Penn State

First let me say that am truly sorry for the victims in the Penn State case. I have no sympathy at all for anyone who had knowledge of this incident and did nothing. The talk is of “moral obligation”. Well I don’t agree. I believe it goes well beyond that. While it is obvious that Sandusky is the monster of this whole thing, it appears that everyone feels like everybody else only had a “moral obligation” to do something about it. This is not a case of somebody stealing office supplies where you have a “moral obligation” to report it to your bosses. No…innocent children were victimized by a predator..raped..sodomized…and will have the emotional scars for the rest of their lives. Mike McQueary seems to be the least held responsible for what happened yet he WITNESSED it. He did nothing to stop it..he didn’t call the authorities..no..he told his dad and coach Paterno. Really? At the very least he should have gone straight to the authorities. He had a “moral obligation” to save the child from harm by whatever means necessary from this predator. He should be charged with aiding and abetting since he did nothing to stop it. From there the failures go from coach Paterno all the way to the college president. This attitude of “moral obligation” just shows what is really wrong with society today. Paterno and everone else involved should have stayed on top of this and when no immediate action was taken, should have instituted it themselves. They put the college and themselves above the safety of these poor children. Maybe they should all go to jail and maybe if “Bubba” gets a hold of them the prison guards should have a “moral obligation” to save them. Maybe not.

Bikers

For almost 30 years of my life I have been a biker. I have rode with 1%ers. I have rode with weekend warriors. Basically, they all have one thing in common: the love of riding. Now if you have never rode on a bike (and yes I am a die hard Harley man) you have no idea what you are missing. There is something freeing about having the open air blowing through your hair. (Unless you are bald like me) Another thing all bike riders have is a deep appreciation for each other. IT is like the biggest fraternity on the planet. Now I am not going to tell you that there aren’t some bad elements within the family. But who’s family doesn’t have a few? The FX show Sons of Anarchy gives you an excellent glimpse into the life of a 1%er type of rider. They are truly what that entails but even they are known to stop and render assistance to a fellow biker who is broke down. I love my biker brethren and encourage everyone to join. Unless you don’t enjoy fun.

Golf

On Friday I did something I have never done before. I went to a golf course with a bunch of my buds. Now I don’t golf..but they do. Or at least they try. Being left handed, I don’t have the luxury of using anybody’s clubs so I just drove a cart. I always thought golf was a giant waste of time..chasing a little white ball all over the place seemed stupid to me. But I had a blast. I realized it isn’t about the game..it’s about the fun. It’s about spending time with people you like. It’s about bonding…about enjoying the fresh air. Yeah…I never touched a club..never hit a ball..but I had the time of my life. I look forward to the next time. Imagine that.

Real TV

Ok..I confess…I like watching TV.   Right now my favorite show happens to be Sons Of Anarchy.  Not just because it is about bikers but because it is about realism.  You see a true TV show shows things as they really are.  On Sons, the characters are far from perfect but they are as real as they can get.  They do some really bad things but they also do some really good things.  The show gives you an inside look at how a “Biker Club” works (Yes I do know) and shows you that they too have families and problems.  It shows you the true bond between brothers.  Kurt Sutter, the writer, spent time with various clubs to get a feel for how things worked and brought it to his scripts.  This my friends is a true REALITY show.  You see there is where the problem is:  the so-called reality shows that people drone on about.  Those shows are about as real as Bigfoot I hate to tell you.  Now on the other hand…I confess… I like the WWE.  Reality? Not by a long shot.  But then…they tell you up front it isn’t.  It’s entertainment.  It’s the closest thing a man has to a soap opera.  It is exactly what it says it is..entertaining.  But it is also a dangerous business where the reality is these guys and gals get hurt…sometimes severly.  But the reality is they love what they do..they must because they come back after injuries that would put most athletes out of business.  Did I say athletes?  Yeah I did and they are.  Don’t believe me?  Give it a try and you’ll find out.  I am glad college football is back…couldn’t care less about pro football though.  The days of the real football player is gone.  Now days the pro players are more interested in dollar signs than sacking the QB or running for a touchdown.  They are spoiled little whiners that couldn’t hold a player like Lyle Alzado’s jock strap.  Reality is:  TV has become less reality based..not more.  Just my opinion.

