails and pics or whatever it was had not been leaked do you honestly think he'd be apologizing? Now he wants to pull a "Tiger Woods" and seek help. Really? Dude, just own up to being a horn dog and keep on sending the "explicit" pictures and texts cause you know you're only sorry you got caught.
The fake apologies are running amuk! I don't believe for one second actor Tracy Morgan is sorry for his recent anti-gay remarks, nor do I think Don Imus is sorry for calling the 2007 UCON women's basketball team "nappy-headed ho's." Okay maybe they are sorry they said it but I think they do believe what they said.
NASCAR is bulging with curt words, sharp tounges and even flying fists and I get sick everytime I hear them apologize for their words or actions. Come on guys! Own what you say! Team owner Richard Childress kinda got it right after going after creep-o Kyle Busch recently. He stopped short of apologizing for going after Busch, instead owning up to his actions saying "I take all the responsibility for my actions last week. I am very passionate about this sport. I am passionate about my race teams, our fans and I let my emotions ... come in front of my passion. But that is behind us." Basically that means he said "hey I did it - now let's move on." We need more men like Childress.
Now while I've had enough of Charlie Sheen in the news this year I must say that I admire him for not apologizing for leading the life he obviously enjoys. He does the coke, he does several porn stars at the same time - and he enjoys it! So kudo's to Charlie Sheen for NOT apologizing. Are you listening Tiger? Jesse James? Gov. Spitzer? Representative Weener? Come on dudes, grow a pair and man up!
My whole point behind this litany is that each and every one of us is responsible for the things we do and the things we say. Sure you should apologize if you say or do something wrong but that is only the first step - you also have to follow through and make sure your actions and words are never repeated. Make your apology actual mean something. When you apologize you are responsible for those words of sorrow crossing your lips just as much as you are responsible for the words that made the apology necessary. This much I can tell you... if I say it I mean it and if what I say turns out to be something I regret then you can know my apology is real because I'm responsible for what I say.

Blondes vs Brunettes

2011-06-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

Betty and Veronica
A classic example of blonde versus brunette

I used to have a co-worker who had an affinity for brunette's (though his wife was blonde) and he was fond of saying "there's no net like a brunette." I have likewise held the same general pre-disposition for brunettes during my life. I've only dated a couple of blondes over the years and even though a couple is not really enough to formulate an opinion I must say that they did indeed tend to be more fun. I have long held a theory about blondes and brunettes but mind you this theory in no way seeks to make a statement that one is better than the other, it's just a theory that speaks to the way we are pre-disposed to stereotype blondes and brunettes.
To understand this theory you have to appreciate the different qualities of dark and light, black and white, night and day. You see, symbolically black represents darkness and in darkness not everything can be known because the darkness hides some things. On the other hand white represents light and with light everything is revealed. So, subconsciously a brunette is seen as mysterious because subconsciously the darkness of her hair represents that which is not know.
A brunette is often full of surprises since you can't know everything about her. She is often more serious and studious than her light haired counterpart, seeming to weigh and consider all information before making a decision and in turn she is taken more seriously by others. To illustrate this I did a Google image search for "mysterious woman" and of the first 20 images of women all but three were brunette.
Meanwhile the blonde is seen as an 'open book' because her hair represents that which is revealed because of the light. The blonde has no secrets, she has a light and airy persona, meaning a personality that is more bubbly and vivacious. She is more likely to make snap decisions and deal with the results or consequences later.
I truly believe the subliminal perception we have of brunettes and blondes is the basis for the stereotypes we have today of these women, especially blondes. I'm sure you're thinking "what about blondes who are naturally brunettes." Well I feel my theory still holds up because a brunette who goes blonde tends to take on more of the persona and traits I've attributed to that hair color. The same goes for blondes who turn brunette.
I've often said "brunette's are the ones you take home to meet your parents, the ones you build a life with, blondes are the ones you have fun with, the ones you enjoy life with." Neither one is better or worse than the other, they both have their merits, their value, their desirability.
And then there's the redheads... :)

The art of the album

2011-06-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

I often lament over the demise of album art when vinyl LP's became, for the most part, a part of history. Sure there is artwork for CD album covers and sometimes those covers even rise to a higher level of design and art. There was always that little something extra though, that magical aura about a well designed vinyl album cover when you saw it in the racks that just screamed at you to be noticed. When you bought a vinyl album you always felt like you got a little more for your hard-earned money because the cover art was so cool you could frame it.

Molly Hatchet's self-titled first album

As a teenager I always loved to drive by Peaches Records & Tapes, a chain of music stores that opened in the mid 70's, but went belly-up in 1985 supposedly because the company didn't believe the future of music was in compact discs. Plastered around the facade of most Peaches stores would be a dozen or so enlarged (four or five foot square) versions of some of the days hottest selling albums - usually rock albums but also pop and country too. These album billboards only served to feed my craving to go into the store, browse and buy the albums. I still get a thrill thinking about seeing Molly Hatchet's first album cover featuring the artwork of Frank Frazetta hanging outside the store bigger than life.

The Car's - Candy-O

With the advent of CD technology the vinyl album industry all but disappeared and the wonderfully designed cover art genre with it. But it isn't forgotten. I've taken to rummaging thrift stores, yard sales, used record stores and even friends "boxed up and forgotten" album collections in pursuit of albums which represent either music I grew up with or the masterful artwork of the covers I so love. Art supply stores such as Michael's sell vinyl album display frames that allow me to put the entire album cover in it and hang on my walls as decor. They even sell a smaller display specifically designed for compact disc covers which I use to display the CD albums of some of my music friends. I suppose one of my all-time favorite album covers I own would have to be the Cars 1979 classic Candy-O which features a painting by famed pin-up artist Vargas of a woman (the real models name was actually Candy) stretched back on the hood of a Ferrari. Other favorites I have include Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, Heart's Little Queen, the Beatles Introducing the Beatles and left coast rockers the Blaster's self-titled album.

