The Democrat candidate for Michigan governor has repeated this. The condition of the roads which leads us to pay for auto repairs is, she said, a "Republican road tax." (And, yes, we've had blown tires and damaged rims, too.) Maybe. Maybe not.
I wonder if she considers the huge increases in my health insurance premiums, along with the higher co-pays and deductibles, to be a "Democrat health care tax." After all, Obamacare passed without a single Republican vote in Congress. So, obviously, the Democrats own it. "Republican road tax?" "Democrat health care tax?" I know, I know. "But that's different."
Relative to Michigan's Proposal 2, which I will vote against, I am reminded of Obama's words. "Elections have consequences......" Why, then, is it so wrong for those who win elections to draw up district boundaries? Isn't that a consequence of winning elections? I know, I know. "But that's different." By the way, do we really need more unaccountable, that is they never have to face voters, bureaucrats making decisions for us? Haven't we learned our lessons?
Adding to my post of last week about "Free," the freebies and handouts to which many people feel entitled and which many politicians promise in their bids to get elected, was an article I read the other day. Young folks, ages 19-35, by sizable majorities want those freebies, such as free health insurance and free college education. I guess nobody should be surprised. I wonder if, though, all those young folks realize that none of the freebies are really free.
I tried, I really did. I turned on the Detroit Lions game this afternoon. I told Karen I was going to just "veg out" and watch the game. The game remained on the boob tube for its entirety. I'll estimate that I watched, at most, 11 or 12 plays. It just held no interest for me. I know a lot of people live and die with professional sports. I don't happen to be one of them. And I didn't watch a single down of either MSU or UM yesterday. I did mange to catch the last quarter of the Amherst game on my computer. There were technical difficulties and I couldn't watch the first part of the game. I'm sure all will be happy (at least I am!) that the Lord Jeffs held off the Jumbos, 19-13, and are now 7-0 with two games to go. The Purple Cows come to Amherst in two weeks.
I just finished The Switch by Joseph Finder. It's a thriller and I enjoyed it. More so, it fed into my fears of Big Government, more and more unrestrained, and what it can do to citizens. Another book I read a few weeks ago had these gems: "How can one plan a book about lying without including politicians?" and "How [are we] to distinguish between the politician who is lying and the one who is just stupid?" Of course, despite the punctuation, they are more statements than they are questions.
If you are looking for a good book, try Nelson De Mille's Gold Coast. One reviewer called it an updated Great Gatsby. I wouldn't go that far, but I really enjoyed it. The characters were sound, both flawed and heroic, and the writing was very good. De Mille even managed, like Mario Puzo in The Godfather, to turn a Mafia boss into a sympathetic character! What to read next? I think I'll catch up on a pile of magazines I've not yet opened.
OK, I have to get this off my chest. I gave midterm exams in all of my classes last week. In one of my Michigan history courses, two students misspelled "Michigan," multiple times and all misspelled the same way(s). Plus, "Michigan" was splattered all over the exam itself, from a title to individual questions. I was tempted to just put a big F on the papers. Some years ago, I questioned an elementary teacher about why spelling isn't taught in the lower grades any longer. Back when, it was part of every academic day, grades one through six, with spelling textbooks, etc. Anyway, this elementary teacher said the theory was students "would catch on to spelling eventually." Well, many of them obviously didn't. Who could possibly think that? (Well, I know who, but......) If spelling doesn't count, isn't emphasized, why would students care about it? Again obviously many of them didn't and don't. It's like no longer requiring things like math flash cards and tables--addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. I was reminded of that during my last stop at McDonald's. I paid my $2.59 with 7 quarters, 6 dimes, 4 nickels, and 4 pennies. It took the guy about five minutes to count the change. I even wondered if he just finally gave up and put the coins in their proper tills. His calculator didn't help him much that night, did it? Still, nobody listens to me about the schools.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Thursday, October 25, 2018
"Free!"
I wrote this one back in August, but apparently forgot to "publish" it.
Who can resist "Free?" What's not to like about getting free things? "You mean, I don't have to pay for them?" Nope. But somebody else does, often involuntarily.
A few weeks ago I upset some people when I said during a conversation, "I don't think I could vote for a Democrat, any Democrat." After a brief hesitation, I added, "At least not until Democrats change their values." Of course, those who know me also know I have a hard time voting for many Republicans, those of the Establishment variety. And I usually don't. But, for today, back to the Democrats.
