tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61174242716135701842024-03-12T20:43:50.087-07:00LFS: The StorytellerLee Frederick Somerstein observes life and writes commentary, opinion and humor about politics, people, modern culture, news events - heck, anything that strikes his fancy.
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-43130351750813661432019-11-20T12:21:00.002-08:002019-11-21T19:14:56.940-08:00Not Your Garden Variety ANT Farm<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;"><span id="goog_1890897552"></span><span id="goog_1890897553"></span>Not Your Garden Variety ANT Farm</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">©2019
by Lee Frederick Somerstein</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">I
had a most remarkable experience the other day, taking a tour of </span><a href="http://www.animalsasnaturaltherapy.org/"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">Windy
Acres</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">, a five-acre farm and
sanctuary in Bellingham, WA. Windy Acres is no ordinary farm, or sanctuary for
that matter. Its crop is growing healthier at-risk kids ages 6-18. Volunteers
also help the therapists with veterans and seniors.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQkDdqDcGZWGFpil-fkDeliv7nTlur71CTTS8kImPbzijC7m260ZaEYsEWjEDaw6YYjMO567DEiR8m5ju9BZdyw-JHYuN3DxD1mMAChPxzlLicdYN3Qr7ZiyIWOJCoq-HhwxAtR6A_IGF/s1600/Blackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="434" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQkDdqDcGZWGFpil-fkDeliv7nTlur71CTTS8kImPbzijC7m260ZaEYsEWjEDaw6YYjMO567DEiR8m5ju9BZdyw-JHYuN3DxD1mMAChPxzlLicdYN3Qr7ZiyIWOJCoq-HhwxAtR6A_IGF/s200/Blackie.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">Here’s
another thing that makes Windy Acres special; the “therapists” are all animals.
From the barn cat to the horse herd and a whole lot in between, these animals
are improving people’s lives every day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">From
their Website:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">“Since
1999, Animals as Natural Therapy has helped thousands of people find healing
through horses and other animals. Additional services include mobile therapy
animals, leadership, anti-bullying workshops and team-building experiences.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">Why Animals, you might ask?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCmy6rbM2l7b46x6UzfQQV-Kd7w6CoBU4SDHo06I5vmt1duoCGQyCN2bxV7lcyzLmwZFyZl1tu9mtVgZdFKt4us3dKVmTo-PnUSX2jor6xg-mXQnqEIlgJArHZtGvag7KkwTX7ofZJM29/s1600/Silly+Llama2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCmy6rbM2l7b46x6UzfQQV-Kd7w6CoBU4SDHo06I5vmt1duoCGQyCN2bxV7lcyzLmwZFyZl1tu9mtVgZdFKt4us3dKVmTo-PnUSX2jor6xg-mXQnqEIlgJArHZtGvag7KkwTX7ofZJM29/s200/Silly+Llama2.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">Their
work is based on the knowledge that animals can reach a place in the human
heart that other approaches may not.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">Many
of those served are struggling with trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, PTSD,
anger, drugs, alcoholism, behavior management and/or other challenges affecting their daily
lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">Executive and Program Director Sonja Wingard
explains, “Equine and animal-assisted therapy</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;"> have been shown to be effective
interventions for people young and old struggling with mental, behavioral and
emotional health issues.”</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcQsF027EeIjEjnLa6cBBoYOp1AoWB7kZkykgeGLGuD2Ehq51RMwL2wByR5BOBi86CMJPAUMQIaPoZZ6U8PnDE-gqBzfgd65EMCntrj2TOsDTPJhOevjMmiI0UGWmrbADNS_Dhw3S6txi/s1600/Kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="554" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcQsF027EeIjEjnLa6cBBoYOp1AoWB7kZkykgeGLGuD2Ehq51RMwL2wByR5BOBi86CMJPAUMQIaPoZZ6U8PnDE-gqBzfgd65EMCntrj2TOsDTPJhOevjMmiI0UGWmrbADNS_Dhw3S6txi/s200/Kid.jpg" width="173" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">I
literally stumbled on the place while running errands around town. One quick
look at the many signs on the fences, proudly proclaiming thanks to their
sponsors, was enough to make me pull a U-turn and drive into the small, gravel parking
lot. I already knew that I wanted to volunteer. In fact, I was ready to start the
next day! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">But
life doesn’t move at Somerstein speed, nor does Windy Acres. Free tours are
conducted the third Friday of every month and volunteer training only three
times a year, or as needed. I signed up on the spot for my tour and grabbed the
Volunteer Information and Release Form. I’m in.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOIUvDKpjgqoK630PTUZvnUt3vbDP9ntFEPw26qPXViVcVtgwcjsLCZ47Gc9d2dbY0LGN02NHx4tOU7DcnDx7KFTVV-IkillhtLsiqEmq89n8Q4CGnV7yc7KRDIUe7TTbXyf15PL1Xzhq/s1600/Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="640" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOIUvDKpjgqoK630PTUZvnUt3vbDP9ntFEPw26qPXViVcVtgwcjsLCZ47Gc9d2dbY0LGN02NHx4tOU7DcnDx7KFTVV-IkillhtLsiqEmq89n8Q4CGnV7yc7KRDIUe7TTbXyf15PL1Xzhq/s200/Turkey.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: 150%;">My
visit left a deep hoof print on my heart. I got a walking tour of the property
and met some young adults who introduced me to their horses and explained how the
various programs were helping them. Along the way, I made many new animal friends, including a pair of noble looking horses well into their 30's. Oh,
and the turkey who will live beyond Thanksgiving. This ANT Farm is a no-kill sanctuary.</span></span></div>
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LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-32005943565000881542019-02-08T09:38:00.001-08:002019-11-30T15:42:35.776-08:00The Car Horn<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3t_2FrjzSNXnjD3xBzeKELwOstzmfB1UbW-_910aH1G_Qup10l0Z3uzS2PjmE6DGeBWN15OcPUe14loyOkZjmeg08IDXdbwa5E22K4AcPuUU9_lQ81M_YtDI0Gp6w70IzWrxLMKcRZrF/s1600/937325813_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3t_2FrjzSNXnjD3xBzeKELwOstzmfB1UbW-_910aH1G_Qup10l0Z3uzS2PjmE6DGeBWN15OcPUe14loyOkZjmeg08IDXdbwa5E22K4AcPuUU9_lQ81M_YtDI0Gp6w70IzWrxLMKcRZrF/s320/937325813_002.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times";">Do you remember when the car horn was a metal ring or half-ring inside the
steering wheel of your dad’s car? If you do, you’re old like me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">My
dad’s car horn was in a 1957 Dodge Custom Lancer with a gold and white paint
job. There was no shift on the steering column or on the floor. The automatic
transmission was a series of big buttons on the dashboard to the left of
the steering column. I borrowed that car late one Saturday night in 1962 – all