Failing Schools

I just finished reading an article on fox news about a high school in Rhode Island that fired all of the teachers last year in an effort to “improve student performance”.  Amazingly, this measure failed.  According to the article, only 7% of the juniors were proficient in math.  That was the only statistic mentioned in the article.  They also mention that a majority of the student body speaks another language other than English as their primary language.  I have to assume this means the scores for English and other subjects isn’t good either.  The administration used a President Obama backed rule that allows for poorly performing schools to terminate the staff as a way of correcting the problem.  The White House all but applauded the effort when it occurred stating that it would be a lesson for all and that things would be better.  Well, that didn’t happen.  The school has since rehired the teachers and now most of them are quitting or not showing up for work.  Now the White House has no comment.  I have decided to comment in their absence.  I am not a teacher nor a school administrator but I do have a few solutions that have to be better than those chosen.  It seems to me that when you have a poorly performing school, there is plenty of blame to go around.  The administration, teachers, students, and parents are all part of the problem. They are also part of the solution.  The administration should be actively pursuing high quality teachers.  The school board should be finding incentives to get these high quality teachers to come into this school through better benefits, better pay, and more support.  Same for hiring an administration at the school that is supportive of the teachers.  Parents should demand this and support it by a tax referendum if necessary.  It is their kids future on the line.  Pay a little now or pay a lot in the future.  Adequate, competent, and secure teachers and students creates a learning environment that is the same.  If there are bad apples..weed them out.  I can’t possibly believe that all the teachers are bad.  Maybe the school system should take a lesson from the show Undercover Boss.  For those unfamiliar with the show, it basically takes an executive from a major company and disguises them as a worker within the company and they go to work doing day to day jobs at the labor level.  All these executives have learned at least some ways to help make their companies better.  It is time to start treating our schools like exactly what they are…a business.  If they aren’t, then explain to me how a majority of private schools seem to excel.  Ironically, in most cases, the teachers salaries at these schools is less than in the public school system.  But with a supportive administration and parents, they make it work.  Something to think about.

Invasion at Wounded Knee

Today I read an article in USA Today that made me furious. Last Saturday, May 1st, The Colorado Army National Guard decided to participate in what tribal leaders called a healing event. For background, Wounded Knee was the sight of the slaughter of more than 300 Lakota Indian men, women, and children by the infamous Seventh Calvary in 1890. The Guard decided it would be a good idea to land three Black Hawk helicopters at the site to attend the ceremonies. Needless to say, the Native Americans that were descended from those who died at Wounded Knee were upset and launched a protest that resulted in one helicopter only being on the ground a minute or two and the other two never landing. In the Guards defense, they did believe it had been approved by the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. However, it had not been approved by those living on the site. It was chalked up to being a case of miscommunication. However, considering the Guard’s purpose was “to better understand our shared histories” and “to learn from our mistakes in the past”..it appears they have done neither. Flying into a sacred area on combat helicopters wouldn’t exactly convince me that you are there to “heal” anything. It was a bad move on the military’s behalf no matter what. Out of respect, they should have landed at a different location and arranged transportation to the event. I hope the Colorado Army National Guard learns from this mistake and never makes it again. While I respect and admire anyone serving this country, I respect those who were here first as well.

Let Me Buy You A Beer My Friend!!

Hello all…I have returned from my self-imposed sabbatical from all things media related after three weeks. I went to the mountains in a secluded cabin with no phone, tv, computer, or any other modern marvel of communication. (I did cheat and take my cellphone for emergencies but it was off unless I needed it.) Some folks noticed my absence..some did not. That is fine as well. (I am sure a few hoped it was permanent!!) But alas, I have returned. First thing I see is this big hoopla about the cops and the Harvard professor. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill!! Personally, after reading all the press, I must say that if Prof. Gates would have simply came outside, as requested, and followed the officers instructions, this all might have been avoided. I do not agree with his arrest though. Seems to me there is an equal amount of blame to go around. The meer fact that the President found it necessary to weigh in on the issue is the worst part as far as I am concerned. With all the problems this entire nation is facing, he sure picked an odd event to put such an emphasis on. Maybe he should have a few more beer get together with some folks who can help get this great nation back on track and maybe we can get somewhere. All I know for sure is that if I am ever in my house and the police show up because someone called them and said they thought someone was breaking into my house, I am going to do whatever they ask. When it is all said and done, I will thank him or her for doing their job. I might even buy them a beer. Have a great weekend!!