I read some of the profiles of the Democratic candidates for governor in Michigan. One word that kept jumping out at me was "free." "Free" was all over the place. Each one promised free this and free that, from community college education and child care to job training and health care. Maybe I exaggerate the "free" stuff, but I don't think by much.
The problem is nothing is "free." Someone pays for it. I suppose if it's the next guy, we don't care--as long as it's not us. We should be able to spend our money the way we want. The other guy? Well, we, not him, should be able to determine how he spends his money through taxes and fees.
"Free" must be a tactic to win votes. Several candidates for the US House and state legislature are also running on "free" this and "free" that. Sooner or later maybe I'll ask, "Where do I sign up?"
I had to laugh. A few weeks ago, when I was doing some necessary driving, gasoline prices were well above $3.00. I think when I filled up the tank then, I paid $3.19 a gallon. I haven't needed gas and noticed a couple of stations with lower prices, down to $2.79. I'm getting close to an empty tank again and, just today, driving past two stations 10 miles miles apart, the price was back up to $3.09. We have a running joke, call me to find out when to buy gas. Don't buy it when I do. Wait a while, after I fill up. Inevitably the price will decrease.
That is like red lights at traffic signals. I am always stopped, well, it seems like always. The joke is, even if I'm a passenger in the front seat, the lights see me and turn to red. This AM, I had a short drive, with three traffic signals on the route. Yep, I was stopped at all three of them.
I have two online weather sites I frequent. Yeah, I know that's often silly since they are so very often wrong. A few weeks ago two days called for rain all day, the percentage of likelihood ranging from 70% to 100%. It rained neither day. But I like to check, maybe a day in advance, to see about my plans for running, biking, tossing BP, etc. Today was one of those funny days. Yesterday, both sites called for "Thunderstorms," with a likelihood of 100% most of the morning and early afternoon. This AM, one was calling for 100%while the other was down to 20-35%. By late afternoon, both were down to about 10%. Good! We can go out for some BP. Not so fast there, Bozo. About ten minutes before we were to leave, it started to rain. Sometimes it's just funny.
Who can resist "Free?" What's not to like about getting free things? "You mean, I don't have to pay for them?" Nope. But somebody else does, often involuntarily.
A few weeks ago I upset some people when I said during a conversation, "I don't think I could vote for a Democrat, any Democrat." After a brief hesitation, I added, "At least not until Democrats change their values." Of course, those who know me also know I have a hard time voting for many Republicans, those of the Establishment variety. And I usually don't. But, for today, back to the Democrats.
I read some of the profiles of the Democratic candidates for governor in Michigan. One word that kept jumping out at me was "free." "Free" was all over the place. Each one promised free this and free that, from community college education and child care to job training and health care. Maybe I exaggerate the "free" stuff, but I don't think by much.
The problem is nothing is "free." Someone pays for it. I suppose if it's the next guy, we don't care--as long as it's not us. We should be able to spend our money the way we want. The other guy? Well, we, not him, should be able to determine how he spends his money through taxes and fees.
"Free" must be a tactic to win votes. Several candidates for the US House and state legislature are also running on "free" this and "free" that. Sooner or later maybe I'll ask, "Where do I sign up?"
I had to laugh. A few weeks ago, when I was doing some necessary driving, gasoline prices were well above $3.00. I think when I filled up the tank then, I paid $3.19 a gallon. I haven't needed gas and noticed a couple of stations with lower prices, down to $2.79. I'm getting close to an empty tank again and, just today, driving past two stations 10 miles miles apart, the price was back up to $3.09. We have a running joke, call me to find out when to buy gas. Don't buy it when I do. Wait a while, after I fill up. Inevitably the price will decrease.
That is like red lights at traffic signals. I am always stopped, well, it seems like always. The joke is, even if I'm a passenger in the front seat, the lights see me and turn to red. This AM, I had a short drive, with three traffic signals on the route. Yep, I was stopped at all three of them.
I have two online weather sites I frequent. Yeah, I know that's often silly since they are so very often wrong. A few weeks ago two days called for rain all day, the percentage of likelihood ranging from 70% to 100%. It rained neither day. But I like to check, maybe a day in advance, to see about my plans for running, biking, tossing BP, etc. Today was one of those funny days. Yesterday, both sites called for "Thunderstorms," with a likelihood of 100% most of the morning and early afternoon. This AM, one was calling for 100%while the other was down to 20-35%. By late afternoon, both were down to about 10%. Good! We can go out for some BP. Not so fast there, Bozo. About ten minutes before we were to leave, it started to rain. Sometimes it's just funny.