</span><span style="font-family: "times";">15 years old of me – and taught myself to drive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">I
was doing fine for about 20 minutes until I turned onto Elmont Road, just
across the New York City line into Nassau County. After I made the legal right
turn the light turned green and the next thing I see is a blue and
orange Nassau County cop car right behind me. I panicked and with shaking hands
immediately pulled over to park on the right. So did the cop.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6rY6vk9rZHFh22jBFPiReyQyYsaoFn3AFhf7KQ-xcCVlWXg79c74jVamcSV5Xe8XvmiN_lvKVQKcFcRV_6eUHONvpvQS8dhWYAoykU_PVSCSp1LjXprkb3ILdgIrQrwnBAVk0BJ34CdA/s1600/Lee+-+1957.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6rY6vk9rZHFh22jBFPiReyQyYsaoFn3AFhf7KQ-xcCVlWXg79c74jVamcSV5Xe8XvmiN_lvKVQKcFcRV_6eUHONvpvQS8dhWYAoykU_PVSCSp1LjXprkb3ILdgIrQrwnBAVk0BJ34CdA/s1600/Lee+-+1957.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";"> It
was a costly misadventure. Besides the citation for driving without a license, I
had to lock up the Dodge and walk home, about a two- mile trek. The old man
swore I’d never get a license as long as I lived in his house and grounded me
forever. I had to pay the $75 fine.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";"> I
did learn a great lesson though: don’t get caught.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";"> The
metal car horn on the steering wheel died in the 1960s as federal safety regulations became
stronger and more sweeping. Soon we were wearing seat belts, and these padded
things on the front seat back protected our heads. Metal dashboards were
covered in padded vinyl, as were the hard plastic steering wheels that were now
on collapsible columns. Our beloved big chrome bumpers became boring,
same-colored integrated things with springs on the inside. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">But
even as the metal horn ring disappeared into that puffy airbag in the middle of
the steering wheel, we’ve never lost our love for the car horn.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">According
to the <i>Allstate Blog</i>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">“Long
before the days of interstates, backup cameras and drive-throughs, drivers
made use of warning signals to alert other road users to their approach or
possible danger. Early signaling options included bells, whistles and
hand-squeezed horns, says Jalopnik. These simple sounds and
motions were helpful to other vehicles, including horse-drawn carriages,
and pedestrians as ‘horseless carriages’ started becoming more common on the
roads.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">The
increasing speed of cars, however, eventually necessitated something
a little louder than a simple bell.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">First
and foremost in today’s horniness is safety--the slamming of brakes and the
long loud blare of the horn as that asshole runs the stop sign. Hopefully your
warning HONNNKKK stopped her/him in time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">But
today’s society demands so much more from our car horns, for example:</span></span></div>
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</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Musical instrument -
the tap, tap, honk, honk, tap, tap of the horn to the beat of your tunes
blasting through the sound system.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Communication device -
HONNKK HONNKK “Hey! Across the street! Tondalaya! How the hell are ya?”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";"> Lazy Boyfriend - Short honk, honk, honk, honk, “Yo, I’m at the
curb, c’mon out.”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Anger Management - Hey
you #$#@*&, you just cut me off!!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Discipline - After the
fact, another loud long honk at the fool running the red light just to let
him/her know they are running the red light.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Honking at the
potential road kill.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">---</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">What's Your favorite way to use your car horn?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-35299984121586680122018-07-22T22:12:00.001-07:002018-07-25T16:33:03.012-07:00To Quote The Doors......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?tab=wj&blogID=6117424271613570184" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?tab=wj&blogID=6117424271613570184" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"This is the end, my beautiful friend...."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I posted my <span style="color: #420178;"><a href="https://leezardonlife.blogspot.com/2007_10_28_archive.html">first blog</a> </span>piece on November 2, 2007. Today, after 165 posts and nearly 45,000 visits, I'm shutting 'er down. I'm sure at least two of you, including my late mother, will be upset by this. Mom, I'm not saying that my creative juices have dried up. In fact, my creative cup runneth over and that is why the blog must end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've had an adventurous life. You've read about many of my adventures on this blog. Over the years I've tried to turn these adventures into a book. I've started and stopped writing a memoir at least three times. I want to share my stories and if people find them entertaining, that's great. My real goal, however, is to wrap these stories around a message of hope - 35-years of drinking and drugging and now 20-years of sobriety. If someone reads my book and decides they can make it if that Somerstein guy made it, I will be a successful author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">About 10-years ago I advanced 10,000 words into one iteration of a memoir and presented it to a hot shit literary agent in New York City. She liked my writing but didn't think the format I used (a series of interconnected essays), was marketable. "Nobody," she told me, "will read a book of essays by an unknown author." I went home to Seattle, started the next version and pecked at it over the next 10-years. I haven't looked at it in who knows how long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Music has always been a major part of my life but I've never written about it. About a month ago I sat down at my keyboard and began what I thought would be a new blog post about the music in my life. I've been writing almost every day since and the piece is 10 single-spaced pages in MS Word, more than 6,500 words - way too long for a blog piece so I stopped writing and pondered, "Am I musically masturbating here or might this be a marketable piece?