Say the Words

Perched on the backyard swing after my grass cutting chores were completed, I thought of a blog I'd like to pen. I then began thinking about some words that I might use to frame my ideas. I enjoy using words. I'd be delighted if I knew more words. I do have favorite words. For example, I like the words ponder, reckon and sanctified. My 5th grade Woodrow Wilson School teacher would say, "Now, Melvin, I want you to use those words in a sentence." Okay: "If people would 'ponder' the death of Jesus, I 'reckon' they would ask forgiveness of sin and be 'sanctified.'"

I notice some words are offensive to others. I recall once, my wife was talking with a neighbor and inquired about when a mutual acquaintance (who died) was going to be "laid out." Holy crap, the other gal went into a tizzy and asked my wife to use the word 'visitation' instead of 'laid out.' Regardless, I'm guessing the degree of dead is unchanged by word usage. My oldest daughter, Dawn never liked the word, 'stink.' That word does not offend me but the odor coming from one grandson's shoes surely does 'stink.'

I do wish I had the ability to say more with fewer words. One must be cautious not to use a bunch of words attempting to blow smoke suggesting we have extensive knowledge. Here's something to 'ponder:' I read somewhere that The Lord's Prayer is 66 words. The Ten Commandments consists of 179 words. Lincoln used 286 words in The Gettysburg Address and The Declaration of Independance has 1,300 words. However, 26,911 words were needed to outline the government regulations on the sale of cabbage in the United States.

Well, I'm sure I will continue to be fascinated with words and struggle at times to make sense with them. Meanwhile, before I head back out to the swing to ponder more, I'll leave you with three words: 'I love you.' I reckon those are the words the Lord wishes us to use most often.

Deserve Each Other

Among the many things recently said by GOP presidential nominee, Donald Trump was his attack comment about the media. I paraphrase, 'I'm not running against crooked Hillary, I running against the lying media.' Shortly after stating that several times, I noticed some media folks such as Chuck Todd of NBC acting hurt and taking offense. I thought, stop it! You people deserve each other...the media and Trump.

The most novice observer would easily conclude that Donald Trump has 'played' the media like a fiddle and beat them like a drum. The media is focused on their ability to peddle advertisements through ratings. Since Trump is an over-the-top *blabbering buffoon and amusing clown, he lifts television ratings and sells ads. Therein lies the infatuation between Trump and media. They both should 'own it' and get over themselves. The media has been in bed with Trump for a year. Perhaps while the media was 'waiting' for Trump to self-destruct, they kept his 'alternative-right' followers revved up with constant coverage. I have not witnessed such media frenzy since another 'bad hair' hit the United States back in 1964... It was a singing group from Great Britain.

*(this characterization of Trump is substantiated by the fact that a seventy-year old person running for the United States Presidency would say that he does "not know who David Duke is or what he stands for and has no knowledge of white supremacy groups.")...those are words of a buffoon.

Disappeared

I don't order consumer goods online and when purchasing those goods at retail stores, I refuse to use 'self checkout lanes.'  The American public that embraces those offerings, unless for disabled reasons, contributes to unemployment issues. And they encourage corporate greed, which needs little nudging.

 I understand some jobs vanish because of technology. For example, when is the last time you went bowling and had to wait for the pin-boy to set the pins? That's what I thought. My children and grandchildren would think the window place-card indicating your desired ice block size (purchase) would likely be a poorly designed eye chart. And come to think, I can't  remember the last time I saw a hiring ad for 'river ice cutters.'

I recall in the late 1940's, my family was on a first name basis with the telephone 'operator' who connected our telephone calls if the 'party line' was not busy. Perhaps today, those displaced telephone operators have found employment as tela-marketing callers.

In recent years, I am irritated by a service void. Remember when men purchased suits, trousers and coats at 'men's stores' and somebody measured lengths and used chalk and pins to note where alterations would be made? Those alterations were free / no charge. Great customer service. You will not find that service-person in the mens' clothing department. No longer is there even a seamstress available on the mall premise.

The last sport coat I purchased, I had to take to a local cleaning establishment and they passed it along to a phantom alteration gal who charged me $16.00 dollars to alter two sleeves. But that's not as sad as my recent jewelry store experience. A week ago, I priced birthstone rings for my wife at two jewelry  stores. The rings were approximately $350.00 each. When I asked how long it would take for them to size the ring, I was told, "One week and the sizing cost wil be $69.00." Sizing rings was once part of the Jewelry store purchase-deal>>> no charge. Another, included-in-the-deal-purchase has vanished. I recall when a new auto buyer could expect the dealership to supply a vehicle undercoating at no charge...no more, it's an additional $200 bucks or so.

The American greed seems to know no boundaries.
I fear the day when the clothing alteration turnaround will depend on air travel expediency from central Illinois to Taiwan.

Get'em Both!

GOP Presidential nominee, Donald Trump is calling for a special prosecutor to be appointed to bring charges against Hillary Clinton for fraudulent activities as Secretary of State by possibly giving favors to Clinton Foundation donors.

Democrat nominee, Hillary wants Trump to release his tax filings. She evidently believes Donald is hiding something. Perhaps he's not as wealthy as he states or he does not contribute to charities to the extent he makes claim.

Both ideas sound plausible to me. I have a novel idea. Let's insist our Presidential candidates compromise. Hell, that's something our elected officials can't do, perhaps they'll get the idea after all it's said great movements usually are grass roots movements.