Autumn 2018
At this time of the year, especially this year, I am reminded of the Sumerian legend that sought to explain the comings and goings of the four seasons. Ishtar, the goddess of fertility among other things, loses her husband, Tammuz, each fall. To resurrect her deceased Tammuz, Ishtar bribes the other gods, ransoming the beauty of the land. This is winter. In the spring, Tammuz is reborn and the summer represents the renewed enjoyment of life between Ishtar and her husband. In a way, that's how we characterize the seasons.
I wrote "especially this year." I really enjoy riding my bike. I'm purely a recreational rider, nothing fast and nothing particularly long. This summer I'd guess my longest ride was 15-16 miles or so, but most were between 6 and 12 miles. Regardless, I like my summer rides. This autumn, like Ishtar, I am saddened. Due to, mostly, the weather, but also my schedule, I've cut back on riding far too soon.
Karen claims that here in Michigan, "We don't have spring any more. We go right from winter to summer." Although not precisely true, it does seem we get the 20- and 30-degree days, with snow, followed by only a few weeks of more moderate temperatures, and then the 80-degrees hit us. I think in mid-April, after Karen returned from a week in Florida, we had a snowstorm; 5-6 inches were dumped on us. Within weeks, if I recall, we were experiencing mid- and upper-80 degree days, with high humidity. I think our first summer baseball game was played in 90 degrees with stifling humididity.
Two weeks ago from yesterday, Carrie and I ran and it was in the upper 80s. Since, the temperatures have fallen. Today's high was forecast to be 52, but so far hasn't come close. It was 26 degrees when I ran in the dark this AM. We're stuck at 45 degrees. Several days on my bike it's been in the 30s. I dress warmly, but with the constant steady breezes that seem to swirl from all directions, the rides are not comfortable. A couple of the days I wimped/whimped out and came home after a mile or two. The cold seemed to penetrate what I think were sufficient layers of clothing. And the wind took a lot of effort to fight.
I'm going to try to ride as late as I can (last year after Thanksgiving), but I'm not encouraged. Perhaps I can "ransom the land" and bribe the weather gods into bringing an early (and warm!) spring.
The elections are in two weeks, less actually. I've had several folks ask (in person and by e-mail) what I thought about them, the candidates and the proposals. I wrote to them, "I know it's hard to imagine me becoming even more cynical than I already am, but......"
I've stated in previous elections that I refuse to "hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils." I won't do that. Evil is evil; bad is bad. No, I'm not, in essence, giving my vote then to the "other party." If a party wants my vote, give me candidates worth considering.
We do have one, I think. Running for the US Senate is John James. I like much of what I read and hear about him. He will get my vote, perhaps one of the few mainstream (Democrats or Establishment Republicans) candidates to do so. Yet, his is an uphill battle, which is a shame. His opponent, running for her fourth term in the US Senate, should never have been elected in the first place, 18 years ago. And she's done little to prove worthy of the seat. But the advantages of incumbency in raising money and name recognition and union support (for the bobble heads who blindly vote for the candidates hand-picked by their union leadership; that includes teachers) are often too much to overcome.
I can't fathom voting for candidates whose proposed policies (at least their political histories) would indicate a return to those eight years of economic malaise in Michigan. Now that the state's economy is humming, I guess voters don't think about it; the economy isn't an issue. Having short memories can be very dangerous.
(At the same time, I am very cautious about selling my soul--my vote--to the devil. Economic issues are very important, but at what cost/expense? I am reminded of the defense of Mussolini in Italy, "He makes the trains run on time." He actually didn't and there was a great deal of economic strife, but people believed it. The buffoon's other serious faults were overlooked because, well, "He makes the trains run on time.")
Each of the proposals in the state bears problems for me; I can't vote for any of them. Locally, I can't vote for any incumbent school board members, not after they stabbed employees and children in the back on school closings. (It would be hilarious if not so pathetic. The rumor is the school board and administration next spring are going to ask for a millage/bond issue to enlarge some of the elementary schools, the ones where the students from the closed school were sent. So, now, barely a year later, there is overcrowding? Gee, why close a school in the first place--and then not really close it, but use it for other purposes? Where are the savings, which by the way were not ever confirmed--$300,00? a million dollars?)
I have class tonight and I'm off to prepare. Please overlook/excuse any typos or other errors.