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Who ya gonna call?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><span style="color: #0000e9; text-decoration: none;"></span></u><u><span style="color: #0000e9;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIifuw5pIfhSsx2o17LPC68ru1g6PY_3k6nFNlt6cLcAh8IiyVdNB-e9_55mJhhy_Ww0kpFdnk0xVjy6U-ghS5g-7e_g__qn_22Hdvz_x4KDPBiRK4IaOYmgW-KqRSIoYAfk2RsnW-g3x1/s1600/out+of+biz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIifuw5pIfhSsx2o17LPC68ru1g6PY_3k6nFNlt6cLcAh8IiyVdNB-e9_55mJhhy_Ww0kpFdnk0xVjy6U-ghS5g-7e_g__qn_22Hdvz_x4KDPBiRK4IaOYmgW-KqRSIoYAfk2RsnW-g3x1/s200/out+of+biz.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My life has been blessed with many creative friends and I reached out to some of them. My heart is warmed by the response I received. Several old friends, along with my gifted nephew Brien, replied almost immediately. Even though no one has yet to read the piece, I had some very productive conversations which helped lead me to this decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bZmucisdwQYxZM6DGl-Ky_brkxoXPv-sTlNallaXIXpcaqWaRbreaXdaPF1oxxkfjcewe8G_reuYYre2xpEGUaVwGyO5iZVLqWutzXRpfH_LeUwNoESrxhozzlDIbqR8V6CldZA_SZpm/s1600/TipOtheHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bZmucisdwQYxZM6DGl-Ky_brkxoXPv-sTlNallaXIXpcaqWaRbreaXdaPF1oxxkfjcewe8G_reuYYre2xpEGUaVwGyO5iZVLqWutzXRpfH_LeUwNoESrxhozzlDIbqR8V6CldZA_SZpm/s200/TipOtheHat.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, this bloated blog piece will be the basis for my real memoir. Every day I awake at dawn and take my two dogs to the dog park. When they're played out, I can't wait to get home and write. No, it's more than that; I feel a burning inside of me, a burning drive to write my book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If the medium is the message, then the music of my life is the story of my life and hopefully you'll read about it when the book is published.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">So, t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">o my faithful readers, a heartfelt thanks and a tip 'o the lucky hat. Your comments and support over the years have made a real difference in my life. To you all, a big hug and a big fat wet one on the cheek.</span></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-25824086404314062252018-05-23T13:50:00.004-07:002018-05-23T13:58:03.499-07:00Back in the Saddle<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlqiqAbRqXABimYCJIJyn_7GbQCgM7oPkZTJIcdR_zRKRMnwQb7D70ymY7Hy1GFOHs5bKPh_N_wpEKgk-mv0ccrvjlFGwPWlXoZR4UzJifCogtjFmXUdF4Ry0-gLGz7XIc0KNXN5R_55a/s1600/rip-van-winkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="364" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlqiqAbRqXABimYCJIJyn_7GbQCgM7oPkZTJIcdR_zRKRMnwQb7D70ymY7Hy1GFOHs5bKPh_N_wpEKgk-mv0ccrvjlFGwPWlXoZR4UzJifCogtjFmXUdF4Ry0-gLGz7XIc0KNXN5R_55a/s200/rip-van-winkle.jpg" width="200" /></a>Hi. It’s me, Rip Van
Somerstein. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I haven’t posted here for a
year. I’ve avoided reading, listening and watching any <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real</i> or fake news for most of that time. I’ve been distracted by the single
worst year of my life. That’s the past. It’s time to bring my cynical and
critical eyes/fingers back to the keyboard and the so-called real world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately it’s a lot of the
same crap I left a year ago only in many cases it’s worse. What’s-his-name
(whn) is still squatting in the Oval Office surrounded by his criminal buddies,
many of whom have been indicted. I can’t wait to see which one will flip first.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2gJmzCsHZA6LMSCQjI_86rXc4YwuFI4PsbSD174s4I07tiN6Ny7eMzQdtqhC7biDzB1KUaz54RFV0QVR5IanwGEFGH34odFrXbwo4f2qXjpWKXslYjYnoorH5c3WvZ_UcgUhSPpno9GR/s1600/4M22DQRLMRDDNMBFJIADI6OBXQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1400" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2gJmzCsHZA6LMSCQjI_86rXc4YwuFI4PsbSD174s4I07tiN6Ny7eMzQdtqhC7biDzB1KUaz54RFV0QVR5IanwGEFGH34odFrXbwo4f2qXjpWKXslYjYnoorH5c3WvZ_UcgUhSPpno9GR/s200/4M22DQRLMRDDNMBFJIADI6OBXQ.jpg" width="200" /></a>It seems like school shootings
are more frequent – if that's even possible. I’m constantly seeing flags at
half-staff. It sickens me. I have no thoughts and prayers going out to the
victims’ families. That’s bullshit. SOMEBODY PLEASE DO SOMETHING!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY5g1UPhjb3eNtdoba_ZTR2ECkwupbgBP_AxoAL34Tv5VOipJMAyUjt5MLOLzRUne8Qf4DyvP3pDkbUK0fmG_kytbiJBDGswwEZe2cyOV1hxiXwhR77gipGEiLSp0cPcgV_n3WQ7ZT69G/s1600/Headupass.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY5g1UPhjb3eNtdoba_ZTR2ECkwupbgBP_AxoAL34Tv5VOipJMAyUjt5MLOLzRUne8Qf4DyvP3pDkbUK0fmG_kytbiJBDGswwEZe2cyOV1hxiXwhR77gipGEiLSp0cPcgV_n3WQ7ZT69G/s200/Headupass.png" width="200" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Which reminds me, Congress
still has its collective head up its ass with the 2018 mid-term election fast
approaching. From my perspective, both major parties are paddling up shit’s
creek looking for the oars. The Republicans are looking for a way out and the
Democrats are looking for a leader. Cue U2:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-5YC_oHj" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-5YC_oHj</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To me, the only real change is
the price of gas. A year ago here in Colorado Springs it was about $2.35 a
gallon. Today I saw $2.90. Three bucks or even $3.50 can’t be far away. Reminds
me of the Dubya days. I don’t miss ‘em. Maybe gas prices will be the thing that
gets whn and all his corrupt band of cronies out of our White House and into the
criminal justice system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi90A_uiPUtnMd8GQW27DwAceq8iDJZFALmL72d5MOgkQabQIrbPer6NBI6AWOTacj0ZgXBx-iMUJxfxEPkS-RYzAqNx0R1ICQzo7bty1kDzXog_2yVyy5MfnlMev_wZ550fFG6FHOu3I/s1600/real_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="606" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi90A_uiPUtnMd8GQW27DwAceq8iDJZFALmL72d5MOgkQabQIrbPer6NBI6AWOTacj0ZgXBx-iMUJxfxEPkS-RYzAqNx0R1ICQzo7bty1kDzXog_2yVyy5MfnlMev_wZ550fFG6FHOu3I/s320/real_002.jpg" width="320" /></a>Oh, and a royal wedding. snore. With apologies to Mel Brooks, It’s good to
be da queen.
Honestly, I don’t get the fascination with “The Royals.” I don’t give a shit
about the ridiculous hats. I toured the Tower of London and viewed the crown
jewels displayed there. It pissed me off, all that money sitting there while so
many Britons go hungry and homeless. History not withstanding, no one person could wear all that jewelry in two lifetimes. Can't they spare some diamonds for the poor? Is this to what we aspire? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Do I sound like a curmudgeon?