The Circle of Financial Life

have, as I am sure most of you have, followed our recent financial situation with open eyes. I have to say I am not surprised at what has happened. If you pay any attention, you will notice a trend within our country that has held true for a century or more. Let me explain:

Starting in the early 1900′s, our country was in a financial turmoil as well. During that time, the country was plunged into war when we entered WWI. Following the end of the war was the “Roaring 20′s”…the country was working it’s way into prosperity again and times were good. Then in the 1930′s, the stock market crashed and hard times came again. We entered WWII and after the war, prosperity reappeared and lasted longer this time until we plunged again in the 1970′s when inflation was through the roof and gas prices soared and became hard to get. This was then followed by the 1980′s and 1990′s that were part of the “Me” times where prosperity came and again stayed for a while. Now, here in the early 2000′s, we are again faced with a financial plunge. All these eras have common denominators if you think about it: The country was in troubled times, involved in war, and then, afterwards, prospered. Just as there is a circle of life, there appears to be a circle of financial life. I believe in the American way of life and I believe in the resilience of our people. This too shall pass and at the end, prosperity awaits. Maybe, one day, we will learn how to control it. Oh yeah, there is also one other common denominator: The American People demanded better of their government and received it.

Is Our Government, Like the Economy, Going To Collapse?

Today I read an article about some workers at a factory in Chicago staging a sit in style protest after being informed, with only three days notice, that the factory they worked in was shutting down and they were losing their job. The sit in was aimed at receiving severance pay and other benefits that were unpaid. Is this the start of a new revolution in this country? Are we at the point where with the economy the way it is, that ordinary folks are going to rise up against the government and private business? We are already at a point where our government is promising BILLIONS of our tax dollars to failing banks and other financial institutions without asking the American people their opinion. We now face the possibility of adding the big three auto makers to the mix. The UAW has been asked to make sacrifices through their members to help make it happen so that they can keep their jobs. My question is: Are the executives at the big three willing to make deep sacrifices as well or does this just pertain to the workers? My biggest fear is that not only will the economy collapse under the strain, but our entire existence as a democracy. Many believe that our great nation lost the democracy form of government years ago and is now more of a socialist government. I know this much: When a country that prides itself on freedom begins to make major decisions for it’s citizens against the will of the citizens, that does not fit into my definition of democracy. As a nation, we finally made a great stride to elect a new president that totally goes away from conventional wisdom. I know our founding fathers would never have envisioned a United States with a black president. I think they would be amazed by that..and I mean that in a good way…too see the strides made under the framework they laid. I challenge the new administration to follow the words of the founding fathers and live up to WE THE PEOPLE. Without that, democracy dies.

I want to be a mortgage holder aka bank president

So let me get this straight:  The Governor has persuaded the mortgage companies not to foreclose on people for 45 days so they can enjoy one more holiday season in their house.  How generous of them!!! Especially since it is our tax dollars paying to bail them out of all the bad loans they made.  Guess who is helping to foot that bill?  The very people they are giving this wonderful gift to of a 45 day moratorium.  This whole deal makes me sick.  Ihope we all remember the politicians that allowed this to happen come re-election time.  Maybe they can get foreclosed on next.  Maybe we should take the bailout money and give to each taxpayer to spend how they see fit…to catch up on their mortgage…spend buying new cars…other items…seems to me that would stimulate the economy more than giving it to the banks.  Anybody who thinks that bailing them out so they can loan more money is the solution to the problem is as ignorant as the people who thought this up.  They are not going to make more loans..they are going to hoard the money to make sure they get their huge paychecks.  Giving them the money is the equivalent of putting the fox in charge of the henhouse and paying him to watch it.  Wake up!!!