I wrote "especially this year." I really enjoy riding my bike. I'm purely a recreational rider, nothing fast and nothing particularly long. This summer I'd guess my longest ride was 15-16 miles or so, but most were between 6 and 12 miles. Regardless, I like my summer rides. This autumn, like Ishtar, I am saddened. Due to, mostly, the weather, but also my schedule, I've cut back on riding far too soon.
Karen claims that here in Michigan, "We don't have spring any more. We go right from winter to summer." Although not precisely true, it does seem we get the 20- and 30-degree days, with snow, followed by only a few weeks of more moderate temperatures, and then the 80-degrees hit us. I think in mid-April, after Karen returned from a week in Florida, we had a snowstorm; 5-6 inches were dumped on us. Within weeks, if I recall, we were experiencing mid- and upper-80 degree days, with high humidity. I think our first summer baseball game was played in 90 degrees with stifling humididity.
Two weeks ago from yesterday, Carrie and I ran and it was in the upper 80s. Since, the temperatures have fallen. Today's high was forecast to be 52, but so far hasn't come close. It was 26 degrees when I ran in the dark this AM. We're stuck at 45 degrees. Several days on my bike it's been in the 30s. I dress warmly, but with the constant steady breezes that seem to swirl from all directions, the rides are not comfortable. A couple of the days I wimped/whimped out and came home after a mile or two. The cold seemed to penetrate what I think were sufficient layers of clothing. And the wind took a lot of effort to fight.
I'm going to try to ride as late as I can (last year after Thanksgiving), but I'm not encouraged. Perhaps I can "ransom the land" and bribe the weather gods into bringing an early (and warm!) spring.
The elections are in two weeks, less actually. I've had several folks ask (in person and by e-mail) what I thought about them, the candidates and the proposals. I wrote to them, "I know it's hard to imagine me becoming even more cynical than I already am, but......"
I've stated in previous elections that I refuse to "hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils." I won't do that. Evil is evil; bad is bad. No, I'm not, in essence, giving my vote then to the "other party." If a party wants my vote, give me candidates worth considering.
We do have one, I think. Running for the US Senate is John James. I like much of what I read and hear about him. He will get my vote, perhaps one of the few mainstream (Democrats or Establishment Republicans) candidates to do so. Yet, his is an uphill battle, which is a shame. His opponent, running for her fourth term in the US Senate, should never have been elected in the first place, 18 years ago. And she's done little to prove worthy of the seat. But the advantages of incumbency in raising money and name recognition and union support (for the bobble heads who blindly vote for the candidates hand-picked by their union leadership; that includes teachers) are often too much to overcome.
I can't fathom voting for candidates whose proposed policies (at least their political histories) would indicate a return to those eight years of economic malaise in Michigan. Now that the state's economy is humming, I guess voters don't think about it; the economy isn't an issue. Having short memories can be very dangerous.
(At the same time, I am very cautious about selling my soul--my vote--to the devil. Economic issues are very important, but at what cost/expense? I am reminded of the defense of Mussolini in Italy, "He makes the trains run on time." He actually didn't and there was a great deal of economic strife, but people believed it. The buffoon's other serious faults were overlooked because, well, "He makes the trains run on time.")
Each of the proposals in the state bears problems for me; I can't vote for any of them. Locally, I can't vote for any incumbent school board members, not after they stabbed employees and children in the back on school closings. (It would be hilarious if not so pathetic. The rumor is the school board and administration next spring are going to ask for a millage/bond issue to enlarge some of the elementary schools, the ones where the students from the closed school were sent. So, now, barely a year later, there is overcrowding? Gee, why close a school in the first place--and then not really close it, but use it for other purposes? Where are the savings, which by the way were not ever confirmed--$300,00? a million dollars?)
I have class tonight and I'm off to prepare. Please overlook/excuse any typos or other errors.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
L'Affaire Kavanaugh
It's hard to believe my last post was more than a month ago. I know I've been pretty busy, with three classes, fall baseball, my physical fitness activities, and other writing. I've been trying to get in more reading, too, but I haven't been overly successful. Still, September 4?
Yesterday Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed by two votes in the US Senate to become the 114th justice to serve. (If I recall correctly, only Frank Murphy has come from Michigan!)
Some folks might think (hope) that this will help bring an end to the idiotic partisan bickering. I am not one of those people. Both parties have demonstrated again and again how stupid they are, how they are more concerned with themselves than with the health of the US, etc. Democrats and Republicans each have exhibited behavior, many times, of which they should be very ashamed. Of course neither party is ever ashamed. They are never humbled by their idiotic behaviors. That's because, as I've noted many times in the past, the parties are led by arrogant elitists, who know far better than we do what's best for us.