Good. I was called that when I was a 28-year old broadcast journalist. I took
it as a compliment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">More to
come. </span>It’s good to be back. </span></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-69492237924721496752017-05-17T20:30:00.000-07:002017-05-17T20:30:05.394-07:00Exit The Valley
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">©2017 by Lee Frederick Somerstein</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Author's note: This is my first
post-surgery piece. Hopefully it's my last on this subject, if not forever, at
least for a long, long time. I hope I'm not beating a dead cancer cell to death
but I am compelled to write because of the magnitude of thoughts and feelings
as my brain and body reboot. May 16 was three weeks post surgery. It's been a
physical and emotional roller coaster. Hang on!)</span></i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">May 5th was much more than my 70th birthday; it was the
beginning of the next chapter(s) of my life. It was the first day post-prostate
cancer surgery (4/25) that I got out of bed - weak as a newborn. It was the day
Dr. Surgeon's nurse pulled staples from the six small incisions spread across
my abdomen. I will tell people they are bullet wounds - so much
more exciting.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m slowly recovering physically and mentally. I’ve
been pushing myself because that’s what I do and the slightest activity still
drains me. I checked with the doc’s office and now even he is concerned that
I’m not further along. I’ve been anemic and started taking a multi-vitamin but
he wants to do a complete metabolic workup. I’m down more than 25-pounds since
this began. Most of the loss is muscle and it ain’t pretty. My ass is down to
my knees!</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mentally/emotionally I’m still processing the past two-and-a-half
months. It started with the diagnosis in early March. The SWAT response
probably saved my life, not to mention your Good Vibrations from every corner
of the USA! Toss in a little Somerstein Sassitude, love, care and support from
The Boss, lots of bad humor and there ya have it.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today I visualize myself walking a trail out of a long,
expansive valley that’s filled at different times with sunshine, nights as dark
as pitch, horrific storms and an ever-changing terrain. Today I stand facing a
clear blue sky with white puffy cotton candy clouds and the open road ahead. I
know life will always intervene but today it is Exit the Valley feeling
stronger mentally and emotionally than at any other time in the past 70-years. I
intend to evolve, learn and be productive with new resolve and purpose.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think a lot when I’m on my ass like this. The fact is,
though, I’ve never been on my ass like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i>.
Over the decades I’ve been poked, cut, probed, scoped, tubed, sutured and
stapled – damn near died a few times after day surgery but nothing compares to
the last months. The changes and discoveries I continually encounter are often
astonishing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s a short list of post-surgery
discoveries/thoughts/observations:</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel cleansed with a new and stronger self-awareness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m holding more closely to me the people I love. </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t like the taste of coffee any more, seriously. As
soon as I could, I made a Starbucks run and ordered my usual quad espresso with
three Splenda under ice, my drink for more than 30-years. It was waaaay too
strong and I haven’t desired one since. Now, I drink a strong, steaming mug of
sweetened Earl Grey Tea twice a day. Delightful!</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I haven’t had a cigar since April 23<sup>rd</sup>. Yes, I
still crave ‘em, addict that I am, but the cravings are fewer and milder. Then,
I read that smoking is a key factor in the return of prostate cancer. Scare
tactic? It’s working.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m not in such a rush anymore.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m still evolving as a writer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s not all tea, toast and strawberry jam:</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hope you never experience post-surgery abdominal spasms.
NEVER!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My doc told me most men experience deep depression about two
weeks after this surgery. I scoffed. Virtually two weeks to the day
post-surgery my emotional choo choo ran off the tracks and over a cliff. I was
fearful, vulnerable, almost paranoid and very, very weak. It was crushing. It
took The Boss and me several days of tension, talks, patience and love to get
through it. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> Time (with no
apologies to Einstein) agonizingly slows down when you are weak, helpless and
bedridden.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I return to my doc in July for a PSA test. They think they
got it all and if that’s so, the PSA should be barely detectable, < 2. It
was 20 when the cancer hit the fan. If it starts rising, that’s not good. It will
take several years of less-than-two before I am “officially” cancer-free. </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m not going to fret. I’m too busy making the most of
today.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-9670946513335633332017-05-11T16:00:00.000-07:002017-05-11T16:00:04.382-07:00Quick Shot<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sixteen days since surgery. Steady recovery but, as usual, not at my pace. Shoveled a few days of double canine defacation 💩 this morning, wiped me out for the day. Dang!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Reference book - an actual book - says recovery is about a month. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ok, time to sleep off my nap.</span></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-71097076596246903432017-05-03T08:30:00.001-07:002019-11-22T15:16:14.943-08:00Dancin’ With Mr. C: Dr. Ferguson Cuts In<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">©2017 by Lee Frederick Somerstein</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(Author’s
note: This is the last in my series, “Dancin’ With Mr. C,” at least for now. I
hope this was as enlightening for you as it was for me. Do know that your Good
Vibrations worked, I know they did!)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 23.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Let’s get it out of the
way, okay. I am officially a cancer survivor, at least for now. Pathology
returned from my prostate surgery shows nothing escaped. “The best outcome
possible!” exclaimed one doc. They’ll check my PSA number in three months. I am
making no assumptions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 23.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We weren’t certain of
anything at 7:30am April 25<sup>th</sup> when Dr. Jeffery Ferguson moved swiftly across
the dance floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 23.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Excuse me, may I cut in?”
asked Dr. Ferguson as he tapped on Mr. C’s shoulder and grabbed him around the
throat. Even while Mr. C did his best to keep me between he and the Doc, there
was no getting away from the determined Surgeon. He went in there like a man on
a mission. Even as Mr. C’s grip on me tightened, Dr. Ferguson thrashed away like
a mad man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 23.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Okay, maybe it wasn’t that
dramatic but the doc <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> relentless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 23.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I was on the operating
table for four-and-a-half hours for what should have been a 90-minute scope
job. Dr, Ferguson had that much scar tissue from my 2005 abdominal surgery to
cut away before he could even start on the main event. My last memory before
going under is that of an OR nurse grabbing, no, squeezing my ass under the
gown. Anesthesia hallucination? I guess we’ll never know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 23.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The next thing I remember
is slowly waking up in my hospital room with a hazy bustle of caretakers
buzzing around me. There was not much pain….yet. I lolled in and out of
consciousness for the next couple of days, the conscious moments punctuated by
excruciating abdominal spasms. Please pass the Percocet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 23.0pt; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">By Day Six after surgery
my emotions are overtaking the physical nature of recovery and that’s good
news; I’m wearing my Bad Ass Coffee Company hat again. I’m writing and my
sassitude remains strong.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m certain I haven’t felt the full emotional brunt of what’s just
transpired but I do know I’ve morphed yet again. Certainly it’s a feeling of
joy mixed in with relief and gratitude but there’s more. It’s almost like a
filmy curtain is opening and I see with tremendous clarity all the
possibilities before me. I just don't know what they are yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bring it!</span></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-47705726941578533982017-04-21T20:22:00.000-07:002017-04-21T20:26:25.348-07:00Dancin' With Mr. C: Zero Minus Three<style>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">©2017 by Lee
Frederick Somerstein</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I didn’t think I
had anymore to say before my prostate cancer surgery this coming Tuesday. As is
often the case, I’m wrong. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Three days out and
my mind is moving fast, in every direction. Thankfully, it remains mostly
positive. When those scary, negative thoughts inevitably emerge, I acknowledge
them let them pass by like a fart in a windstorm. I can’t allow them to take
hold in my head. Then, I focus on the best things in my life. I am grateful for
everything I have.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Still, I face a
rough few weeks. I’m successfully dealing with the anxiety but, today, I’m
struggling with the tension of it all. It doesn’t feel like “I’m scared”
tension. I’m struggling with the unknown. Maybe it’s my ADHD in high gear but it
drives me crazy. Sure, the docs are very positive and I don’t think they train
‘em to soften the news. Still, shit happens and I want the results NOW!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As usual I rely on
my 19-years of sobriety and the quiver of tools I have to handle that shit.
