"Lean Forward" Bull

I saw a commercial on MSNBC featuring someone I didn't know. He was talking about stacks and stacks of empty connexes (shipping containers). These shipping containers brought goods to America and now pile up because we have nothing to fill them with then send overseas. His final comment was "We're better than this." He was talking about jobs.

I looked at those connexes and saw dozens of frames for homes. Thousands of American soldiers live in those after they have been converted to housing units. I also see tons and tons of steel that can be recycled into construction materials, automotive parts and forks. Instead of letting those containers sit and rust, we need to use them of less than obvious purposes. I bet they would make a great frame for a reef. I bet recycling those containers would great jobs too.

Yeah, America we are better! Let's use our American ingenuity to do what's right.

The World left behind

I have been out of pocket for 10 days. I mean REALLY out. I have had very little news from the outside. Actually it hasn't been that bad. No news of people doing stupid shit! No news of the bickering politicians in Washington. Of course, I do miss my family.

Four days and a wakeup, Sweets!

So, you have a degree.

I am a late blooming college graduate. Well, actually, I don't graduate until August. So I have almost a late blooming college graduate. I'm just waiting for my diploma. Question: What does a 48 year old do with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice? Obviously, I get a job. Looking at today's job market, getting a job is difficult enough. The competition is crazy. Hopefully, my chosen degree will help move me forward in that.

Realistically though I have to look at the age difference. Who is more marketable, a 22 year old graduate with no experience or 48 year old graduate with 'experience?' The answer might seem easy to work out. I'm not sure. In 17 years or so, I'll be at the mandatory retirement age. Depending on the company, I'm out the door. The 22 year old has 43 years before he reaches mandatory retirement, depending on the company. That 22 year old will be asking the same questions that I am now.

I've starting looking. Mostly, I've applied in the public sector. I have tossed my hat at a few private sector jobs. Time will tell. I hope it starts talking soon cuz, I need a job!

Do we really care about our vets?

This has been on my mind a lot lately. We talk about how we should take care of our veterans. We still talk about how we treat our veterans. Why? Why do we still have to talk about it? If America cares so much about her veterans there should not be one doubt in anyone's mind that there is a problem. No veteran should be without a home. No veteran should go hungry. No veteran should be sick, whether service related or not.

We provide millions of dollars a year to people who are welfare professionals. Not those who provide welfare, but those who are able to work, can work but don't. Our social system has provided a class of people who live off the welfare system just because they can. If you live in public housing because you meet the financial standards, why do you have a new $20,000 car in your drive way? We never promised a single individual a free ride in this country. Many take it for granted that the will be taken care of by the government. It is not my responsibility to make sure you have food on your table and health care for you and your kids. If you can't work, I get it! Stuff happens, I get it. But, if you can work, then you do not need social services.

We do promise to our veterans we will, as a nation, take care of them. Those young 17 and 18 year old kids are told that the nation will take care of them in exchange for their service. It is apparent that we don't. It can take weeks to get a VA doctors appointment. They have to drive 50+ miles to see a VA doctor when the get an appointment. When they call the VA, they have to push buttons to navigate a menu. Often, they are told to call back because they, VA, are too busy to take the call. WHY?

A veteran should never have to complain about not having.

So, you want to be a 'Christian' nation?

There is no group or individual that prevents the United States from being a 'Christian' nation. What prevents American from being that so long loved name, is the Christians that live here. Being a 'Christian' nation would be a lot easier if the Christians started living like, well, Christians. It is that simple. And, yes, I would have to include myself in that, as well. I actually am guilty of the same thing.

Let's look at only a few things...

When we drive past someone at an intersection asking for a hand out, what do we do? More times that not, we drive by without giving this person a second thought. When we do the thoughts are more like "why don't they just get a job" or "lazy bum." That isn't what we are supposed to do. We are supposed to roll down the window and give the person a few dollars.

For a 'Christian' nation, we sure have a habit of keeping people down. We did manage to end slavery. Finally! However, we seem to have problems with people being different. Whether it be racially, religiously or ethnically, we have that tendency to be fearful. We don't go to certain malls like we used to, or we drive around with the needle on empty to avoid stopping at that store. Why? A Christian should not be fearful and we certainly don't need to look down on anyone for being different. We are all different!

I know that most of you remember the "WWJD? bracelets. That fad didn't last more than a couple of years. Actually, that needs to be on the mind of every Christian, including me. Christ gave so much and we shirk when we are asked to give a little. So, if you want to be a 'Christian' nation, you better starting acting like it.

HALO Anniversary

Ten years ago, gamers were introduced to a future world with mankind was at war with a confederation of aliens that were vicious and relentless. We were introduced to the toughest, most bad ass character every created in the gaming world. Plus, there is the hottest computer program in the universe. Yes, the game is HALO and Master Chief John-117 is the kick ass hero. The blue, hot sexy computer momma is Cortana. The villains, of course, is the Covenant. HALO started the ball rolling followed by HALO 2 and HALO 3. We then jump back in time for HALO Wars and HALO Reach.All of these games hit the mark in 2001.

