Not 'Fer Nuttin'

I’ve been searching for an ideal way to express myself on the topic that will follow.

Expressing one’s self on a sensitive issue is not an easy thing to do these days. Odd as it may be, communication is easier than ever before in the history of mankind, but I’m not sure we do it well.

A person I admire told me long ago that this blog will serve as a record of how I feel on any given topic. This person mentioned such a thing will be priceless one day for my kids to reference. So in the internet latent regime of memes, Instagram posts, and Facebook rants, here is my contribution on a matter of current events.

Recently there was another mass killing event at a public school. Too many people simply going about their daily life were murdered for what is surely no good reason. Murder is a sad reality of life on this planet, and has been around as long as humans have lived in community with one another. Even in the Bible, you only have to turn a few pages before you read a story of one brother killing another. My point: murder has always been here. Clearly the matter is nuanced nowadays and with good reason. Mass murder is a horrible thing for sure, and when visited upon innocent children it becomes even more egregious and evil. For better or worse, it seems that society wishes to find the solution for this problem in one of two ways:

1.       Mental health (laws, policies, etc.)

2.       Gun control     (laws, polices, etc.)

These may be the perfect ways to approach the problem, they may be the worst ways. Perhaps the solution exists in a combination of the two. I’ll be honest, I have no idea. In spending time writing this I simply wish to make the topic personal, and express my own thoughts on the matter.

Thought # 1: Creating new humans.

It is generally recognized that the modern internet came into being in 1990. The first iPhone was sold in 2007. Think of all the change that has resulted from just those two realities alone. Its reasonable to say that the proliferation of the internet and communication such as it is, has changed humans more in the past 20 years than ever before on the planet. More than the wheel. More than the automobile. More than the telephone or printing press. People are simply being re engineered (or influenced) to think and behave in new and different ways. I believe it would be foolish to consider this is not having an impact on mass killings, visa a vis those committing them.  

Thought # 2: Family structure

Families take on many new looks these days. No Mom, no dad. Step mom and or step dad. Two moms, two dads. And of course, any possible combination of all of the aforementioned. Its not for me to say where the right and wrong in these realities are, I’m simply saying such a varied approach to raising humans is a relatively new phenomenon in the spectrum of the family structure. One thing specifically I wish to point out…. Never before in American history have more families been required to send both parents into the workforce full time. With both parents working full time, at often 2-3 jobs, I have to believe this has a profound impact on the humans we are creating.

Thought # 3: Healthy minds and bodies

We are now living with the first generation of people raised almost exclusively on food grown in factory environments. Use of prescription medication of almost every kind is at levels never seen before for any age group you care to name. Cancer rates, obesity, diabetes, auto immune illnesses are all off the charts. In so much as we are quick to say anyone who shoots up a school is “sick” I believe the way we eat and medicate ourselves, is a contributing factor and will continue to be so.

Thought #4 Government intervention

Frankly, I don’t see the government as having a great track record with much of anything. From our nations budget, to homeless veterans, to wars that will never, ever…ever end, history seems to suggest that increased laws and oversight seldom leads to a beneficial outcome. Health care, prescription drug abuse, a failing education system that is increasingly unaffordable, the list goes on and on. People, in my opinion, continue to look to some form of governmental body to solve problems. I believe society almost never benefits when this happens.

Thought # 5 Nerfing the world

We don’t like hardship. We don’t like pain. We don’t want disappointment or to struggle. We want everything now, from an app on our phone, in 30 seconds or less and we want a trophy for every small accomplishment. Every generation has sought to make things better for the one that follows. Our grandparents fought wars and went through the great depression. In turn, they wanted to ensure their kids went to college and could afford their own homes. Fast forward a generation or two and every teenager needs an iphone and has to play on as many sports teams as possible 5 nights a week. I believe this is creating weak people with poor problem-solving skills. I suggest this is also a factor in the increasing amount of mass shootings.

 Thought # 6 Various headlines

1.      Gun control and/or the 2^nd amendment

I’m glad the constitution and our founding documents exist. I do recognize they were written almost 300 years ago when people wrote with feathers and wore wigs all the time. Clearly much has changed. I don’t believe our current system of government on any level is effective in today’s modern world. If I were forced to debate the 2^nd amendment specifically, I would say thematically it was written to keep government reach at bay.