Since I began this journey less than a month ago, a major tool has been my ability
to let go of things I can’t control. It’s not always easy but I have lots of
practice and it takes away a lot of pressure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Another major tool
is the power and fellowship of the group. When I got sober my group was
Alcoholics Anonymous and it was powerful. Today it’s anyone who reads this. I
think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> group can be at least as
powerful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unashamedly, this
mini-journal is primarily for me so that as little as possible lurks in my
cranial folds, Two common threads
of this series are good vibrations and positive energy. It’s working; your
response is steady, heartwarming and empowering. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This leads to my
unabashedly unscientific experiment, likewise a common thread. It’s about those
good, good, good, good vibrations. I ask all of you to use the magic of music and shoot those vibes my way like energy lasers. I’ve never been more serious in my life. I
think this stuff works and I have a plan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My surgery this
Tuesday – 4/25 - begins at 7:30am (MDT). It’s at least a two-and-a-half hour
procedure. If you can find time that day, please use any audio medium to find
The Beach Boys iconic 1966 hit “Good Vibrations.” If you can, listen to it where you
can crank it up and share it. Then, while you’re enjoying one of the most iconic Rock songs ever, share those vibes with me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Think about it,
even if a small number of you take a few minutes to merely enjoy a great
song and think positive thoughts, it might help anyone – even you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Good Vibrations,
baby. Bring It!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-42581903516729799882017-04-18T19:29:00.001-07:002019-02-01T14:11:16.434-08:00Dancin' with Mr. C: And the Band Begins to Play<style>@font-face {
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">©2017 by Lee
Frederick Somerstein</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AUTHOR’S NOTE: Please
take note of my surgery date referenced below. On that date please gather
around your radio’s, TVs, mobile devices, places of worship or anywhere else
and crank up The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations." I am grateful for all of
you.)</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPy-dHgMeh15gEQdh2EeRxbaasIOfYR1eNYNny6WMd3YgsHDttL4Nz48prnZF1C9uO9KJbAuJpSNpoaJqucOo658pUPxP3h1FyEP5XMcv5nbrm731GwQ2MMMGTKQQvDTdpPeCSc2iREVoI/s1600/Bad+Ass+Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPy-dHgMeh15gEQdh2EeRxbaasIOfYR1eNYNny6WMd3YgsHDttL4Nz48prnZF1C9uO9KJbAuJpSNpoaJqucOo658pUPxP3h1FyEP5XMcv5nbrm731GwQ2MMMGTKQQvDTdpPeCSc2iREVoI/s200/Bad+Ass+Hat.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A friend asked me today, “Do you still have that same
attitude about your prostate cancer?” I said, “Read my Hat!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-----</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Dance is about
to begin; the orchestra is tuning up. I feel my anxiety levels rising. I will
stop to consider these feelings after the next few events.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This week I met my
surgeon. He is my urodoc’s<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">[1]</span></b></span></span></b></span></a>
partner and an ace at robotic surgery, which is the first option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Surgeon is in his early 50s, blondish
hair, has a surfer’s suntan, is devilishly handsome and sports a build chiseled
out of cinder blocks. I hate him!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He studied at Johns
Hopkins University and The Mayo Clinic – pretty decent creds. He’s performed
more than 1,000 robotic surgeries. I trust him, especially after he dropped the
best one-liner in the meeting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1980, Dr.
Surgeon's brother was in Seattle before The Olympic, the Grand Olde Dame of Seattle
Hotels, received a long-overdue restoration/renovation. I lived in Seattle at
the time and remarked to Dr. Surgeon, “I was there over the years. Before the
renovation, all the high priced hookers conducted their marketing and sales
from the Olympic’s Lobby.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Without pausing a
beat, Dr. Surgeon replied, “I know. I have a brother-in-law. He married one of ‘em!” I like him!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So, back to the
matter at hand, it’s called robotic surgery because the doc sits at a console and
inserts those gifted hands into a pair of manipulation gloves through which
he controls a tiny scope and the appropriate instrument. He has a close-up real
time view of the surgery. “I’ve seen things anatomically on this monitor that I
never saw using traditional laparoscope techniques,” he told me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There might be one
hang-up. I had a previous abdominal surgery that went very badly south (<a href="http://leezardonlife.blogspot.com/2008/04/if-i-had-any-doubts.html?zx=f42bbfb0753c185">Link
to Blog Post</a>) and there is scar tissue in the area. “If I don’t have enough
room to manipulate the scope and the instrument, we go to Plan B,” Dr. Surgeon
said, “that would be to do it the ‘old fashioned’ way, with the standard abdominal
incision. In that case it will be a three-day, instead of a one-day, stay and a
longer recovery. I won’t know until I get in there with the scope.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I feel the anxiety
uptick a few notches as The Boss and I leave the doc’s office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The next day it’s
my one-hour pre-op appointment at the hospital, blood work, EKG and a long chat
with a nurse. She went over <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i>,
including the very nasty bowel prep the day before and the return of the
dreaded catheter for at least 10-days. AAAaaaarrrggghhh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As The Boss and I
leave the hospital, the anxiety is up another notch and I hear the band begin
to play the overture. T<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">he Dance is about
to begin (4/25). </b>It’s time to investigate my anxieties.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First of all, it’s
only natural to feel anxious before any surgery, especially major cancer
surgery. I will deal with that. But, what I wanted to know is if the anxiety is
fear-based and, the answer is no as far as I can tell. I’m certain it’s there,
around the edges, but the predominant feeling is, “Let’s get this party
started.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4RBhvRNx8LEzZq8GfMvbCnqFvoBUzwxHA1N4PUj_JAUXtarVQS-viwUVAgHeqwT4vgrjfy2n9cK2OANm8zFC0rFkscem9c5NsEH5dhVPf8sU7ccno-C4U558e5W9UQvY4EPAeRpWWaEj/s1600/Bad+Ass+Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4RBhvRNx8LEzZq8GfMvbCnqFvoBUzwxHA1N4PUj_JAUXtarVQS-viwUVAgHeqwT4vgrjfy2n9cK2OANm8zFC0rFkscem9c5NsEH5dhVPf8sU7ccno-C4U558e5W9UQvY4EPAeRpWWaEj/s200/Bad+Ass+Hat.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In other words,
bring it (Read my hat!)!</span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;">[1]</span></b></span></span></span></b></span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;">LeeSpeak
for urologist</span></div>
</div>
</div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-80155138700698348822017-04-14T10:49:00.000-07:002017-06-28T13:00:08.680-07:00Dancin' with Mr. C - The Outing<div class="MsoNormal">
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div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection</style><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">©2017 by Lee
Frederick Somerstein</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Am I crazy? I’m
actually looking forward to April 25th, my prostate cancer surgery. Bring it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m in the best
place I can be in a shitty situation. As far as we know the cancer is contained
within the prostate and an earlier MRI shows nothing in the surrounding lymph
nodes. They’ll check that under a microscope after they get that sucker out.