I said the game is HALO because after 10 years, you can still find the games on the shelf. HALO and HALO 2 in PC format are still out haunting the shelves at BestBuy and other stores.After HALO 2, the games went strictly XBox to much horror to PC gamers. An anniversary edition of the original is coming out soon but, much to my chagrin, it's for XBox only and PC gamers are left out into the cold. (HEY Microsoft! There is more money to be made in the PC ported version of the game!)

Be that as it may, I have played first three games and they are excellent. HALO 2 was kind of a let down, multiplier wise, but the campaign kicks. I have read the books and loved the DVD "HALO Legends." All we like now is a Saturday morning cartoon or a movie!

MOVIE? Yeah, there is still talk about a HALO movie. Apparently, no one wants to step up to the challenge. Of course, there was the Peter Jackson drama that was a 'on, off again' thing. Fail! I have not heard of anyone else stepping up.

Anyway, the games are still out for PC gaming. I suggest you try them. They are great fun with live HALO servers out to be played on. You don't need a new Intel i7 PC to play them on either. Join the anniversary and PLAY!

A New Washington

Okay, its time for those in Washington to get out of office. Those we 'elect' to represent us in our Nation's Capital do nothing but argue about 'he said, she said' and do very little actual representing our interests. Are no better things to do in Washington?

Weiner. Okay, so the guy got caught. Big deal! Sure, he should have been faithful to his wife. This is a personal matter that should be kept that way. He did not steal any money. He did not lie to Congress. It had nothing to do with his job. Every body wanted his head on a plate, so he resigned. Whose the next victim? The next victim is the people of the United States. I am more worried about corruption involving our money than I am a congressman and his pecker. I am more worried about how Congress is going to save us billions of dollars.

If those in Washington can't get their stuff together, it's time for a new Washington. No, I do not speak of an overthrow. I am talking about getting ride of the bullshit that is going on. We need to do the right thing by electing the right people. Yeah, Obama may not have been the best option (Don't get me started). The Republicans may not have been much better and we will never know how that would have played out. Get ride of those who won't work and get some people that will.

Why Mars and not the Moon?

It has been 30 years since Man was last, physically, on the Moon. We still have the technology and have no plans to go there.The Moon is close and would obviously make a good stepping stone for planetary exploration, especially to Mars. The Moon is postulated to have water and minerals that would be beneficial to traveler that is outward bound from Earth. So, why not go to the Moon first and then to Mars?

For several years, NASA has had rovers crawling over Mars looking for life. So far, life has not been found. Possibly, NASA sent the rovers to an area the believed to be barren. This would through the public off by issuing statements that they have not found any life. It is a possibility.

If you have seen the photos of Mars, you might have seen the Pyramid. A photo taken by NASA that shows an actual structure on the Red Planet. Proof of the existence of life on Mars. Not so. NASA has re-photographed the area with the Mars Global Surveyor. The new photos show that the Pyramid is just a geologic formation that looks like a pyramid when seen from a certain angle.

Other photos that have been circulating around the internet, some obviously hoaxes, show other features. There is an alleged base on Mars visible on NASA photos. Again, these are obviously hoaxes. Not enough photos exist in the public domain to say one way or another.

However, there is another possibility...NASA has recognized that there are structures on Mars. This could be what prompted the sudden interest in Mars. This could be reason enough to skip the Moon and go to Mars to find out what is really there.

Computer decides who to hire and who not to.

I recently applied for a job with a major cellphone company. I went through the process and answered almost 200 questions. After about 30 minutes I got an email saying that I did not meet the requirements. This was done by a computer.

Human resources let the initial hiring decision to a computer based on how I answered questions. It doesn't matter how much potential of a employee I could have a been. The choice was left up to a comprise without an interview. And, that was that. I got a 'Thank you' email, computer generated I'm sure.

Collecting cash on the roadside

If you are a minority and traveling thru Tennessee you better get your cash turned into a debt card. Tennessee is a major conduit for drugs and the cops are trying to stem the flow. However, there is a problem with racial profiling. Minorities are being stopped and cash confiscated.

The line is a hard one to walk. The cops must work to keep the drugs off the street. However, the cost is too high when we toss the Constitution out the window.

First Post of the Year

I just realized that the previous post about the weather was the first post for 2011. Yep, there is not enough going on to keep me busy.

Summer Time

For those of you who don't know, summer is here. I know, the 90 degrees temperature was the first clue. We usually have a few days in the 80s with a gradual warming into the 90's. On a 'normal' summer it takes mid to late June to get into the upper 90s. It's already been 97.

Then, there is the lack of rain. It's been three weeks since it's rained here. That again is 'normal' but not until late June into July. We've already been watering the tomato plants and flowers to keep them going. It shouldn't be too long until the 'normal' pattern starts.