I'm also on the hunt for a few albums as well. Two of Humble Pie's albums - As Safe As Yesterday Is and On To Victory, the iconic Eagles album Hotel California, Frank Zappa's Weasels Ripped My Face, three Rolling Stones albums - Beggar's Banquet, Some Girls and Sticky Fingers, Roxy Music's Country Life, Supertramp's Breakfast in America, Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell, the previously mentioned Molly Hatchet album and two additional Beatles albums - both are my Holy Grail's of sorts - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the butcher cover version of Yesterday and Today. There are others, of course, on my wish list which will likely never be fulfilled but then the search is part of the fun.

The Beatles
Yesterday and Today
(The butcher cover)

Beatles
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts
Club Band

Frank Zappa
Weasels Ripped My Flesh

Meatloaf
Bat Out Of Hell

Humble Pie
On to Victory

Humble Pie
As Safe As Yesterday Is

The Rolling Stones
Beggars Banquet


The Rolling Stones Some Girls

Roxy Music
Country Life

Things my father taught me

2011-06-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Chief Oliver Wendell Wiggins

It was tax day in 1991 - April 15th, which also happened to be my parent's 30th anniversary, but in that particular year it was also a very sad day, the day my father passed away. It's hard to believe that I have had nineteen Father's Days since then without a father to say happy Father's Day to. But as the 20th Father's Day without him is upon me I thought I might honor him in a special way - with this blog entry to examine some of what he taught me.

Never cry over a lost ball game. I was only about 10 when I learned this lesson. I was playing little league football and my team lost an important game. I remember walking to the car with my parents after the game and I was crying about our loss. My father stopped me and told me that it was just a game and every game has a winner and a loser and no one wins every single time. I suppose that didn't help me any and still sobbing he added "If you can't lose with grace then you can't play at all." I don't know how long it took for that lesson to actually sink in and become a part of me but it did. I'm still an avid sports fan but to this day I've never shed a tear over a lost ball game (though I have shed many at the triumph of others in games such as the 1980 Olympic hockey team win over the Soviet Union, or Cal Ripkin's triumph the night he broke Lou Gehrig's longevity record).
You'll get out of it what you put into it. My dad was a career Navy man during a time (the 70's) when it seemed low morale was rampant in the military and especially in the Navy. Dad enjoyed the Navy life. He had completed most of his sea duty by the time we were stationed in Guantanamo Bay when I was eight years old. It always seemed that the other Navy personnel we came in contact with were continually moaning and groaning about their enlistment or the job they had to do. My dad on the other hand chose to focus on the positive - he had a steady job, his work let him travel the world (during his sea duty days), he had free medical and dental care for him and his family, low cost groceries, gas and merchandise (when we bought them on base), and many more perks. But I'll always remember one day as an arrogant bratty kid how I told him I thought the Navy was a terrible job (it had to be with so many others claiming how bad it was), he simply replied "You get out of it what you put into it." Over time that lesson stuck with me. If I do something half-assed, then I can only expect a sub-par result.
Always respect your elders. This is a lesson that seems lost on today's world. People older than you, no matter if it's a year or 90 years - deserve your respect simply for the fact that they have the advantage of experience over you. That doesn't mean everyone who is older is always right, but it does mean that when they are wrong you don't belittle them for their error. I came from the end of a generation which believed children should NEVER talk back to an adult. This lack of respect for others is one of the most demoralizing aspects of the world we live in today, a world where older means weaker and the arrogance of the younger towards the older is applauded. To this day I say "yes sir, no sir" and "yes mam, no mam" to anyone older than me and I'll even say it to those younger if they show they deserve the respect.
If you catch it, you clean it. I love to fish, but I don't particularly enjoy scaling, gutting and cleaning the fish I catch. I also don't want to clean yours. Growing up in Cuba and along the east coast we enjoyed going fishing quite a bit and whatever we caught we cleaned and took home and ate. What didn't get eaten immediately was put in the freezer to eat later. I remember learning from my father how to clean a fish, quite a simple process actually, but after he taught me how he expected my brother and me to clean our own as well as any my mother caught (I guess he figured girls shouldn't clean fish). I suppose he regretted teaching me this lesson later when I was a teenager and he came home one morning after being out on the Chesapeake Bay all night fishing with a friend and unloaded almost a hundred fish and promptly woke my brother and me up and told us to clean them (the reason why he couldn't do it eludes me now). I don't recall what my reaction was to having to clean "his" fish but I do recall giving him grief about it every time we had fish for a long time, making sure he knew just who cleaned all them damn fish!
God, Family and Country - in that order! This is one lesson my father taught me more by example than words. He was a family man who went to work for his country every day and every Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night made sure we were at church. We didn't eat without a prayer being said first. He never raised his hand at my mother and any serious arguments with her would be behind closed doors out of our earshot (unless we pressed our ears to the door). He made sure we were never lacking in food, clothes, transportation, education, medical care, having a roof over our head or having time to recreate. When the national anthem was played he stood at attention with his hand over his heart or if he was in his Navy uniform he would salute the flag until the anthem finished. He had pride in his God, his family and his country.

These are just a few of the lessons my father taught me. He was a stern, sometimes rigid man. If he had an earthly idol it would have been Star Trek's Spock because everything Spock did was logical and done after careful contemplation of all the available facts and information. That was my dad. When he died we hadn't spoken for at least a year, I suppose he could never bring himself to understand my nature of living by emotion rather than logic and I found it easier to just keep a distance. That distance became insurmountable when he passed away and not a day goes by that I don't regret it and miss him very much. In my memories I can still smell his aftershave as I hugged him the day he left me at college. My dad was a man among men. I may not follow his example and the lessons he taught me to the letter but they have helped to shape who I am. I love you dad and wish you were still with us.

The importance of a "natural born" President

2011-05-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

I recently had a discussion with my brother who claims to "care less" about where the President is born and the requirement that the President be born on U.S. soil was stupid. This discussion was in light of the recent clamor over President Obama's disclosure of his birth certificate which he finally produced. While I am not a fan of the President, I never felt he was not born in the United States and so the media circus surrounding his birth certificate was not an issue I cared to follow. But finding my brother (or anyone for that matter) would fail to recognize the importance of the leader of our country being a natural born citizen is alarming and exhibits a complete lack of appreciation of our democracy. I figured I would continue trying to educate my brother privately until I read this morning a quote from Obama himself after his long-form birth certificate was released when he said:

"We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do."