But they have to get it out fast before it spreads and 4/25 is the soonest they can
do it. I’ve reserved an extra room at the hospital for a prostate going away
party.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As you can tell, my
energy and my attitude remain high and I am astounded by the wave of
good vibes flowing in from all of you. My humblest thanks; you have no idea how
powerful you are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, let’s move to
the business at hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-----</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You’ve read in my
earlier posts that I am eliminating whatever negativity remains in my life.
Except for my closest friends/family, I've never written or spoken about the only
major remaining source of bad and it is time to stop hiding behind that as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Twelve years ago I
divorced the woman who enabled me for the first 18-years of our marriage. She
loved that role because I willingly gave her what she craved the most, power
and control, especially over finances and parenting. When I got sober, her job
description changed. I was back in the game and looking for – gasp! – equality.
She didn’t like that one little bit but she was ready for
me and not in a good way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Because of my addictive obsessions I was heedless of
the verbal abuse she spewed for years about my Somerstein family and me. She
never hesitated to do it in front of Paul Croft Somerstein and Leslie Jo
Somerstein, the progeny of our union. As a result, by the time I reentered the
family unit those kids were many gallons into Ellen Croft’s Kool-Aid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I was “a loser” and
it was all my fault. The Somersteins were “low book,” her term for trash. Even
after I started recovery, I was still a loser even though recovery is something
to celebrate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Don’t get me wrong
here; I am not dumping everything on Ellen Croft. For those first 18-years of
our marriage I was a drunk, a liar, irresponsible, eventually unemployable and
happy for her to rule the roost so I could drink and smoke my weed. That all
changed when I entered Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) on June 10, 1998.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the major
Steps (of the 12) in recovery is making amends to those you’ve harmed and, of
course, we do the most (emotional) harm to those closest to us. In that way
they are as ill as the alcoholic. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Making amends is
not apologizing; it is about making things right wherever you can and three of
the earliest amends I made were to Ellen Croft and her two children. Of
course, there was no way I could undo all the havoc I’d wreaked but there is
something in AA called a “Living Amend,” which is what I offered to the Troika.
After taking responsibility for all I’d done – which in Ellen’s case took over
two hours – I swore a solemn oath that I am living a new, wonderful life and
the person they’d known to that point was dead. They never bought it and they
wouldn’t accept the fact that they needed help as well. Ellen accused
me of not telling her everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The bottom line, in
2005, when I finally realized Ellen and I would never again walk the same
path, I asked for the divorce. I’ve never regretted it, except for one <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BIG</b> consequence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids took her side and we’ve been
estranged for 12-years. I have two grandchildren who have no idea I exist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Over this time I’ve
always kept the communications door open, sent birthday greetings to Percy and
Louise and let them know that I love them. Until last year, I harbored a deep,
almost enjoyable hatred toward Ellen until I finally found a way to forgive
her and hope she recovers from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her</i>
emotional illness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sorry to bore you
with all that but it is the context for my biggest act of shedding
negativity, which I now share with you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A few days ago I
sent the following email to Ellen and her children:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Elaine,</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Read this email, please, and, if they haven’t
received their copies, read or copy it to your children.</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve changed dramatically in the weeks since my
cancer diagnosis (I left you a message which unsurprisingly went unanswered).
In fact, my entire perspective on life and death is different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I need all things positive in my life to help me in
the coming health wars and I am fortunate to have a core group of caring and
loving people providing support, great vibes and hope. Over the past 12-years
I’ve wallowed in your vengeance, negativity and hate. I begged forgiveness for
my perceived crimes. I begged to see my grandchildren. No more. This is the
last time any of you will hear from me. This is no ploy or cry for sympathy. It
is a carefully considered decision and it is liberating.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s taken 12-years – and the cancer diagnosis – to
come to closure. I’ve finally let go. I don’t want any of you in my life and I
most certainly don’t want any of you involved in my death. If word of my
imminent demise reaches you, whether it’s ten weeks or ten years from now,
ignore it – which I’m certain you would do anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">There are some things you should know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In your thirst for my punishment, you missed the
best of me, which I find so ironic. You experienced my active alcoholism but
chose not to know the real me that emerged in sobriety. Maybe it’s because the
process of sobriety and self-discovery evolves over the years. It doesn’t occur
the instant you stop drinking. I always heard in meetings that it takes five
years or more before you really discover your real self. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The person you knew
was a product of disease and despair. All you experienced was my early recovery
and nascent rebirth. You then opted for vengeful estrangement, which translates
into total negativity. You are welcome to hold onto that negativity and share
it between yourselves for the rest of your lives. I am free of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">What you’ve missed is a very good man, loving,
caring and living in service to others, especially those closest to me. You’ve
missed my growth as a writer; I’ve found a strong voice and I’m attracting an
audience. Most of all, you’ve missed a very good father/grandfather with
abundant love, counsel and wisdom to share. Now, I’ve found peace within
myself and take pleasure from the world and the people around me. I like who
I’ve become, warts and all. I strive each day to work on my shortcomings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally, I forgive the three of you for what you
did; your actions were the result of the parts of the disease you “caught” from
me. The emotional damage to members of alcoholic families is extreme. In
that sense, my disease affected you all deeply and emotionally. None of you accepted that fact. But, any anger I felt – more negativity – is
gone. But, even though I forgive you, I will never forget what you did and the pain
I allowed you to inflict.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">-----</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "" "times" "" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">By the time I wrote that email
to Elaine and her children, the final die was cast. When I informed Elaine,
Paul and Leslie about my cancer diagnosis, I didn't really expect Elaine to
contact me. It was the deafening silence from her children that finally set me
free. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-2785406457925152332017-04-10T15:29:00.002-07:002017-06-28T13:08:48.748-07:00Before the Dance<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 200%;">©2017
by Lee Frederick Somerstein</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">(Author’s note: I hope you’ve noticed
the changes – hard to miss. Yes, it’s aesthetic but it is so much more. The cancer diagnosis changes everything. My
brain continues to download and digest my new facts of life. One of my major
discoveries is that I’ve been hiding all my life, hiding behind booze and
drugs, hiding behind nicknames like LeeZard, Lefty, Da Rev, Seaweed, Asshole
and much worse. I’ve hid behind snappy patter, bad jokes, a wink and a nod,
behind bravado and false confidence. Allow me to introduce the real me, Lee
Frederick Somerstein. I hope you like the changes.)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">---------------</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">People often ask what I write about. Over the years the
answer hasn’t changed. “Life.” I say. “It gives me a lot of LeeWay.” Writing
about life also includes writing about death. That’s not what this blog is
about. Nor is this blog about my cancer. Too depressing!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">This blog is about what I see, think, feel, touch, hear or
smell going forward. It’s about my views on life and it’s <i>about my</i> <i>life.</i>
For the unforeseeable future, this is about my new journey and, when it comes,
my new fight. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">At times I will have to get graphic because it frames all of
the above. It will not be gratuitous; I will try to minimize the gore.
