I don’t look old. I don’t feel old. I don’t think old. But evidentially I am old. Case in point – I was walking through the living room and noticed that the wife was watching something on MTV called “My Super Sweat 16” - and here is where I get old.
The kids these days!
I have never seen such gross, embarrassing show of shallow materialism on display in all my life. Here is the show’s premise; an MTV crew documents the 16th birthday party of a kid who was “fortunate” enough to be born to parents of massive wealth. This aint no pin the tail on the donkey, swing the piñata, and open up present type of party I remember. This is a fully catered, ballroom rented out party complete with exotic animals and exotic cars. A party where the birthday boy is carried in on a camel while African tribal people dance among him playing drums and chanting his praises. This is a party where every kid in attendance talked only about “how cool” this guy was because he was “so loaded”. I never heard one person say anything of substance about this kid’s character or about how he did anything worthy of this praise. At the end of the party, this kid gets a $60,000 car as a present! Are you kidding me? Who in their right mind gives a 16 year-old a $60,000 car?
Maybe I am getting old. But I can’t recall this type of materiality worship when I was this age. I remember thinking how lucky I was just to get these really cool “platform shoes” that were suppose to make me jump like Michael Jordan. I never felt less of a person because I didn’t get a new car or didn’t have 300 of my “closest friends” chanting my name.
My wife tells me the previous episode showed an equally insane party, but this time the girl didn’t get a $60,000 car – she got two! TWO!?! Do these parents think they are doing their kids a favor by lavishing them with these gifts? What happens when they are on their own – or is the plan to never make them go on their own. I’m not sure which is worse - the slap in the face by reality when they are forced to fend for themselves in the real world…or the pathetic life that awaits those who are never faced with that reality slap and instead remain tied to their parents umbilical cord of wealth their entire life.
This isn’t a poor mans diatribe against those of wealth. I realize that it is a natural expectation that those who make more money will spend more money. I know that the gifts I buy my kids are more expensive than the gifts some of my nieces and nephews get. I also know the price tag is not representative of the amount of love behind those gifts. But that doesn’t mean the expenditure slope is linear – always increasing with no logical cap. I mean, at some point, don’t you draw a line between making sure your kids get what they need as opposed to what they want. And if you are fortunate enough to have the ability to give them what they want, don’t you have a responsibility to teach them what is reasonable and what is not? I would love to hear the “responsibility” argument from the parents who bought their teenage daughter two cars.
The trickledown effect is that ever kid in America watching this show now has to try and live up to this standard. MTV is one of the worst influences on our youth today. And, yes, I realize that by saying that – it does in fact mean that I am old!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
The AJ Crowd
Here lately, I have attempted to expand my daily reading regiment - diversify if you will. In addition to the daily stop down at Powerlineblog.com, BlackFive.net, CounterTerrorismblog.com, Drudge and others, I have added BBC.com and AlJazeera.com to the list. It is the Al Jazeera website that has me so amused.
AJ has a unique format among major media outlets (and let there be no doubt that they are the biggest in that region) in that after most of their “news” stories they allow the posting of comments. This gives their website “blog-like” characteristics, while still maintaining a news reporting format. The comments are the main reason I visit AJ. The news pieces are heavily anti-Israel, anti-American, but provide enough unfiltered facts to be somewhat useful. The comments provide something more useful – a look into the mindset of the Middle Eastern “street”.
Regardless of the topic of the story – everything, and I do mean everything, is the fault of Zionists or Americans. This mentality permeates their entire being – it defines who they are. From the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it appears that every bad thing that has happened to Muslims is of no fault of their own. It is the ultimate victim mentality. The blame game also morphs into the conspiracy theory game. Their theories will put even the Michael Moore/Soros crowd to shame. A sample of comments includes ideas such as: 9/11 was planned by Israel, the Holocaust never happened, the recent London bombing plot is made up – conveniently timed to give neocons a lift in the upcoming elections, and lots more.
I realize a lot of this has to do with their lack of open and free news sources. Although, I have to think that if they have access to the internet and AJ, surely than can check out CNN for Fox News – cant they? Not that they would if they could – they think the US media is in bed with the President – aint that rich! The US MEDIA, a secret supporter of THIS administration?! That might be the best kept secret ever.
I will continue to read the comments and post well reasoned replies. I have been successful so far about 50% of the time in getting my comments past the screener and posted to their website. Hopefully I can add a little sanity to an otherwise insane world.