Excuse me? Silliness? Now I agree this issue should have been settled before he was elected President, and I'm sure he felt it was distracting from other important issues, but silly? And then to reduce the responsibilities of governing to being just "stuff" leaves me with a voracious feeling of anger!
So to my brother and to Mr. Obama, let me educate you a bit...

Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution defines the principal qualifications to be eligible to hold the office of president. A president must:
be a natural born citizen of the United States;
be at least thirty-five years old;
have been a permanent resident in the United States for at least fourteen years.

Qualifications to be the President of the United States is an integral part of the Constitution - you know, that document written over 200 years ago as the framework for a fledgling country, that document men have died and shed their blood to defend. There is NOTHING silly about it and for the President to reduce it to such is abhorrent and demonstrates a complete lack of care for that which he is sworn to uphold and defend.
Blogger Mario Apuzzo details on his blog site why our founding fathers thought this was important enough to include in the framework of our country:

It was the fear of foreign influence invading the Office of Commander in Chief of the military that prompted John Jay, our first U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, to write to George Washington the following letter dated July 25, 1787:

“Permit me to hint, whether it would be wise and seasonable to provide a strong check to the admission of Foreigners into the administration of our national Government; and to declare expressly that the Commander in Chief of the American army shall not be given to nor devolve on, any but a natural born Citizen" (underlying "born" in the original).

Jay’s recommendation did make it into the Constitution. In this clause and in Articles I, III, and IV, the Founding Fathers distinguished between "Citizen" and "natural born Citizen." Per the Founders, while Senators and Representatives can be just “citizens,” the President must be a "natural born Citizen." Through this clause, the Founders sought to guarantee that the ideals for which they fought would be faithfully preserved for future generations of Americans. The Founders wanted to assure that the Office of President and Commander in Chief of the Military, a non-collegial and unique and powerful civil and military position, was free of all foreign influence and that its holder has sole and absolute allegiance, loyalty, and attachment to the U.S. The “natural born Citizen” clause was the best way for them to assure this.

In this day and time when so many seek to create a single "world order" or one government as evidenced by the United Nations, the World Bank, the European Union and many other such singular institutions, it is more important than ever for the leadership of the United States of America to have allegiance to no other country. A leader with divided loyalties is a crippled leader because every decision will be seen as favoring one side or the other leading to civil unrest and a distraction of duties allowing outside interests to invade and conquer. Ultimately though, a leader with divided loyalties is loyal only to himself and has not in mind the good of the nation as a whole.

It just ain't right

2011-04-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

Quite a few things have incensed me lately so I figure I'll just let loose here for a few moments and get them all of my mind at the same time.

Mumia Abu-Jamala

1) California Teachers Union Rallys Behind Cop Killer - First of all, what the hell business does a "Teachers" union have passing referendums on ANYTHING other than educational matters? It really speaks volumes of the liberal anarchic attitude of many people on the left coast. Even if this guy, Mumia Abu-Jamala, were innocent I still have to ask why would the California teachers union get involved with it anyway? The murder, in front of many witnesses by-the-way, happened in 1992 in Pennsylvania! Maybe those California teachers need to go back to school and learn some geography - there are many states in-between the two so there really is nothing about the case that should have any interest to a teachers union whatsoever. Now if it were an individual I would have no problem with him or her questioning the legitimacy of the guys verdict, that's their right as an individual but come on California! Spend more time focusing on the youth of your state and pass some referendums on them like oh, I don't know, how about a referendum on tolerance and youth violence in schools?
Here's a link to the story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/13/california-teachers-union-draws-rallying-cop-killer/

Nancy Pelosi

2) Pelosi: 'Elections Shouldn't Matter as Much as They Do' - Why is it that everything that seems to irritate the hell out of me appears to emanate from California. This woman absolutely befuddles me. What's more it is extremely concerning that the left coast keeps sending her back to Washington. Maybe they do it just to try and get rid of her, I don't know but the statement that she has made to trivialize elections really upsets me. I even sat down and re-read the article several times trying to find some way to justify her statement or place it in a context that would make sense and the only thing that makes sense is that Nancy Pelosi would actually prefer a dictatorial state over the democracy she is trying so hard to destroy.
Here's the link to the story: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/13/pelosi-elections-shouldnt-matter/


Pia Toscano

3) Pia Toscano booted off American Idol - Okay, really this entry should be titled American Idol Idiots! Before last week I had no clue who Pia Toscano is because I do not watch American Idol. I find the show insulting and degrading to performers because it reduces them down to a popularity contest - in Tascano's case it has been said, and I must agree, that young girls voted for the good looking guys on the show rather than a larger more diverse demographic voting on the performers talent and thus Tascano got the boot. If it hadn't been for the vocal outcry of injustice that caused the story to usurp Charlie Sheen's stranglehold on the headlines I likely would have never heard of this beautiful young lady. My interest was piqued so I looked her up on YouTube to see what the fuss was all about. I must say, those who were upset by Pia being voted off were justified in their dismay - the chick can really sing. She ain't as good as Staci McBeth or Suzi Nelson but she is good!
Here's the link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/08/pia.eliminated.american.idol

Murphy USA Gas Station

4) Oil Prices - That's all you really have to say to turn a relatively good-natured group of folk into a snarling anti-Arabian mob. But, what about good-ol American drilled oil? It has been stated that Murphy Oil which is sold only at Wal-Mart presently (though they have plans to expand) is 100% American, drilled and pumped in Arkansas. My question is - if that is so why has Murphy Oil continued to go up and keep pace with foreign oil? I mean if it was selling for $3.30 or so back in December last year, then why has the price at Murphy stations paralleled the rise at other stations? Now I'm not a math genius but that just doesn't add up.

I have more I could go off on but I'll have to wait a bit and let my blood pressure go from boiling over to simmer first.

Is it the Quickening?