         Bump stocks, large capacity magazines, and the like.

Just about any of these things can be 3D printed for almost no money by anyone with an internet connection. Therefore, outlawing this or that is pointless and simply costs you and me more tax dollars, writing laws that are not enforceable.

3       Arming teachers

Listen, my mom was a career educator.  I assure you, she should never be given any weapon under any circumstances. I’m a definite NO on mandatory arming of someone/anyone who does not wish to carry a weapon.  However, in the event that a teacher wishes to be educated properly and carry a weapon, have at it! Let’s face it, there are thousands of teachers across this country who own weapons already and are quite proficient with them. I’m OK with such people bringing their guns into the classroom.

Have you ever met a navy seal or other special forces operator? These people are critical thinkers of the highest order. They are routinely paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to teach and coach leadership principals every day. How can we attract some of them into the role of professional educators?

Maybe parents should be given a choice. Do they want their kids in a school staffed with armed teachers, or unarmed. 

Hunting rifles and handguns only

A regular theme is that guns are fine, up until a point. People often express that rifles for hunting or handguns for self defense are fine by all accords. Some only object when a weapon has a "high capacity"magazine or can fire at a rapid rate. In my opinion just about all discussion around topics like this are pointless for many reasons. What is "high capacity" is it 10 rounds, 30, rounds, 9 rounds? Is killing nine people less evil than killing 30?  How about that handgun you have no issue with for self defense? How many rounds(chances) does that gun owner deserve to protect his/her kids in a moment of extreme stress? I assure you, from experience....one or two shots is almost never, ever enough to hit a target. Many people speak on the topic of guns having vast experience(s) with them. An equal amount of people, however, have never put one in their hand or been within earshot of one being fired. Yes, everyone has and should have an opinion on the matter. Being passionate about a topic and educated on the same topic are two very different things.

Follow The Money

In many aspects of our current society the phrase "Follow the money" holds true and usually proves out. No matter how revolting or unjust, money currently makes things happen. As I made the rounds through my usual websites today, news of the World Trade Center was again in the headlines. Much public outcry is being attached to the September 11th museum that is to be part of the completed sites downtown. People are angry that a $20-$25 fee will be charged for admission. It's really no surprise that people are doing a double take about this. Any mention of September 11th often comes with a great deal of emotional thinking.
In so much as I have written about closely related topics before, here are a few of my thoughts on the price of admission.

1. There is no such thing as free lunch.
Somebody somewhere is making the bread for the sandwich. That person needs to be paid. Somebody is serving the lunch. That person needs to be paid. The cafeteria the lunch is eaten in has electricity. That bill needs to be paid. No matter what the item in question may be, chances are it cost money to build, grow, deliver or ship. These buildings cost money to build. You want a cop standing a post to risk his life and protect you while visiting the place? Well, he needs to be paid. The painters and masons who labored to raise the walls need to be paid.

2. I'll not bore you with all the legal ins and outs of the World Trade Center site but the bottom line is this museum is private property. It is no different than your house or mine. Yes, the museum specifically is run by a non profit organization. That does not free it of costs, budgets and overhead. Granted, there is a very good chance the people running this particular non profit all have private jets and bloated expense accounts.
Not much different from the Red Cross and other places notorious for eating up 70 cents of every dollar donated, to cover the cost of fuel in the limousine fleet.

3. You would think with all the criticism in this matter, there would be no lines to get in and the place would be empty all the time. Somehow, I don't think this will be the case. If you are offended by the notion of paying to see this museum, don't go. If you find it offensive of them to ask for money to get in the front door, then don't visit. In so doing, you stand on your principals and perhaps if enough people do the same, the museum ownership will be compelled to revisit their cost structure and offerings.

As difficult as it can be to realize that money runs the world (for now), people must learn to harness that truth and use it for good. If a business fails to meet the needs of the community it hopes to serve, the business will fail. This situation is no different. If nobody bought a ticket for the first 90 days after the ribbon cutting, this place would cease to exist. New ownership would then be in a position to serve the public in a more appropriate way. Money is indeed powerful. Put a just cause and sound thinking behind it and great things can happen. Don't allow yours to be used incorrectly.
Some will say to compare this museum to any other business is not fair. I disagree. In fact, I believe given the  unique nature of this establishment, the way we choose to spend our money and patronize it, is all the more important. We should all decide what is really important here. Is it the memory of the people who died there and the lessons we learned? Or is a fancy building with marble floors and all the trimmings really what counts? Besides, do you really need a museum to remember what happened that day? I don't.