Unfortunately, this is one of those times. It’s been a very tough week and I
haven’t even started the dance with Mr. C.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Because my prostate is the size of a basketball it is
pressing hard against my bladder and the result is that I cannot fully empty
said bladder. This can potentially lead to serious kidney damage. I already
have enough problems and my urologist is very concerned. The solution is one of my most
neurotic fears, catheterization. Arrrrggghhhhh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m almost certain I know exactly when it started. In my
impressionable early teens I was the voracious reader that I am today. In those
days it was World War II novels, lots of them (If you’re squeamish, skip the
next few paragraphs, you’ve been warned).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Somewhere in there I recall a Japanese torture used on
prisoners of war. It was simple but quite effective. They’d take a glass tube,
appropriately sized, and insert it far into the penis. Then they’d smash down
on the penis. The image stuck with me until this week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">My doc was adamant, “You need to do the 'cath,' follow me.”
His tone held no room for debate. Doing a quick series of slow, deep breaths, I
meekly followed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I’ll spare you the insertion of the (not glass) tube except
for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">verrry uncomfortable. </i>After a
while it eased and I prematurely breathed a sigh of relief. They led a tube to a soft plastic bag secured to my leg by
gentle elastic bands with my kneecap as the center point. A dark red flood
quickly filled the bag. Holy shit!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The nurse sent me home with sketchy instructions regarding
both my leg bag and a much larger night bag. I walked very slowly from the
office, down to the car and home to two of the worst nights of my life. The
Boss was with me every cautious step of the way. I took great strength from
that. I had no idea how important and powerful that would be in the next 48+
hours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The next two nights were as bad as any I can remember. No matter
how or which way I moved, the catheter caused tremendous pain and
discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I slept one or two
hours each night. The days were only slightly better because I had the smaller
bag strapped to my leg and the cath didn’t move around as much. Still, the pain
and discomfort persisted. I was exhausted. The Boss fussed over me without suffocating me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The nurse removed the cath on the third day. The Boss and I
returned home with a bagful of self cath samples early last Friday afternoon.
Despite my trepidation, it’s actually much less painful. When we got home, I went straight to bed, emotionally and
physically spent. Of course, The Boss joined me, bringing her body so close to
mine we were as one, and I started crying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">It started slowly and quietly but soon I unashamedly sobbed
out loud. The Boss held me tightly, all the while gently stroking her fingers
through my hair. I think we stayed that way for five minutes or more. I was home in her arms. I was safe.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Then, the
sobs ended as suddenly as they arrived. She held me for a few more moments and,
when I finally sat up, my mind was amazingly, refreshingly clear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I realized the crying was not from sadness, defeat or
self-pity. There was no “poor me, woe-is-me.” It was like my brain went on
overload and needed to take a huge dump. I once again felt strong and ready for
the fight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Bring it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">-----</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;">On the medical front, my bone scan was
clean. That means the cancer hasn't metastasized and the doc says he's
almost certain it is contained in my prostate. Still, it's at the high
end of "medium aggressive" and the speed of treatment is paramount. The
treatment is most likely removal of the prostate, as soon as I can
schedule it.</span></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-60675787259007306042017-03-30T20:51:00.001-07:002017-06-28T12:03:12.998-07:00Dancin' With Mr. C<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">©2017
by LeeZard</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
“The biopsy shows moderate to
seriously aggressive cancer on two sides of your prostate.” And so, last
Thursday, my life changed forever. The surprise is, I’m
not freaking. Those who know me well know how shocking that is. For those
who don't, four words: New York, Jewish, Neurotic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
The next surprise, especially to me, is that I feel stronger and
stronger each day. Not physically; I've lost 30-pounds. But I feel like my whole life has prepared me for
whatever lies ahead. I’m ready. Bring it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
I had a bone scan today. I'll meet with my urologist in six days. For now, you know as much as I do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
------------ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
My brain has always worked at high
speed, although my mouth often swings into action first. Over the last eight days, though, my brain is processing more slowly as more thoughts and feelings emerge. I’m actually enjoying this part.