2011-04-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

   The Quickening is a concept about the acceleration of events as time draws to a close. The term can be applied to many different situations but the one that stands above all others is the end of time. Now I'm not a doomsayer and I don't believe the end of the world is at hand (although I acknowledge that it very well could be) but the advent of technology in the last decade or two can be mind-boggling when you stop to consider it. What started me thinking on it was a story in the news today about the effect of the iPad on the cable and satellite TV industry. It seems that Apples iPad would be the medium through which the internet kills off traditional television and cable programming in much the same way as iTunes (and similar music download services) are killing off record and distribution companies.
   The internet is fast becoming the goose that lays the golden eggs and in the process the other geese are dying off from neglect. The traditional newspaper industry, the recording industry and cable and satellite TV companies are finding their market is rapidly diminishing as more and more people get their news, download music and watch streaming television on a computer and/or the iPad.
   Where we once viewed concepts such as laser guns, teleportation, androids and other far flung ideas that permeate science fiction as exactly that - fiction - we now have working laser guns (which the US Navy demonstrated just yesterday), the teleportation of minute particles, intelligent robotics, invisibility cloaks and even a type of replicator.
   Truly we are living in a time of quickening or to put it another way I quote Captain Aubrey from the film Master and Commander - Far Side of the Universe when admiring a new wooden ship hull design: "What a thoroughly modern world we live in!"

A New Opinion on Tattoos

2011-04-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

Back in 2006, about a year after I first started this blog I wrote an entry about tattoo's. It seems just about everyone has one and seeing them on women just really turned me off so I wrote about it (you can read that entry by clicking here). Fast forward to 2011 and I'm singing a slightly different story.

For my birthday last year I had decided I wanted a tat so I treated myself to my first one (pictured at right) - one of my own design and one that held a special significance to me (as any tattoo should be). In the four years since I wrote that first bit on tattoo's I had come to appreciate them and the individuality they embody. I have even come to appreciate some tattoo's on women although that is still difficult for me. I still feel much the way I did before when I wrote that it was a sin for a woman to "deface her beautiful body with tattoos." I would however add this caveat - if a woman wants a tat she should adhere to this rule of thumb: if she's only getting one or two then make them small and place them where they are not going to be seen when wearing formal attire (although the ankle placement can be kinda sexy sometimes) OR if she wants a lot of tats then give it enough thought so that there is a coherence in the design (men would do well to follow this thought too) - make it a work of art after all, you are covering up another beautiful work of art - your body. Here are examples of a bad tattoo on a woman and a work of art on another.

As for me, I'm itching for another one. I have one design I've worked on that I might do which will reach from my shoulder to my elbow but I'm leaning towards a smaller design of a vintage pinup that I am working on. Of course either one will have to wait until money is more available as the first one would run me about $500 and the other about $300.
I've also given thought to learning how to do tattoo's, something I'd really love to learn.

Possibly Palin

2011-04-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

I am at odds with a friend of mine who is something of an enigma at times. To appreciate this enigma you have to understand a few things first. This friend is a triple minority. First she is a she. Secondly she is black. Nothing really unusual in either of those two statements but there is in the third - she is a staunch conservative Republican and she despise Obama. Oh I know Republican's are "supposed" to despise the liberal Democratic President no matter who it is but the fact that she is black and despises him is in itself unusual. Let's face it, Obama was elected by a contingent that was principally black and very few blacks voted for the white guy, opting for Obama on race alone. Yet this woman further stupefies me because being a "staunch conservative" woman you would think she would adore Sarah Palin. However nothing could be further from the truth. I think she despises the former Vice-Presidential nominee more than she does Obama. And that's saying a lot because she REALLY despises him.
What got me to thinking about this is the news reports that are beginning to herald the start of the next presidential election. Several politicos from both parties have been mentioned as possible candidates for our nations highest office, a few have begun "exploring" the possibility of running. Naturally those questioning whether Palin will run is becoming more abundant. Personally I feel that Palin got shafted by McCain's camp in the last election. The unabashedly vocal former governor was "handled" by McCain's people and often not allowed to speak her mind on the campaign trail. Since the election and without the restraint of party bindings she has been very vocal and pointed on her position on many key issues (click this link for Palin's stand on issues) and in the process is demonstrating just how smart she is and proving how juvenile her detractors are. Now don't get me wrong - I don't agree with Palin's stand on every issue (off-shore oil drilling for one) but I do believe she is far and above many of her contemporaries.
The question then becomes - SHOULD Palin run for President? My answer is no. Oh, I think she would make a wonderful President, but unfortunately I believe she will be dogged relentlessly by the media and they would not allow the focus to remain on the issues, preferring instead to create a soap opera style atmosphere to avert the electorate from her platform.
As for my black female conservative Palin-hating friend? Well, I just enjoy goading her sometimes by calling her Sarah... I know, I'm evil but it's fun watching her blood pressure shoot up!

I'm Back!!!

2011-04-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a couple of years since I last posted on this blog and since I've been writing more for my website, my screenplays and other blogs I feel it is time to be more regular in my postings here. By regular I mean at least once a month but hopefully and likely it will be more.
I invite your comments as long as they are not vulgar or mean. If you have a differing opinion then that is welcome too. I only ask that you try to comment in a constructive vein.

I'm not a Bigot

2008-10-06T05:43:00.000-07:00

I recently received the following email from a family member. Please read this then read the rebuttal I replied with.

To all my family and friends who are bigots or otherwise prejudiced. Some of you have said that you can't vote republican and you won't vote for Obama so you just won't vote at all. I ask you to reconsider, we have had a religious kook in the white house for the last 8 years. You know how the country has been devasated by this man and I must say with help from the no good democratic congress. If you don't vote for Obama it is the same as a vote for McCain. Look at McCain, he looks like he has one foot in the grave already. So chances are you would end up with an even more devastating religious fanatic in the white house. Our country is bankrupt and fast becoming a third world nation. I believe all the religious fanatics will vote for McCain so be forewarned.