Insanity Is A Sliding Scale

Einstein said the following about insanity: "Insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results".

If we assume there is any truth at all in his opinion, why are we shocked at this most recent school shooting and mass murder? Have we as a nation and culture done anything to live different lives since the last such event befell us? NO. We have not. We continue to obsess about the politics of money and wars. We continue to bicker about taxes and medicine. We obsess over the next American Idol while doing more texting than we do talking. Nothing has changed...and so nothing shall change.

Inside the disturbed mind of the murderer in this case, his actions made sense. I venture to guess his story will prove out to be a less than ideal picture of life, both recently and throughout his own childhood. I wonder, will the real measure of insanity be how he acted today, or will it be the injustices he was subjected to throughout his life to this point?

I am not seeking to make excuses for him. Clearly no child deserved to die at his hands today. I am simply suggesting that our culture has not been living life correctly for many, many years now. As long as we continue to do so, it will simply be a matter of time before the next shooting is making headlines. No laws being passed will ever stop a tragedy like this. Not more guns, not less guns. Only a fundamental shift in how we treat one another will have any impact at all in turning a person's mind away from committing such actions. We are currently not living life according to the manufacturer's recommendations. We strive for more money. We seek better education and bigger paychecks. We dream of athletic excellence. All noble causes, but there should be a list of things that far supersede these.

There is always going to be mental illness. How then should we treat the afflicted person?
There is always going to be poverty. How then shall we spend our money and support the poor?
There is always going to be crime. How then should we treat the criminal?

Insanity comes in all shapes and sizes. Today it just so happened to be wearing a vest, carrying a gun and walked into a school with evil intent. Look at your life. Is there any insanity there? How about the hours you work in exchange for what you are compensated. How much time does your vocation take you away from your family and from being a positive influence in the lives of your kids?
For me, that is insane.

Random Thoughts For Not So Random Violence(Redux)

Ho Hum.
Another year, another school shooting. Another teen aged murderer. Another group of students killed.
Another community in mourning. Another press conference leaving more questions then answers in the wake.

A few of my opinions on things.....
1. Random? I think not. There are solar eclipse events that only occur every few dozen years, and we refer to them as "regular" or "scheduled" These shootings, meanwhile, seem to come around at least twice every few months.
2. I agree with Chris. Sometimes people are in fact, just crazy.
(interesting to note, this video is 13 years old!!!!)

..........HOWEVER, with this now a part of our culture in America, is there not some kind of script for this? With all the marvels of science and modern day crime technology, can't we spot these events ahead of time?
C'mon.....Lonely kid or kids.
               Some form of music or video game influence.
               Bullies are involved, either as victims or perpetrators.
               A school building/campus/cafeteria.
               Warning signs on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media.
               Massed education. Either public or private.        
               Firearms, and the pros and cons thereof.
Once it has been established that such events are a regular occurrence, and it is also decided they are undesirable, I believe blame can/should be assigned. Don't care for the word blame? Fine. Call it responsibility. I blame the family for a lack of involved parenting. I blame the school. Not any one specific school, but the entire concept of herding hundreds of kids into a building and trying to educate them equally. To say NOTHING of keeping them safe. The simple math of it all spells out disaster. Someone is going to get missed. Someone will not be educated. Someone will not be reached. And sometimes that someone will bring a loaded gun into the building and finally crack. Yes, maybe the problems are at home. Maybe dad is a drunk and mom is a whore. Those two wonderful parents send their kids off on the bus each morning and expect, if not demand, that the magic school will teach their kids everything from table manners to math, sportsmanship and sex.
All these things have been taught in the home, or in small communities throughout the history of our country. Not in some complex that stretches over several acres and houses 1200 students at a time, and was architecturally designed like a prison.
As for the guns.... Ya know what's funny to me? Guess where there is never a gun fight or mass shooting.
At a gun show. With the tables full of everything from handguns to hand grenades and all manner of oddly dressed people, a shot in anger is never fired. Therefore, the presence of a gun does not equal the presence of violence.
Facebook, music/movies and social media have replaced a social life for students and families alike. Everyone needs to look up from their phone, turn down the ipod and talk a bit more. This goes for teachers, parents, students and bloggers. If nothing else, you just might notice danger coming at you before it's too late.
Yes, this kid was crazy. That's easy.
Why was he crazy?...... Chew on that one for a while. I don't think the answer is very abstract at all.