Here's the deal:  To satisfy all the Clinton supporters, Trump has to reveal all the financial details of his four bankruptcies, particulars regarding his three divorces (now this is fair game because of the demands for info regarding Slick Bill's trysts) and release tax filings from the past ten years. Okay, in exchange to appease Trump followers a special prosecutor must bring charges against Hillary Clinton  for email and Clinton Foundation fraud and while the prosecutor is at it reopen all perceived sexual transgressions committed by Bill Clinton. (This damn thing with all the sex stuff could become a day time soap opera).

I have nominees for those special prosecutors>
 Prosecuting Donald Trump would be Attorney Khizr Khan...this was Muslim fella who spoke at the Democratic Convention and offered Trump his copy of the United States Constitution. I'm sure Mr. Khan would jump at this opportunity.

Prosecuting the Clinton's would be Former New York City mayor and attorney Rudy Giuliani. Look, Giuliani is perfect for this job. In the 1970's he was a Democrat before he became an Independent and he is now a Republican. He knows ALL the crooks in politics in both parties and can you imagine how entertaining Rudly will be?
Let's do this and then we liberals can stop attacking Trump and you conservatives can let up on Hillary. Holy crap, we could then post fun stuff on Facebook.

Ripples Felt Today?

The late well noted American anthropologist, Margret Mead claimed that there was but one sexual revolution in American history, which she stated occurred in the 'Roaring 20's.' Mead died in 1978, perhaps her perceptiveness was a bit dulled in the late 1960's and early 1970's when it appeared some strange crap was happening in our nation. Let me ask you readers of age if your recall the little music and art festival that took place in August of 1969...I believe it was on a dairy farm in New York State called 'Woodstock.' There was some serious envelope pushing of sex and drugs at that site four days running amongst 400,000 participants. Then the early 1970's introduced more than a passing notation of issues relating to two new medical terms: HIV / AIDS. Hello Margret Mead.

Another little incident happened about this time that, in retrospect, it appears to have shaken our citizens' appreciation for and confidence in moral leadership...the most powerful leader in the free world, United States President, Richard Nixon resigned his Presidency in shame.

In recent times America have witnessed elementary children murdered at their school desks, families slaughtered in movie theaters, night club goers trapped and killed, terrorism at home and abroad while a nation grows more bitter and divisive with each passing day.

I would not suggest the sex and drug activities and less than moral leadership of the late '60's and early '70's caused the 'now conditions' but one might make the case that those events and activities do qualify as a 'revolution' of sort!

No Thank You

I was meandering around the men's clothing department at a popular mall-store while my wife was engaging in a more serious shopping mind-set several aisles away. I noticed a circular-carrasole clothing display with a large '75% Off Sale' sign. I thought, this might be my day. As I began perusing the items, I suddenly realized that I was a stranger in an unfamiliar place.

There was a T-shirt tagged at $12.99, a polo style collar shirt for $59.99 and a long sleeved casual shirt for $79.99. Folks, T-shirts with nonsensical prints on the front were originally priced at $48 bucks? A polo shirt originally priced at $150 and a long sleeve shirt was once nearly two hundred dollars? PLEASE!!! When in the name of sanity did we run this thing off the tracks? This is crazy!
Dress Shoes in this store were priced between $155 and $240.

My wife volunteers working at our Church's Economy Shop where donated clothing is reasonably priced for the consumer. This Economy Shop is a mission project outreach for those who cannot afford many of today's retail clothing prices. Tell you what, next time I take her to work, I'm going inside!

About two weeks after that no-purchase mall experience, I was watching a segment of The Today Show where people were asked to select the best tasting coffee. Of course, one coffee brand was very pricey while the second brand was a cheaper fast food product. Most coffee connoisseurs will agree that coffee taste is determined by the quality of the coffee beans. Therefore the results? 67% of the people selected the cheaper brand as better tasting. Go figure!

Well, here's how I figure. We weak minded consumers are motivated by advertising, designer products and the motivation to 'Keep up with the Joneses.'

This stuff makes no sense to me. Understand, I began driving my family's 1950 Bel Aire Chevy when I turned 16 in the year 1955. Gas was .23 per gallon, a movie ticket was .50 and my date and I could each have a hamburger, fries and malt for less than two dollars. I gonna need a helluva alot more memory loss before I pay today's retail clothing prices.

Some Become Rich; Some Just Serve

Rains and time lapse are now settling the dust from the 'Rio Olympic Games.' We can now analyze, scrutinize and speculate regarding 'the games' impact and fallout. I hear sports' gurus suggesting we've seen the best ever of swimming and gymnastics in the persons of Michael Phelps and Simone Biles. That might be difficult to refute. Perhaps the same is true about Japan's male gymnast, Kohei Uchimura.

Post Olympic Games financial endorsement contracts always intrigue us and it appears obvious that the aforementioned stalwarts are headed for huge pay offs. Of course, USA swimmer, Ryan Lochte 'crapped too close to the house' therefore speculation has 'Peck's Bad Boy' losing millions of bucks because he cannot embrace success with humility or behave well when consuming Vodka.

Would not Louis Armstrong's song, 'Wonderful World' ring proud if Abby D'Agostino, Nikki Hamblin and Sam Kendricks were also in a position to 'cash-in' on their respective Olympic performances? You'll recall 5,000 meter runners D'Agostino of the United States and New Zealand's Hamblin assisted each other across the finish line after each suffered falling. And then the moment of ultimate patriotism showed when American pole vaulter, Second Lieutenant Kendricks suddenly stopped his approach sprint with pole in hands when he heard his country's National Anthem playing. Ah, but we know 'good news' fades like the extinguished smoke from the Olympic flame.

Strange arrangements here on planet earth...our sport heroes receive millions of dollars to entertain us, often with less than stellar performances while nurses care for our sick, school teachers educate our children, firemen and policemen risk their lives to save us and those folks might realize a forty/sixty thousand dollar yearly income.