Here is my reply (edited to protect the identity of the family member):
My mother forwarded a statement that you made (I assume in an email) and I feel compelled to tell you that I must take exception to it.
I do not believe that I qualify as a bigot, a racist, a sexist, or any of the negative terms generally associated with people who have a shallow mind.
I have a college education, and I am gainfully employed at a newspaper that espouses a Libertarian party view even though I don't agree with everything the Libertarian Party stands for. I love my God, my family, my country and the Tennessee Volunteers (in that order). Having spent my informative years living on or near US military bases (that my dad was stationed at) I believe I have gained a great understanding of the sacrifices our military men and women make for this country - even those who only look at their service as a stepping stone to a college education. I consider myself a devout patriot citizen.
I am neither Republican or Democrat. When I vote I do not see a skin color or whether the candidate has breasts or not. My first consideration when deciding on who to vote for is the candidates moral character. Not whether or not they have stumbled morally in life but rather how they dealt with and recovered from the wrong path they may have taken.
It is likewise ludicrus to condemn a man or woman for the performance of another man or woman. If such were the case then I would never consider voting for a Democrat because of the lack of morals of Bill Clinton. Barack Obama is not Bill Clinton. Neither is John McCain the same as George Bush.
As for a candidates age being a concern then Obama and Palin's ages should also disqualify them as they are not old enough to have the benefit of extended experience. I would much rather have an experienced older man or woman in the White House than an inexperienced one. Even the youthful Palin brings a more well-rounded experience in government than does Obama. If we were voting on experience alone then Joe Biden should be facing John McCain.
As far as a "religious fanatic" in the White House - even though I don't believe Sarah Palin is a fanatic, do you honestly feel she would be worse because of her religious beliefs than say Bill Clinton, who evidently absconded from his religious beliefs when he had an extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky in the office that our tax dollars pay for? Or that Palin would be worse than Obama, a man who has aligned himself with religious "bigots" (isn't that the word YOU used) in the recent past like Jeremiah Wright?
As far as our country being bankrupt - well, the congress should hold the blame for that since they refuse to pass legislation that would regulate Wall Street, or legislation that would promote and encourage development of alternative energy sources. Without cutting our ties to oil we remain shackled to inflated prices at the pump and that is the root of America's current anxiety over our nations economic state.
I do hope you rethink your position and no matter who you vote for I hope you vote for the person who is best for the job - not the person because they are a woman or black or young or old.

Americans - Us vs Us?

2008-10-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

Chevrolet is throttling up its marketing engines for their newest and most highly anticipated vehicle in years - the Chevrolet Volt. The Volt is likely to be a runaway a best seller in the near future (it is currently slated to be released with the 2010 models next fall). But Chevrolet, a brand that has found itself largely aligned with the conservative, staunchly patriotic middle and lower class America might find itself abandoned by that segment of society if they continue on their current train of thought with marketing the all electric Volt. Pete Lewis of GM was quoted on CNN.com saying "There is a fear that if we position this as a 'pro-American' car, it will upset some of the environmentally conscious crowd, and we want it to be embraced by everyone."
What a slam! What Mr. Lewis is saying in effect is that if you are environmentally conscious you are un-American. Chevy has for years imbedded their marketing on the American public's psyche claiming they are the "Heartbeat of America" and yet it is unlikely that we will see any such red, white and blue marketing with the Volt, presumably because people who care about the environment are not patriotic and Chevy wants the Volt to have a wide appeal. What Chevy needs to understand is that America's heartbeat includes environmentalists, NASCAR fans, hockey moms, Wall Street number crunchers, the politically liberal and the politically conservative. As a red, white and blue American I embrace every segment of our society as American - even if I don't agree with those segments. So Chevrolet, when you say the environmental crowd is not pro-American you're also speaking to me and you need to back up a step and rethink your stand. After all your founder Louis Chevrolet was of French descent and born in Switzerland. Maybe we should boycott Chevy and promote Ford whose namesake was born in Michigan.

It's Called Pole Dancing

2008-03-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

Recently I attended an Elon University basketball game but the memories I carried away from that arena had nothing to do with basketball. Rather it was the sickening half-time show by a local youth "dance" team. It occurred to me during this "routine" that if the children performing had poles to twirl around on that they would have felt right at home at a strip club. Don't get me wrong, there was no discarding of clothing articles, instead it was a grotesque display of undulating pelvic thrusts and bodies writhing about on the floor. The youngest of these young ladies (there were no boys) couldn't have been more than 7 or 8 years old while the oldest was likely 15 or 16. I found myself asking where these children's parents were? Surely they were not in attendance for if they had been they would have been appalled at their young daughters performing sexually suggestive gyrations. I mean, surely a conscientious parent would never allow or encourage their daughter to be involved in such an activity.
When I voiced my incredulity to the friend I was with he said "that's how they 'dance' now" and then he jokingly implied that I was a pervert for noticing it and pointing it out. That got me up on my soapbox. I may be getting old but I still know when a female moves in a particular way she is trying to evoke something out of her onlookers and while a woman moving in such a way might be a stimulating sight, to see children, young girls, emulating pole dancers and lap dancers only serves to get my anger up. In all likelihood most of these girls were only going through a routine and thought nothing of it but I cannot imagine that the older girls never had it cross their mind that what they were doing was sexual and designed to capture the lascivious attention of boys.
I realize most young women today idolize the Hollywood trash like Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton and that is truly a shame. But what is more shameful is that so many parents encourage their children, nay they push their children to be like the tinsel town sluts. A parent that lets a child become involved in such activities isn't much of a parent and should not be surprised one day when their daughters begin to take notice of boys and wind up raped, deflowered, or pregnant.
I'm not against dancing. I think there is a time and a place for dancing provided it isn't of a sexually perverse nature. Parents, if you want your child to be involved in dance why not get them to take up ballroom, square, contra or any number of different dance styles that are much more challenging and much more rewarding than learning how to slither around a pole and on a floor so that disgusting men can stuff money between the girls butt cheeks or breasts.