I've Had All I Can Stand, I Can't Stands It No More!

This Occupy Wall Street nonsense may look sexy on the news and provide tons of great raw footage for YouTube videos, but that's about all it's good for. I make an effort to keep my current events posts to a minimum but I've held out long enough on this one. Here are a few of my thoughts, separated into broad categories.

1. It ain't charity work...STUPID!
Businesses are supposed to earn money and turn profits, PERIOD.
Unless your organization is a 501(c) and therefore operating as a charity or non-profit, the sole purpose of your business is to make money. Any employee, business owner, American or protester who thinks otherwise, is a moron. No government or other organizing body, should be able to tell a business what to do with monies earned in the course of conducting private business. If you think a business has too much money or is not being socially responsible, then put down the five dollar coffee-frappa-latte-chino-blast, stop with the iphones, the google searches. Stop shopping at amazon.com and eBay and don't buy another gallon of gasoline for your SUV.

2. Check your map (or the GPS on your iPhone 4s)
There are just as many criminals wearing suits in Washington D.C. as there are on Wall Street.
There already exists a regularly scheduled protest to oust the suits in Washington...it's called an election. If you have a beef with a certain law or policy that allows a business to function in a way you don't care for, then vote in-or-out a person who shares your views and will act accordingly. If elections prove to not serve the purpose of the American public year after year, than I suggest an armed uprising- a Revolution if you will- is in order, as outlined in the founding documents of our country. Either way, this bullshit on Wall Street will not have an ideal outcome for anyone.

3. WARNING: Egregious stereotypes ahead..
Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Wall Street protester/college student, how are you paying the 60K a year tuition at NYU or Columbia, or Cooper Union or Pratt, or St. John's? Are you in from Connecticut or just down from the Upper East Side? On a trust fund or daddy's dime? Do you live in a loft apartment in SOHO @ 2,500 a month? No, you are on a scholarship? Cool. Who do you suppose provides that grant money or scholarship fund?
Idiot.

I believe it's a matter of time before the scene in downtown Manhattan looks much like those we have seen lately in other parts of the world. Riots, fires, looting and death. Maybe even a military tank or two. Wait, scratch that, the NYPD has tanks of their own. At some point, the owners of the park (it is private property) where this gathering has centered will ask you to leave. When that time comes and the police act on the owner's request, I hope you leave quietly. If you choose to get in a cop's face or do not comply with the lawful request of an officer, I hope you are dealt with accordingly.

I understand the spirit and frustration of this movement.
I believe their methodology is seriously flawed.

Read Between The Lines

Truthfully, I get annoyed more than anything else when this time of year rolls around. I get annoyed at the memorials, I get annoyed at the T.V. specials. The whole scene just puts me off. Don't ask me to explain why that is to you. At least not in a blog post. No matter how Kris and I try to shelter ourselves from the endless stream of new documentaries each year, no matter how selectively we read our normal website haunts, hoping to avoid the mental landmines, there really is no way around it. My reason for finding this outlet each year to visit the thoughts I otherwise try to stave off, is to ensure my boys will someday have a way to make it a bit more personal. Hopefully, in doing so, some sense can be made of the mess for them.

   **********************

The wisest people I know are those who possess the ability to change. Change, to function in the midst of dynamic surroundings. Change to better themselves. Change for the betterment of others. True change requires an adjusted way of thinking. Merely adapting new behaviors or habits is not always an indication that real change or progress is being made. Perhaps the ideal form of change is when a person makes necessary adjustments, while not forgetting where they come from. In so doing, the benefit of life experience and wisdom is brought to bear in new circumstances. It is this sort of ability that Kris has. Its really no surprise that Kris was met with success as a police officer. It also has been no surprise that she has risen to the challenges of being a "stay at home" mom.