AJ has a unique format among major media outlets (and let there be no doubt that they are the biggest in that region) in that after most of their “news” stories they allow the posting of comments. This gives their website “blog-like” characteristics, while still maintaining a news reporting format. The comments are the main reason I visit AJ. The news pieces are heavily anti-Israel, anti-American, but provide enough unfiltered facts to be somewhat useful. The comments provide something more useful – a look into the mindset of the Middle Eastern “street”.
Regardless of the topic of the story – everything, and I do mean everything, is the fault of Zionists or Americans. This mentality permeates their entire being – it defines who they are. From the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it appears that every bad thing that has happened to Muslims is of no fault of their own. It is the ultimate victim mentality. The blame game also morphs into the conspiracy theory game. Their theories will put even the Michael Moore/Soros crowd to shame. A sample of comments includes ideas such as: 9/11 was planned by Israel, the Holocaust never happened, the recent London bombing plot is made up – conveniently timed to give neocons a lift in the upcoming elections, and lots more.
I realize a lot of this has to do with their lack of open and free news sources. Although, I have to think that if they have access to the internet and AJ, surely than can check out CNN for Fox News – cant they? Not that they would if they could – they think the US media is in bed with the President – aint that rich! The US MEDIA, a secret supporter of THIS administration?! That might be the best kept secret ever.
I will continue to read the comments and post well reasoned replies. I have been successful so far about 50% of the time in getting my comments past the screener and posted to their website. Hopefully I can add a little sanity to an otherwise insane world.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Profiling update
As a follow-up to my earlier post on terrorist profiling – it seems like England is much, much less concerned over hurting the feelings of a group of people than we here in the States are. Strangely enough, they would rather take the extra steps needed to increase airline safety, even if that comes at the expense of…gasp…making someone of Middle Eastern decent answer a couple of extra questions! The nerve of those Brits!!
Who will Sacrifice?
We are engaged in a war – though most of us are in complete denial. The “Global War on Terror” (GWOT) is a phrased that is tossed about so often these days that I believe it has lost its meaning. We all know what “global” means; this is a “global economy”, the “global markets” and even “global warming”. We recognize the word “terror” and know how to identify terrorism and terrorist acts. But what we have failed to completely wrap our mind around the word “war”.
The word war is used to convey that this is not a one sided struggle. This is not a police action, this is not a single battle - this is a war. Webster’s defines war as: “A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.”
In the past, both Republican and Democratic leadership alike has treated the threat of terrorism as a nagging concern, as a police action. We appeared more concerned about being able to prosecute the terrorist in a court of law once they were caught, than we were eliminating them entirely. But this is not the Global “Conflict” with Terror – this is the “War” on Terror. We are in a “state of open, armed and (to be sure) prolonged conflict.”
In other wars throughout history, Americans have been asked to make sacrifices for the good of the country. Not a single person living in the Colonies during the Revolution was untouched by that war. Durable goods like steel and rubber as well as the juice that makes the world go ‘round, oil, gas were heavily rationed during WWI and WWII. Women left their role as stay at home moms during WWII to work a shift at the factory making airplanes that would bomb Germany into submission. During Vietnam, the draft ensured that many able bodied men would serve in some capacity to help defeat the spread of communism – they sacrificed as did their families left behind. What is our sacrifice today? What are we, who are not called Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine doing? Are we making sacrifices in our daily life? If not us, who?
In order for the recent terror plot in London to have been disrupted, think about the sacrifices that were made. Someone had to leave their family at night to make contacts with sources of intelligence. Their family ate dinner alone while they were roaming the underground for clues. Someone had to spend hours at the office going through the raw intelligence that was being collected. Someone missed their brother’s birthday because they were following a suspected terrorist across the globe. Someone was manning a listening terminal for 24 hours straight when they intercepted a key terrorist phone call. Someone was called away from their son’s school play because they had to lead the team that was to arrest these terrorist within the hour to prevent the loss of life. And think about those family members left behind while their husband, wife, son was away doing these things. Think about their sacrifice, about their waiting up all night not knowing what they were doing or even sometimes where they were.
But think about the 3,000 people who were to be on those 10 planes who now get to go home to their son’s play, or their mother’s birthday. Think about the young man flying that day from London to New York who was going to see his fiancé after being gone on business for the last week. Think about the surgeon returning from that London conference who can now save hundreds of lives back at home.