Something I've Never Done Before

2007-09-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I did something that I've never done before. I donated money to a political campaign. And I'm proud of it. When I turned 18 back in 1980 the very first thing I did was go and register to vote, even before I fulfilled my responsibility to go and register for selective service (which I did immediately after registering to vote). Voting was something I took very seriously even from a young age. I had always thought it was a priviledge of being a good adult citizen, and it is, but as I've grown older I've come to realize that voting is so much more. As an American citizen I AM the government, I have the right, the priviledge and the responsibility to make changes in our government and our government policies by voting. I know people who don't vote because they say their vote doesn't matter. Tell that to Al Gore. I know people who say they are making a statement by not voting. True they do make a statement by not voting, but that statement is wasted because it feeble and goes unnoticed. Imagine being at a college or pro football game and sitting quietly as your team is trying to keep the other team from scoring. Your silence isn't going to help drown out the other teams quarterback so the linemen can't hear the count, but your voice shouting with others of like mind could make the opposition falter. Thus it is with voting. Even if you vote and your issue or contender doesn't win, the opposition knows they have to listen to you because of the great numbers of like minded citizens who joined you in stating your position at the polls.
So what does all that have to do with my donating money to a political campaign? Only this - my vote matters and the ideals, beliefs and principles I believe in are for the most part shared by one political contender more than any other and since I want those ideals, beliefs and principles to be heard I am putting my money where my champion is. I urge you to not just "make a statement" and remain silent by not voting - shout your statement WITH a vote, even if you disagree with my positions. As an American citizen you ARE the government TOO! VOTE!
You know, I believe Ronald Reagan was the best President we could have had at the time he was elected. Was he the best President we ever had. No, I don't think there is one best President that we've ever had only that the good ones, the great ones were great because they were the best we could have had at that time. And I believe the same of Fred Thompson.
I urge you to look at Fred seriously and study his position on the issues but in addition to that think in terms of who can put the best face on what America stands for, who best can put the face of quiet strength and integrity on America for all to see? Who is the candidate that is the best we could have at THIS time. I hope you will come to see like I do and vote for Fred.

Support Fred

2007-06-06T05:53:00.000-07:00

Last night immediately after the Republican Presidential debates, the official web site for Fred Thompson went live. As an ardent supporter of state rights, the Constitution, and conservative values I whole heartedly support Fred Thompson for president and I hope you will join me by visiting imwithfred.com and volunteer to help elect Fred to the White House. If you are able to help monetarily I encourage you to do so by either going to imwithfred.com or using the I'm With Fred widget to the right and top of this blog. Fred Thompson is the only (soon-to-be) candidate that can bring together the right and left and move America forward into prosperity. I hope you will be an active participant in Fred's election.

Death of Free Speech

2007-04-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

For some time now I’ve lamented the loss of free speech in the United States and in particular on the campuses and universities across our country. Gone is the era of the sixties and seventies when young men and women were protective of their first amendment right to speak freely without fear of persecution for what they said. Instead we live in a society where free speech and thought is strangled with the hand of submission to the few. Professors are no longer free to challenge the minds of our youth by proposing new or old ideas in a classroom, rather they are turned into sheep who must move in the direction in which they are herded by the dogs. If there is even the slightest chance your words would infringe on or hurt someone then you must be silenced. If you teach religious values you are ostracized. If you speak anything remotely resembling unconvential or out-of-the-box thinking you are vilified. This is not freedom of speech. Somehow, somewhere along the way the cowardly few have managed to mandate a society of intolerance under the guise of tolerance. If you do not agree with homosexuality you are labeled a homophobe, if you dare to put your faith in the Bible rather than man-made theories you are labeled a heretic, fool or idiot. If you believe in the second amendment they label you a danger to society, if you believe that life begins at conception they label you a crusader (negatively). Is there no one who will take up the torch for free speech in our country or are we all ready to sit by and let free speech die an undignified death. The founding fathers of our country did not always agree on everything, but I believe they did all believe in free speech, that is why it is part of the very first amendment. It is okay to not agree with someone, but it is WRONG to vilify someone for believing differently.
And that brings me to Don Imus...
I’ve never liked Don Imus as a radio personality. I don’t know him personally so I can’t speak as to what sort of person he really is (off the air). His recent remarks about the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team are reprehensible and deserving of some kind of negative consequence for Imus. I don’t believe suspending his show for two weeks qualifys as punishment for his offensive remarks, rather it is basically just a slap on the wrist. I believe Imus has the right to make the remarks he made but that doesn’t mean that he should have made them, just like I believe people have the right to burn an American flag, but that doesn’t mean that they should burn it. You see, men and women have fought and died to give Imus the right to say what he wants or for somebody to have the right to protest by burning a flag, but just because people died for those rights doesn’t mean they wanted people to exercise those rights in such a way. Instead of a corporate scolding, Imus should be punished where it hurts - in the wallet. Allow him to continue on the air but with no pay for a month at minimum, in this way free speech continues, he has an opportunity to vocally make amends via the airwaves (and hopefully personally to the players) and he learns a lesson that he is responsible for what he says in a way that will make an impact.
Political Correctness MUST DIE!

Fred Thompson For President! Volume 2

2007-03-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

I just read an article at www.newsmax.com that quotes Dr. James Dobson as saying that he "has never known (Fred) Thompson to be a committed Christian – someone who openly talks about his faith."
Fred Thompson is in fact a Christian, having been baptized and a member of the church of Christ.
Now while I am a conservative leaning moderate and a Christian (of the same faith), I am glad that Fred isn't out there "banging a Bible," as it were, trying to make converts. It bothers me immensely when people "wear their religion on their sleeve" and making a show of giving thanks to God (i.e. sports figures when they score beating their chest and pointing to the sky). I believe you should give thanks to God for everything, but not constantly in public as the Pharisees did in the New Testament. I believe a Christian should show he is a Christian by living a Christian life. Do not talk ill of others, do not curse, do not lie, do not cheat, always try to help others, especially the less fortunate, and the list goes on and on. The bottom line is show the world you are a Christian by the life you lead, not by a show you put on.
I'm not saying to not talk about Christ, because Christians are commanded to spread God's word, but you should talk about it in love and meekness and in all humility.
So is Fred Thompson a Christian? I can only believe that he is because he says he is. Does his example show him to be a Christian? Well, in my personal opinion, if or when he does not show himself to be an exemplary Christian, but he claims to be a Christian then I can only deduce that he is an erring Christian and needs to ask God's forgiveness. Is this judging on my part? No. Christians are not perfect people. They are human. So all Christians will sin and a Christian who sins and does not repent is an erring Christian.
Now, having said all this, do I think Fred Thompson is a good choice for President? You bet I do. While I hope that all men would be Christians it is unrealistic to expect such but we still have a world to live in and we should pursue putting men and women in office who will advocate Christian values, the Constitution and state rights.
Who is the most qualified person currently in a position to champion those three aspects on the national stage? Fred Thompson. Fred Thompson is the best man for the job of President in 2008.