I'd like my boys to know that their mother made poignant choices, and followed through with changes to make our present day life a reality. I'd also like them to know she brings with her all the wisdom, from what seems like a different life, into her decisions at home everyday.

Evan, on any given Saturday morning, your mom may place you across her chest in a sling as we wander through the market. A few years ago it was a bullet resistant vest across her chest. Take this to mean she understands where danger waits, and she can protect you. Aiden, when your mother provides you with advice, please understand she has given guidance to others during the darkest hours in their lives. She has wisdom to impart to you. Boys, understand that when your mom runs in the park with you, she has also run into pure danger to save lives. You cannot outrun her obsession to care for you.
Read between the lines, boys.

In our attic is a box with among other things, Kris' memo books.  These are a legal record of her time in service as a police officer. Every observation, every assignment and post, every arrest she effected is documented.

Click image to enlarge

The images below are pages from September 11th, 2001. Unless you have experience in the military, police, or other first responder capacity, these pages don't reveal anything remarkable.

However, if you read between the lines, you will see an officer desperate and determined to reach a smoldering pile of rubble that was to burn for weeks. You will see an endless amount of effort to ensure friends and strangers alike were provided the dignity of a decent funeral. If you read between the lines you see keen powers of observation, strength and determination. They reveal everything you might not guess about Kris. Perhaps, that was why she was so sucessfull in her roles as a cop..... bad guys never saw her coming.

(Click to enlarge)

Similar posts on this subject can be found here.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!, Jon Stewart

The Daily Show
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ConGAYtulations

Yesterday, New York passed laws that will recognize same-sex marriages.
For all the reading I have done on this topic, for all the conversations I've had with various people, and for all the rhetoric that so often attaches itself to people of faith like me,
I just don't care.
In fact, what annoys me more than anything else, is that government employees (at your expense) spent time and resources debating this matter to begin with. That, is another post entirely. Some people believe that laws like this are good. Some believe laws like this are bad.
Allow me to address both groups.

To the people who favor same sex marriages:
Marriage is a failure in this country. Any Google search you care to do on the subject of marriage in America will prove that. Marriages fail at an alarming and ever increasing rate across every statistical spectrum. So, why the fight to gain legal standing into such a failed institution? Is it because these "rights" you seek will afford you some measure of financial benefit? Some kind of tax filing kudos? Are you in search of a better deal from your health insurance provider? If any of those are the case then let's call this what it really is.....a debate over money, not marriage.

To the people opposed to same sex marriages:
It's the heterosexual people who have screwed up "marriage" to begin with in this country. The statistics show that most people don't really care about marriage or family from the get go.
Perhaps if the divorce rate did not routinely hover around 40 percent, you might have a leg to stand on. You're not even doing it correctly yourself!

For myself, I'd be content to abolish all marriage licenses. Get rid of any and all tax implications that benefit married people. If health insurance providers want to screw you, believe me, they don't need to hang their hat on whether you are legally married or not. They are among the biggest crooks in the world. They will get your money either way.

Besides, who says marriage is a "right"? People often say healthcare is a "right". To that end we have allowed the government a great deal of say-so in the healthcare business. And look at the bang up job they have done there! In my not so humble opinion, marriage is more than anything else, a spiritual commitment. No silly law(s) either in favor of, or in opposition to what God intended marriage to be can change a thing. People all over this planet are married in jungles. People since the dawn of time have gotten married without getting a license from the state of NY.

Is this what we really want? Gay or straight, do we wish to be defined by what some government says we are? Do you want some person, whom you have never met, signing and passing around paperwork that says who you are, what you stand for, what you give your money to, and what you believe in?

I am not defined by the wisdom of this world.
Neither is my family or my relationship with my partner....er, um...wife.

I'm Into Opting Out

What's next?

A few quick thoughts....

1. In my opinion there will be another airplane(s) hijacking in this country. It's only a matter of time. What's next?

2. If it is decided that full body scanners and pat-downs need to be put in place at all public bus stops or train stations, will that be acceptable to you? Can't just as much damage or death be inflicted by blowing up a bus in the middle of town? Or how about blowing up the number 1/9 train in Manhattan as it pulls into the Penn Square station? What's next?

3. Why is it the responsibility of any government to keep me safe on an airplane? If there were only three airlines in our country, and one of them had a pristine security record, and the other two had problem after problem, which would you patronize? The airline is a business like any other. The public can/should hold them accountable for providing their services in a safe manner. Otherwise, they will go out of business. What's next?