So what sacrifices are we making to ensure this way of life? This life that is so hated by a group of people that they will stop at nothing to snuff it out. This is a war. And if we are given the opportunity to serve this country – no matter how big or small – who are we to say “no thanks – I’m too comfortable to help out” or “I cant afford to take that pay cut and go join the army” or “I don’t want to be separated from my family right now”. There were 3,000 people in New York on 9/11 that was separated from their family – forever. And then there are 3,000 people flying from London to the U.S. who were not – because of the sacrifices made along the way.
What sacrifices are you ready to make? Or is your life just too comfortable right now and this is just not your problem? We can’t all be soldiers, but we can all be something. We can all send that care package, or donate to that military support group – we can all do something.
The word war is used to convey that this is not a one sided struggle. This is not a police action, this is not a single battle - this is a war. Webster’s defines war as: “A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.”
In the past, both Republican and Democratic leadership alike has treated the threat of terrorism as a nagging concern, as a police action. We appeared more concerned about being able to prosecute the terrorist in a court of law once they were caught, than we were eliminating them entirely. But this is not the Global “Conflict” with Terror – this is the “War” on Terror. We are in a “state of open, armed and (to be sure) prolonged conflict.”
In other wars throughout history, Americans have been asked to make sacrifices for the good of the country. Not a single person living in the Colonies during the Revolution was untouched by that war. Durable goods like steel and rubber as well as the juice that makes the world go ‘round, oil, gas were heavily rationed during WWI and WWII. Women left their role as stay at home moms during WWII to work a shift at the factory making airplanes that would bomb Germany into submission. During Vietnam, the draft ensured that many able bodied men would serve in some capacity to help defeat the spread of communism – they sacrificed as did their families left behind. What is our sacrifice today? What are we, who are not called Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine doing? Are we making sacrifices in our daily life? If not us, who?
In order for the recent terror plot in London to have been disrupted, think about the sacrifices that were made. Someone had to leave their family at night to make contacts with sources of intelligence. Their family ate dinner alone while they were roaming the underground for clues. Someone had to spend hours at the office going through the raw intelligence that was being collected. Someone missed their brother’s birthday because they were following a suspected terrorist across the globe. Someone was manning a listening terminal for 24 hours straight when they intercepted a key terrorist phone call. Someone was called away from their son’s school play because they had to lead the team that was to arrest these terrorist within the hour to prevent the loss of life. And think about those family members left behind while their husband, wife, son was away doing these things. Think about their sacrifice, about their waiting up all night not knowing what they were doing or even sometimes where they were.
But think about the 3,000 people who were to be on those 10 planes who now get to go home to their son’s play, or their mother’s birthday. Think about the young man flying that day from London to New York who was going to see his fiancé after being gone on business for the last week. Think about the surgeon returning from that London conference who can now save hundreds of lives back at home.
So what sacrifices are we making to ensure this way of life? This life that is so hated by a group of people that they will stop at nothing to snuff it out. This is a war. And if we are given the opportunity to serve this country – no matter how big or small – who are we to say “no thanks – I’m too comfortable to help out” or “I cant afford to take that pay cut and go join the army” or “I don’t want to be separated from my family right now”. There were 3,000 people in New York on 9/11 that was separated from their family – forever. And then there are 3,000 people flying from London to the U.S. who were not – because of the sacrifices made along the way.
What sacrifices are you ready to make? Or is your life just too comfortable right now and this is just not your problem? We can’t all be soldiers, but we can all be something. We can all send that care package, or donate to that military support group – we can all do something.
Friday, August 11, 2006
How to make money in the airline business
Simply. Be the only airline to promise that you will use profiling to ensure the safety of that flight. That is the airline I want to fly!!
For more on "profiling" the likely terrorist threat.....full article found here
Let's pause a moment and review....
In 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by: (a) A salesman from Utah (b) An construction worker (c) A college student on Spring Break (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1972, 11 Israeli athletes were killed at the Munich Olympics
by: (a) Your grandmother (b) A Midwest auto-parts dealer (c) A mom and her 6-year-old son visiting from Indiana (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by: (a) A bluegrass band (b) Dallas Cowboy fans (c) A tour group of 80-year-old women (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
During the 1980's numerous Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon
by: (a) A family on their way to Disney World (b) Jesse Ventura
(c) A Boy Scout Troop (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by: (a) A pizza delivery boy (b) The UPS guy (c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked, and a 70-year-old disabled American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard by: (a) A girls' choir (b) A hardware store owner (c) A secretary (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of
17 and 40.