For more detailed information on what a Christian is please visit my friend David Lassiter's in-depth study on his web site.

SUPPORT FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT - VISIT WWW.FRED08.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Fred Thompson For President!

2007-03-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

Finally! Finally the conservative right might just have a Presidential contender that can actually win the White House in '08 - Fred Thompson. Yes that Fred Thompson. The former Watergate special counsel. The former Senator. The former and current actor. Yes, that Fred Thompson. Thompson hasn't as yet thrown his hat in the ring to run for the ultimate American office, but when and if he does he will be a candidate who has answers for the majority of America's problems. No, we won't see eye to eye on every issue (I myself am at odds with his views on Iraq), but he generally falls to the conservative side of issues. He is pro-gun, anti-abortion, against gay marriage, though to be more specific he believes that issue should be left up to states to decide and not judges. He is also articulate, speaks with authority and perhaps most important of all with regards to international politics - he looks Presidential (even played the President on film). Fred Thompson has all the positive attributes of Ronald Reagan, yet none of Reagan's bad aspects. Fred Thompson as President will be an iconic figurehead that American's can believe in and rally around and patriotism will once again run rampant.
To see how Fred voted on the issues while in the Senate visit the following web site:
http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Fred_Thompson.htm
FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008!

The Names The Thing

2006-09-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

Names. I think about names quite a bit because I’m always on the lookout for good names for characters in the stories I try to write. I also think about names because my first name is an uncommon name (Charlton) and that makes me interested in other peoples uncommon names, how they got them, whether it’s a family name or one contrived for some purpose, or an effort to bestow some quality on a person. My name started out being taken from my mother’s name, Charlotte, but since I was a boy they just decided on Charlton. I’ve always liked my name. It has a solid sound to it, there is no confusion about who is being called in a classroom or group, it generates interest because of its uncommoness and invariably draws comparisons to Charlton Heston (not a bad person to be compared to either).
Up until seventh grade I had never known of anyone except Heston to have the name Charlton. Then in seventh grade a classmate of mine had Charlton for a last name. Interesting, but I like it better as a first name. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-thirties that I actually met someone with Charlton for a first name and it deflated me a bit, mainly because this other Charlton was a woman. Turns out Charlton, like me, was a graphic artist. I’ve always found that bit of serendipity to be amusing. I know there is also a Charlton County in south Georgia. Never been there though.
I’ve never been fortunate enough to meet or talk to Charlton Heston and as he is advancing in years now I probably never will. But if I did I would like to ask him how he came by his first name and why has he always allowed himself to be called “Chuck.” I’ve always encountered people who were obviously never educated properly because they throw “s’s” and “e’s” into my name or omit “l’s”. My name isn’t “Charleston” which is either a city or a dance, and my name isn’t “Carlton” which is a cigarette or a doorman or “Charleton” which is... well I’ve got no idea what a “Charleton” is but I know it ain’t me!
More on names later....

The Wrap-Around Butt logo

2006-08-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago I became aware of an fad that has increased in popularity. I call it the "Wrap-Around Butt Logo" pants. The first time I saw WABL pants was in the mall. A few young teenage girls had them on. The pants themselves weren't much to speak of and were not worthy of notice except for the sagging wording imprinted on the seats of the pants - "ABERCROMBIE." How ridiculous I thought, to pay good money for pants that don't even fit right in the first place, then to add insult to injury the wording on the seat of the pants is so long that it almost wraps around the whole pelvis area and as if that weren't enough, the whole package was extremely unflattering to the young ladies appearance.

As time has gone on I have begun to see more and more women wearing these pants with different words or names emblazoned across their rump. The trouble is that someone has sold these women a pack of lies saying that this fashion statement looks good. IT DON'T! Just like with those dang stirrup pants that were all the rage for a few years - women just don't look good in them. Oh, I suppose that somewhere there is a woman that these WABL pants look good on, but she sure isn't in this hemisphere. For most women WABL pants emphasize their "wobble" - and I'm not talking about how they swing their hips! For these women suddenly four and five letter words look like they were printed by someone who spent too much time in the fun house mirror room. Again, it reminds me of those awful stirrup pants where every centimeter of cellulite and plain old fat is highlighted, accentuated and flashing in neon!

I don't know who the fashionistas are that sell women these ideas about clothing when they should be listening to me instead. I can tell you in a heartbeat what looks good on women and what doesn't. I mean if you can't trust a bona-fide all-American heterosexual man to tell you what looks good on women who can you trust?

The Sin of Tattoo's

2006-07-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

No I don't mean a sin like a religious type sin, I mean a sin like "it's a shame that girl defaced her beautiful body with all those tattoos." There is a part of me that likes tattoos - I once wanted one myself but because it became a fad I began to disdain them. Now, men I could care less if they have a tattoo because lets be honest - most men need something to cover their ugly weathered skin up! But women, ah women are a different story. Women should let their skin be free of these works of art, mainly because blemishing their skin with tattoos is akin to throwing a bucket of paint on the Mona Lisa. Women should be admired for their innate beauty, not for a bunch of butterflies or fairies some whole-in-the-wall tattoist inked her with. I guess wood is a good way to illustrate what I mean. You see, when a carpenter takes wood and cuts it up, sands it and creates whatever woodcraft he is constructing, he should never paint it. Painting wood is a sin in my book because it covers up the beauty of the wood. Instead the true craftsman lovingly applies stain to bring out the character of the wood then applies a protective coat that also enhances the beauty of the wood (I prefer rubbing vegetable oil on my wood projects to bring out their luster). When a woman gets a tattoo it says to me that she doesn't like her skin and wants to cover it so the world can't see but she wants to be noticed and thus the tattoo. I just wonder what these women are going to do when they get older and their tattoos have faded and paled and they have to wear sweatsuits with turtlenecks to cover over the thing that was meant to cover over their skin.