And the "Me Too" movement, if that's what it's called, continues to do irreparable harm to itself and to women who have been raped and abused. I do not minimize the crimes of rape and sexual abuse. Those who know me also know what I'd do, for instance, to some guy who abused my granddaughter. But to give blanket acceptance to each and every accusation does the movement and real victims no good. Think, too, about the irreparable harm done to the falsely accused. Proof is required!
Kavanaugh's accuser (I just never remember her name) claimed in her Senate testimony that she "was nobody'd pawn." I beg to differ. I think, wittingly or otherwise, she was a pawn. And for that matter, I think Kavanaugh was a pawn.
Mostly, I believe this had little to do with Kavanaugh. It had everything to do with President Trump. Many people have demonstrated they would go to extremes to "get Trump." The Kavanaugh candidacy showed those extremes. I don't know for certain if Kavanaugh did what she claimed. I do know I don't believe this accuser. Again, something might well have happened; I am not in the least convinced something did. Yet, how many people, millions, already had Kavanaugh tried and convicted, with no evidence, no witnesses, no corroboration to the accusations? All it took was an allegation.
It's not hard to find false accusations. Again, I'm not minimizing sex crimes, not at all. Online, start with "Tawana Bradley," "Duke Lacrosse," and work from there. It appears when it's "He said/She said," "She" is always believed--or that is what many people seem to think.
I don't think the accusations were important, that Kavanaugh was important. It could have been anyone Trump nominated. The point was to prevent confirmation, to prevent a Trump success. "Get Trump!" Do anything to stop him!
Those protesters would have a whole lot more credibility with me if they demonstrated against Bill Clinton (or a number of others we all could name). I don't remember hearing anything from Hillary Clinton on this. She might have said something and I just didn't hear/see it. But I can't recall any statements. Maybe she was too smart to voice an opinion?
Yesterday Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed by two votes in the US Senate to become the 114th justice to serve. (If I recall correctly, only Frank Murphy has come from Michigan!)
Some folks might think (hope) that this will help bring an end to the idiotic partisan bickering. I am not one of those people. Both parties have demonstrated again and again how stupid they are, how they are more concerned with themselves than with the health of the US, etc. Democrats and Republicans each have exhibited behavior, many times, of which they should be very ashamed. Of course neither party is ever ashamed. They are never humbled by their idiotic behaviors. That's because, as I've noted many times in the past, the parties are led by arrogant elitists, who know far better than we do what's best for us.
And the "Me Too" movement, if that's what it's called, continues to do irreparable harm to itself and to women who have been raped and abused. I do not minimize the crimes of rape and sexual abuse. Those who know me also know what I'd do, for instance, to some guy who abused my granddaughter. But to give blanket acceptance to each and every accusation does the movement and real victims no good. Think, too, about the irreparable harm done to the falsely accused. Proof is required!
Kavanaugh's accuser (I just never remember her name) claimed in her Senate testimony that she "was nobody'd pawn." I beg to differ. I think, wittingly or otherwise, she was a pawn. And for that matter, I think Kavanaugh was a pawn.
Mostly, I believe this had little to do with Kavanaugh. It had everything to do with President Trump. Many people have demonstrated they would go to extremes to "get Trump." The Kavanaugh candidacy showed those extremes. I don't know for certain if Kavanaugh did what she claimed. I do know I don't believe this accuser. Again, something might well have happened; I am not in the least convinced something did. Yet, how many people, millions, already had Kavanaugh tried and convicted, with no evidence, no witnesses, no corroboration to the accusations? All it took was an allegation.
It's not hard to find false accusations. Again, I'm not minimizing sex crimes, not at all. Online, start with "Tawana Bradley," "Duke Lacrosse," and work from there. It appears when it's "He said/She said," "She" is always believed--or that is what many people seem to think.
I don't think the accusations were important, that Kavanaugh was important. It could have been anyone Trump nominated. The point was to prevent confirmation, to prevent a Trump success. "Get Trump!" Do anything to stop him!
Those protesters would have a whole lot more credibility with me if they demonstrated against Bill Clinton (or a number of others we all could name). I don't remember hearing anything from Hillary Clinton on this. She might have said something and I just didn't hear/see it. But I can't recall any statements. Maybe she was too smart to voice an opinion?
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