4. Over the past few years, I have repeatedly taken grief in many social circles for not taking my shoes off at airports. The shoes, were never the issue. At issue for me was....what's next?

5. Nobody NEEDS to be on planes this much anyway. Businesses can streamline, especially in the interest of protecting their employee's safety. Conferencing via the internet is far less expensive than plane tickets. Maybe we all need to slow down, take different jobs that don't require air travel, earn less. What's next?

6. The Smith family decided some time ago that we would no longer travel by plane. For me personally, I have said I would travel by plane if my employer required it of me, and was paying for the trip. Now, I will take steps to drive to all business functions on the road.

7. My safety, and that of my family is my responsibility. Who is responsible for the safety of your family?

8. Some people are fine with the latest security measures at airports. So be it. I'm just wondering; if you are OK with the current procedures, at what point (if any) will you consider things to be either unnecessary, too invasive, or possibly criminal? What's next?

Maybe the current pat-downs and body scans are really ok. Maybe they don't violate anyone's rights or personal space. I just wonder.......What's next?

Campaign For Liberty On YouTube.
Campaign For Liberty homepage.

This Is Great!

Even If you could care less about politics, spend 5 minutes watching the video below. Regardless of the subject matter, you have got to appreciate the spirit in which Ron(we're on a first name basis) speaks.
Our family, for a number of years now, has adopted a policy of not flying anymore for vacations. Besides, there are pleanty of great places to see in our own country.
The last minute or so of this video speaks volumes about who we all are, and what we are becoming.

3rd and 20th

Last year, when I wrote about this subject, Kris left two comments that stayed with me all year. You can view them at last year's post, here. A portion of my memories from 2001 are directly associated with Kris, and how that day affected her and made her feel. At her request, (from the comments noted above) I'm going to tell this story.

Stories like these must be told. They must be told so others, so my son, can find inspiration in the actions of great people. People who accomplish amazing things in the face of the impossible.

***********************

As New York City intersections go, this one is quite ordinary. It boasts a mix of small neighborhood shops, and also bears the imprint of million dollar businesses. Like every other set of corners in the city, it is never vacant or quiet. The weather was pristine. Bright sunshine, a perfect breeze and blue skies provided the backdrop for this fairytale city scene. My vantage point was parked, facing north on Third Ave. A favorite pastime of mine, I was sitting in the car, windows down, soaking in the cityscape while listening to Imus.

Just out of view of this photo, more off to the right, (east) the largest police department in the country hides its training facility. On this day, I was waiting for Kris to exit that building, round the corner, and walk back to me with good news. She was not yet a police officer. Today she was taking the physical agility test that would grant her access to the police academy. She was essentially taking a test that would allow her the privilege of having the life beaten out of her for 8 months. If she passed this test, and survived the academy, she would earn the title "New York's Finest."

The exams today would include a "trigger pull test." This consists of firing 30 rounds, 15 from each hand, without allowing the gun to move inside a 6 inch circular ring. The weapons that are issued to police in NYC are modified from the manufacturer. In most cases, these guns require about 3lbs of pressure to pull the trigger and fire a round. In rare cases, they are modified and require 8lbs of pressure. In the N.Y.P.D., the weapon is taken a step further and requires an unheard of 12.5 lbs of pressure to fire a shot. Kris had attempted this testing before. The small size of her hands was not a good match for this test and the uniquely modified pistol. She was unable to make a passing grade. Not easily scared away, Kris worked out her forearm muscles and did lots of wrists curls. She even spent time practicing with an old-school heavy revolver. She had every intention of being ready for this next round of entrance tests.

I had moved from the driver's seat to the passenger's seat in the front of my car. This would put me closer to the sidewalk, and give me a better vantage point once she turned the corner. Being parked at least half a block away, put me in a difficult spot. Plus, Kris isn't the tallest person you'll ever meet. It would take steady concentration and timing to see between the thick crowds and catch her eye before she caught mine. I wasn't sure how I should handle the moment we found each other. Do I wait in the car until she notices me? Maybe I get out and walk in her direction. I could also get out of the car and wait there for her to come to me.