Celebrating Freedom

2006-07-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

We have Memorial Day to recognize those who have passed on, Veterans Day to memorialize and say thank you to our brother and sister citizens who have contributed to our freedom by serving our great country in the military. While July 4th not only recognizes the ratification by the continental congress of the Declaration of Independence it is also a day when we can reflect on the blessings of freedom we enjoy today because of that document and the men, women and children who sacrificed their homes, families and lives in the pursuit of freedom. It is that freedom that today makes us unique among nations, it is a freedom that blesses us in our diversity and differences. It is a freedom that allows one man to protest a war or conflict without fear of authorities while simultaneously allowing another man to volunteer to serve his country in that same war.
Blessed are they who are free, for it is their joyful burden to seek and stand for freedom for all men.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Independence Day celebration and please take time to remember all Americans who have stood for freedom.

ps) Independence Day is actually January 14 - the day the US Congress ratified the Second Treaty of Paris (the first Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian war)

Screw Political Correctness

2006-05-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

I am fed up with political correctness! I hereby declare war on being politically correct! That isn't to say that I am going to go out and purposely offend people or hurt their feelings, but I am going to call black people black and not African-American. I'm not going to be ashamed for rooting for the Atlanta Braves because some publicity seeking native American says it is offensive. I am "fat" not "weight challenged." "Mankind" includes women, if you are "short" then you are "short" not "height challenged." You will never hear me say someone is "differently challenged" instead I say they are "disabled." Earlier this year it was publicized on the news that "Thought Shower" or "Word Shower" should now be used instead of "brainstorm" so as not to offend those with brain disorders such as epilepsy. During the Christmas season of 2005 Walmart and other stores decided to use the term "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas" because they are fearful of offending Jews and Blacks. I have no problem with saying "Happy Holidays" but I do have a problem with saying it to not offend people. lf you are Jewish you are not celebrating Christmas anyway so it shouldn't matter as long as I am not being mean or trying to put you down for being Jewish. A Jew has just as much right to wish me a "happy Hannakuh."
The object is to be nice to people and to treat all people with respect, If we all do that we would have no need of being politically correct.

Barry "The Disgrace" Bonds

2006-05-09T13:24:00.001-07:00

I never really cared much for Barry Bonds. Mainly because he was always on an opposing team and because he always emanated that prima dona facade. Over the years I grew to dislike him more and more, principally because he projected a relentless "It's all about me" attitude. That attitude was a virus. Now however, Bonds has digressed to an all out disease. His bastardization of baseball by using steroids has devasted the games beauty and simplicity. He has taken a sacred relic of American life and perverted it forever. Of course this is all based on the assumption that Bonds did in fact take steroids which he has not admitted. Neither has he made any attempt to deny using steroids. Whether or not Bonds used steroids or not is now a mute point because of his ambivelance his accomplishments and records will forever be tainted and thus taint Baseball.
It is my opinion that Bonds should be removed from baseball, his records deleted and his admission to the Hall of Fame denied.

Top Sports Movies

2006-01-13T19:40:00.001-08:00

Movies are probably my number one hobby. I love the escapism, the journey in someone elses shoes. And when appropriate I love being uplifted by films and no genre seems to do that better than sports films. Something about the comradery, the relationships and dynamics between team members and how they ultimately pull together in a common goal to win, or a solitary figure triumphs over obstacles and the odds. speaks to me on a very base level.
With that said I'd like to propose the following list of my top ten sports films.
10. Hoosiers
9. Victory
8. A League of their Own
7. Rocky
6. Love of the Game
5. Eight Men Out
4. Rudy
3. Glory Road
2. Miracle
1. Field of Dreams

Government

2005-06-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Government. What a big scrambled up word that has become. I have views on government that are unique, I have some views that I share with many others and still other views I share with a minority of people.
First of all I believe we should do away with the current tax code and replace it with a single sales tax. I think this is the fairest way of taxing the people - not by what they make but by what they spend. What about the poor you ask? Well I have an answer. I believe they should be taken care of by religious organizations. Benevolence is at the heart of all reputable religions so why not make religious organizations in this country fulfill the responsibilities that they have. I think all religions should be required to file and pay taxes, but I think that if they can prove that they are a benevolent entity by providing for the poor of this country then they should recieve tax exempt status - and only then!

The Meaning of "Hand Prints"

2005-05-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

In the Louis L'amour book "The Californio's" there is a passage where the main character is describing how he once came across some old adobe ruins and in those ruins he found a stone imprinted with an ancient hand print. The character begins to wonder about that hand print and who made it. What was he like? What were his dislikes? What were his fears? What would he consider his accomplishments? Was he loved? Respected? Honored? Just who was the man that made that hand print and what was his world like? Did he make the hand print on purpose for those to come eons down the road of time? Was it his way of saying "I was here!" "I made a difference!" "I am important!" "Do not forget me!" Was it his way of becoming immortal?
The imagery from that passage has stuck with me ever since I first read it years ago. We all want to be remembered by somebody and we all try to find our own way to be remembered that satisfies us. For some it is enough to be remembered by family, others desire notoriety or a place in history books, still others desire fame or a lasting image on celluloid. We all want to find our own way to leave our "hand prints."
While the internet and web logs can be fleeting and temporary, it is for me one way to say that "I was here." Maybe someone will copy something I say or post or maybe they will just remember it. If so then I will not be forgotten quickly and possibly something I will write will be copied, repeated and remembered through the eons ot time.
This then is my "Hand Print."