In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver was murdered by: (a) A Marine officer with two weeks leave
(b) A plumber going to visit his mom (c) A Catholic nun (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by: (a) A college-bound freshman (b) A cardiac surgeon on his way to Houston (c) A waitress (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
For more on "profiling" the likely terrorist threat.....full article found here
Let's pause a moment and review....
In 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by: (a) A salesman from Utah (b) An construction worker (c) A college student on Spring Break (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1972, 11 Israeli athletes were killed at the Munich Olympics
by: (a) Your grandmother (b) A Midwest auto-parts dealer (c) A mom and her 6-year-old son visiting from Indiana (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by: (a) A bluegrass band (b) Dallas Cowboy fans (c) A tour group of 80-year-old women (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
During the 1980's numerous Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon
by: (a) A family on their way to Disney World (b) Jesse Ventura
(c) A Boy Scout Troop (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by: (a) A pizza delivery boy (b) The UPS guy (c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked, and a 70-year-old disabled American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard by: (a) A girls' choir (b) A hardware store owner (c) A secretary (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of
17 and 40.
In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver was murdered by: (a) A Marine officer with two weeks leave
(b) A plumber going to visit his mom (c) A Catholic nun (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by: (a) A college-bound freshman (b) A cardiac surgeon on his way to Houston (c) A waitress (d) Middle Eastern Islamist males between the ages of 17 and 40.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Bonding
What we in Texas call a “cold front” this time a year is a brief respite from the 100+ heat to something more manageable, like say 90. It was during one such recent cold front that I took some time to sit outside and have a talk with my youngest son. The oldest was out with his cousin for a few hours, so I headed out back and asked Jacob to come on out and help me with the grill (cooked up some nice stuffed chicken breasts).
The evening was perfect. The sun was down behind the house and the temperature was down in the mid 80’s with a nice breeze floating through; nothing big, just enough to ruffle the leaves of the big oak just beyond the fence. The pair of red birds that hang out back in the creek were there that night, like clockwork. As I shut the lid to the grill, I pulled up one of the bar chairs outside and sat down, motioned for my son to come sit down next to me in the other chair.
It was the ideal setting – the two of us, just sitting there, enjoying the weather, enjoying the smell of chicken cooking on the grill. I would ask his opinion on the current political climate, about the trouble in the Middle East and about how to handle Iran. He would just sit there, not saying much. I even talked to him about the birds (but not the “bees”) flying over head and about aviation, and cars. He really speaks volumes through his silence.
After a while I realized that he wasn’t really saying much at all – regardless of the topic, but I could clearly tell he was listening to me. Like when I said something about the planes flying overhead, and how they might be bringing back some of America’s heroes from Iraq, he pointed up and mumbled something unintelligible. But, at least I knew he and I were on the same wave-length.
After about 30 minutes of father-son bonding, the chicken was ready and so was my stomach. Only one thing left to do before heading inside – needed to take the sucker out of my son’s mouth, wash his hands and change his wet diaper. For the life of me – I can’t understand why 1.5 year olds are so helpless.
The evening was perfect. The sun was down behind the house and the temperature was down in the mid 80’s with a nice breeze floating through; nothing big, just enough to ruffle the leaves of the big oak just beyond the fence. The pair of red birds that hang out back in the creek were there that night, like clockwork. As I shut the lid to the grill, I pulled up one of the bar chairs outside and sat down, motioned for my son to come sit down next to me in the other chair.
It was the ideal setting – the two of us, just sitting there, enjoying the weather, enjoying the smell of chicken cooking on the grill. I would ask his opinion on the current political climate, about the trouble in the Middle East and about how to handle Iran. He would just sit there, not saying much. I even talked to him about the birds (but not the “bees”) flying over head and about aviation, and cars. He really speaks volumes through his silence.
After a while I realized that he wasn’t really saying much at all – regardless of the topic, but I could clearly tell he was listening to me. Like when I said something about the planes flying overhead, and how they might be bringing back some of America’s heroes from Iraq, he pointed up and mumbled something unintelligible. But, at least I knew he and I were on the same wave-length.
After about 30 minutes of father-son bonding, the chicken was ready and so was my stomach. Only one thing left to do before heading inside – needed to take the sucker out of my son’s mouth, wash his hands and change his wet diaper. For the life of me – I can’t understand why 1.5 year olds are so helpless.
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