In an instant, hours of contemplation went by the wayside. Through a typical NYC crowd, I saw something unmistakable. Kris had taken the corner at the quick step. She moved so briskly, the one side of her body seemed to lift off the ground as she made the last move of the corner pivot. I got out, closed the door and stood still. Almost asking with my eyes, "YES?!" She picked up my stare. Stopping dead in her tracks, her head nodded in agreement and smiled HUGE.

From there it was a mutual sprint through waves of people. The look of complete joy on her face seemed to part the Red Sea between us. We celebrated in the middle of hundreds of people.

Less then four months after finishing the academy (in the top five percent of her class) on a September day with equally perfect weather and blue skies, we held each other again. And again, Kris sprinted. This time, into the fray.

(The corner @ 3rd and 20th)

Who Says Oil And Water Don't Mix?

Untold millions of gallons of oil have been spewing into the Gulf Of Mexico for quite some time now. For certain, this is wreaking havoc like we have never known on plants, fish, and the eco-system as a whole throughout that region.

What surprises me most about this mess, is that it comes as such a surprise to most people.

I'm not really following this story too closely. It has however, become difficult to avoid all word of it. Simply put, I'm not looking to cite facts in my writings here, just to state my opinion.

It seems that there is a growing movement of people who want the government to take over the clean up operations and such.

Yeah great idea. After all, this same government does such a great job with our health care system. They also have a stellar record with the economy and the banking industry. Let's not forget all the wonderful things they do for public education.

In my opinion, this was either an honest accident by a private business or it was the result of negligence or mal-practice by the same business. I'm sure that an exhaustive and EXPENSIVE investigation by the government(that I will help pay for) will get to the bottom of things in short order.

Private business got into this mess, they should get themselves out. As for the imposing of fines or penalties.....how about Americans take measures to never purchase gasoline at a BP gas station ever again? In such a manner, the marketplace would take care of it's own trash.

As for the surprise element in all of this..... Americans continue to refuse to vote out those in congress and the senate who are forever in bed with big business and the powerful lobbyist firms they bring to bear. We as a society continue to demand and make use of the product these companies put out. We require it from them at an ever increasing rate. Why should it surprise us if any company decides to cut corners in a effort to meet the demand of their customers and to drive profits higher and higher. I don't believe we have anyone here to blame except ourselves.

We ask a company to dive five thousand feet under the water, in freezing, pitch black conditions and dig a hole that is miles deeper still. Then we pitch a fit when something goes wrong?

Greed ,more than anything else created this cluster _ u _ _!

To Build Or Not To Build

As a general rule, I try to stay away from offering commentary on mainstream, current events topics. However, a person for whom I have immense respect wanted to discuss this particular matter with me today and therefore I am thinking it through, in part, here.

It seems as though a Muslim group plans on building a community center, including a Mosque, about two blocks away from the World Trade Center site in NYC. Earlier today, my friend simply asked me how I feel about that. My answer..... I'm OK with it.

Many in society (entitled to their opinions) place the blame for the 9/11 attacks at the foot of the Muslim/Islamic religion. Those who think along these lines also seem to feel that based on the nationality of the parties responsible for the attacks, and perhaps their "religious" beliefs as well, they should find another place for this building.

My opinion is that in any walk of life, any occupation, any religion, there are selfish people who choose to go to vast extremes to make a point or leverage a threat. I believe that God, my God anyway, is a wonderfully simple being. I believe He welcomes all, no questions asked, especially the freaks among us! I don't believe he cares where these people put their building.

I'm somewhat hesitant to make this next statement, but here goes anyway.

Police Officers, Firefighters and E.M.S. personnel, at least all the ones I know, would rush just as quickly into a Mosque as they would any other building if it meant saving lives. I think we should be careful when invoking the names or the memory of any such fallen hero when speaking out against a project like this one.

For a few other thoughts on related subject matters, click here or here.

This Story Is Wrecking Me

(This is a follow-up post)
None of what I write here is going to change anything. The history of this man's life and humanity has already been written for all of us to browse through, every time we pick up a newspaper or walk down a city street.
Kris, myself, and a few others had similar, instant reactions to this sad set of events as soon as this story found us. Here are a few of them.

What seasoned New Yorker(I hate to single out people from NYC, however, it is the only group of people I feel qualified to stereotype.) thought that this guy was just some homeless shmuck sleeping one off?! Anyone with an ounce of street smarts knows that people without homes don't sleep on the sidewalk in any manner resembling the way this human is doing on the video. HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID, THEY DO NOT WISH TO BE STEPPED ON. You tell me who the morons are in this video. Perhaps the 25 assholes who stopped and could not recognize a man in a puddle of blood fighting to breathe. Or maybe the true fools are those who took pictures. Study the pictures you took, you degenerates. What were you going to do with that picture anyway?!?!
I sat down here with so much to say. However I can can't maintain enough control over my hands to keep them from shaking uncontrollably over the keyboard right now.

I will do everything possible in the coming years to be sure that my son has enough common freakin sense to tell the difference between a dying hero and a common drunk.

Common Freakin' Sense

Imagine that!

WHAT THE.......!!!!

Home schooling is looking better and better!

Observastions From A Sick Day

I'm spending the day at home today, largely bored out of my mind.
I've decided to park my T.V. on MSNBC for the past few hours.
Here is a brief sampling of what appears to be on the minds of America, and lucky you.....my opinion as well!!!

1. Tonight, the President will make a speech detailing the how's and why's around his decision to send 30,000 soldiers into Afghanistan.
Will anybody watch this speech and have their mind changed on this matter? It would seem to me that given the size and nature of our government, this decision was written in stone weeks ago. Likely in some office, by dozens of people.

2. Tiger woods car crash.
WHO CARES!?!?!?

3. Banning divorce.
A story is on now about a person who wishes to make divorce illegal.
The tag line for the story is "preserve the sanctity of marriage" I think they may be taking a reach at gay marriage as well.
Listen people, my own opinions on marriage and divorce aside.....
I think it's foolish to mention the "sanctity" of marriage. A quick google search reveals that the divorce rate in our country for first marriages is between 41 and 50 percent. It further shows that in a second marriage, the numbers range from 60-67 percent.
The "sanctity" it would seem, has long since gone away.

4. The people who "crashed" the white house state dinner.
Nobody seems to mind the fact that the price tag for this dinner, to the taxpayer, was $500,000.

It Happens Every Year

Every year, I tell myself it doesn't really bother me.
Then, as I do every other day, I check the local NYC news websites.
There they are. The pictures and words that changed our country and my home forever.
Anyone who has spent any time with Kris and I, more often just me, knows that I love to force "cop stories" out of Kris. Sometimes she'll oblige. I guess I force them out of her for two reasons.
First, they are are really freakin' cool. Second, they demonstrate the mettle that is Kris. A truly remarkable person. It takes stories like she has lived as a police officer, to make her remarkable qualities tangible to someone who otherwise doesn't know her as well as I do.
Among everything else that September 11th means to the world, I remember it as making my wife sad.
The early morning found Kris and I at home. Kris had been scheduled to work at her Precinct.
The 9th, also known as the "Fighting shithouse", less than 3 miles from the World Trade Center. The night before, another officer she worked with needed to switch things up. This resulted in her being at home around 9am.
We both were in the bedroom when it happened. We hugged each other intensely for a good amount of time.
Kris then went to the closet, got out as many bags as she could carry, and started packing.
I had shared my embrace with her because I was glad she was home and alive. There was something else in her embrace of me. Tears poured down her face as she slammed and threw clothing, ammo, and riot gear into her bags. All at once, she cried and screamed "That building was full of cops!"
I'll never forget it.
Tonight, as this came back into my mind, I went in search of a "buried treasure".
Kris put together a photo album detailing a few (as if they all weren't) of the larger than life events that spanned her time on the job. Included are letters Kris exchanged with students and reporters from across the country. Seen here are various newspaper headlines stemming from high profile cases Kris was a part of.
I've done my best to make them viewable in this format. (Click for larger view)

Hey Aiden, when the capital of the world was hurting, they called your Mom and her friends to save it.

Time-out

Spending time on-line today, I came across many stories regarding health care in our country. Given my chosen career path, these stories always get a second look from me.
The video below will only take up about seven minutes of your life. I promise it is filled with common sense, not the garbage you get from the talking heads that litter our newspapers and televisions. The person speaking is an M.D. In addition to private practice, he served in the air force as a flight surgeon for 10 years.