I am learning so much more about life. I’m learning so much more about
me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
No matter what happens, this blog will not devolve into some kind of emotional death spiral; I am filled
with hope. I have only positive people in my life including a
small, powerful core of friends and supporters. And, I have the love and friendship of
a remarkable woman. She does not like the spotlight. I call her The Boss because when she states something with certainty she is just about always right. She likes me to remind folks that she's not bossy. She's not.<br />
<br />
I'd be lying if I said I'm not afraid. For now, some fear is around the edges and I don't dwell on it. I'm sure that will change further down this road. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
I am almost looking forward to
the fight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
------------- </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
But that’s not what this first
blog post is about. No matter the outcome, the cancer diagnosis changed me forever. Mortality is in the neighborhood sooner or later and things I’ve
ignored or taken for granted are suddenly in vivid focus. Maybe reality doesn’t
always bite.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
Nineteen years sober have turned me into the man I’m supposed to be. I’m a good man and
I like me warts and all. I’m humble enough (can you believe that!?!) to work on
the shortcomings I can fix and live with those I can’t. Getting sober changed me forever. the cancer diagnosis even more so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
Also through sobriety, I’ve
righted many wrongs and forgiven a lot of people for whom I harbored real or
imagined anger and resentment. Over the past eight days, I’ve found new ways to
forgive and I’m certain I’ll find more wrongs for which I must answer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step
Away From The Negative Energy!!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
Here’s the best news in all of
this, my path as an observer and a writer has never been more clear. Even if I make it for another 30-40
years, my writing has a new urgency, a sharper purpose and, hopefully, an even
greater self awarenes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
Please join me on this new
journey. Together, I hope we will learn and grow. A ton of good, good, good, good
vibrations ( bop bop) won’t hurt either.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-17187450490747992342016-11-09T13:55:00.000-08:002016-11-09T22:59:27.392-08:00Arrogance Wins, Arrogance Loses<style>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">©2016 by LeeZard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXBB7VB-1vEBkPZbyR0WRyBPMWTMgkf_LhzgS8xPmDHOE4LQSwopO-IyJpwD7fALq4eO2Ifv9zxcI4PqJNrGqt6en02ZkOAwAKFDbB7Xjm8AaIfRrj2m-xmbSlZFqvo2Ku8bJNevvEScI/s1600/Upside+Down+Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXBB7VB-1vEBkPZbyR0WRyBPMWTMgkf_LhzgS8xPmDHOE4LQSwopO-IyJpwD7fALq4eO2Ifv9zxcI4PqJNrGqt6en02ZkOAwAKFDbB7Xjm8AaIfRrj2m-xmbSlZFqvo2Ku8bJNevvEScI/s200/Upside+Down+Flag.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Wednesday
November 9, 2016</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Ask The Boss; I’ve been telling her for weeks that I was
afraid of this election. Today, I am saddened, depressed and, yes, fearful. I’m
still in shock. I’ve never been so deeply affected by a presidential election, not
Nixon, not Reagan and not Dubya (although I always feared Vice Thug Dick
Cheney).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">So, what are we to do, those of us who believe in equality
for all and love not hate? For now, we just take a collective deep breath and
wait. Like many of you, I’m considering a move out of the country but such a
momentous decision should not be made hastily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">I can’t/won’t wait for the so-called pundits to figure this
whole thing out. I have my own views. Yes, 20-20 hindsight is easy even if it’s
difficult to swallow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LkWkUhBYqKKAMX-MsIujzWGZuC8tOmwM2s9sF3X7HtNVaMwqQzRNWQZPZaezFtCVd6vGqR8iB_IN30ZJclSidM8POfLkwsbh2WigWadhYQVAbZO2Ui9YZ3OAiIXvo0qLnnbVjcX0u1pA/s1600/Trump-Kramden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LkWkUhBYqKKAMX-MsIujzWGZuC8tOmwM2s9sF3X7HtNVaMwqQzRNWQZPZaezFtCVd6vGqR8iB_IN30ZJclSidM8POfLkwsbh2WigWadhYQVAbZO2Ui9YZ3OAiIXvo0qLnnbVjcX0u1pA/s200/Trump-Kramden.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">As I awoke this morning to my melancholy, the word arrogance
dominated my consciousness. Trump’s arrogance (cannot bring myself to use the
word president before his name) helped him win this historic, horrific
election. Conversely, it was Hillary’s arrogance that helped her lose. The
difference was, Trump’s arrogance was bolstered by his bluster, misogyny and scorn for
the truth. Hillary’s arrogance was bolstered by her indifference and
over-confidence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Take Wisconsin, for example – which Hillary didn’t when she
should have. After the primaries, she never visited that seemingly safe Blue
State, not once. When I worked on local campaigns I learned that you work to
your strengths. Instead, Hillary’s campaign took Wisconsin for granted and lost
ten electoral votes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Pennsylvania? I think she underestimated Trump’s strength
there, especially in places like Erie, a traditionally Blue part of the state.
Twenty electoral votes gone. Toss in Ohio and Florida and, boom, that’s the
election.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">At a personal level, I can’t say that I like Hillary and,
I’ve lost respect for Bill. His little private talk about Hillary’s email mess
with the attorney general was arrogance. In my view, the Clinton’s demeanor
throughout the campaign was one of entitlement. Nonetheless, the Clinton’s know
how to govern and lead. They know how the system works and their positions on
my key issues are solid.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDDQ8KtYztsIi38TV4b5hXpaD7P5gpAZ82yd2yjzVgRpq6VY9lhMIDvdjWuQDXlNU0IJCeTQObxsZlvGiCLPwdoKa5KbcMU2gYDVJIl5LVN7wTnrW11ZqtlZAEJHqKYl588J11X0HMs8j/s1600/swastika-trump-940x540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDDQ8KtYztsIi38TV4b5hXpaD7P5gpAZ82yd2yjzVgRpq6VY9lhMIDvdjWuQDXlNU0IJCeTQObxsZlvGiCLPwdoKa5KbcMU2gYDVJIl5LVN7wTnrW11ZqtlZAEJHqKYl588J11X0HMs8j/s200/swastika-trump-940x540.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDf-HpNfbvhE6wrfk5ctuKS6jcivCzSdwqnI8Na-AUmGeWLBoSbtVvV87bgefDaCoiPGVRvSzplq4TSzkRWLDL4wVdAgFmiw9kWmLMjzE5R43ScKnPZvZl2OHYlqNbTlFOn3IHKID6rXw/s1600/images_086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDf-HpNfbvhE6wrfk5ctuKS6jcivCzSdwqnI8Na-AUmGeWLBoSbtVvV87bgefDaCoiPGVRvSzplq4TSzkRWLDL4wVdAgFmiw9kWmLMjzE5R43ScKnPZvZl2OHYlqNbTlFOn3IHKID6rXw/s200/images_086.jpg" width="142" /></a><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">What scares me as much, if not more, than Trump in the White
House (shudder), is what his stunning victory means to his supporters,
especially those on the fringe. Will the KKK initiate new and successful
membership drives across the nation so more crosses can burn? Will we see a
frightening resurgence of lynching? Will sexual assaults against women increase
sharply? Should Muslims, African Americans, Hispanics, Jews and other minority
groups fear for their well-being? What about an increase of mass shootings with
assault weapons? There are so many opportunities for YES to all those
questions. OMG!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">So, while I’m not buying a one-way airline ticket quite yet,
and with apologies to John Denver and Peter, Paul and Mary, all my bags are packed and I’m waiting to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
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LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-64961358349322557082016-06-14T08:23:00.000-07:002016-06-14T08:24:45.807-07:00The Sad Truth<style>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">©2016 by LeeZard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">I have so many
feelings and emotions, anger, sadness, despair, frustration, hopeless and
helpless. Did I mention anger? I don’t know what to do. What can I do? What can
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> do? It may be too late to do much
of anything; the genie is out of the gun safe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking, of course, about the horror in
Orland, FL, its aftermath and the ensuing predictable debate over gun control
mixed with the platitudes of, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families
and victims.” I want to vomit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Sorry, folks, even if
you do believe in some great deity, thoughts and prayers don’t mean squat. Let’s
face it; the sad truth is that even if weapons such as the AR-15 are
banned nationally, nothing will change, at least not in the foreseeable future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">I’m sure you’re
thinking, “How can you say such a thing, LeeZard? We absolutely must ban
assault weapons!” </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEuhgTMCJM4X4nHhp8YM8axSxsr1vf5lX4YZfJIY-uuaDkhdwKhrG7Ci1HcX1JwkkbUU0TERWk2rrszJAavTjNxBquQUynzADRfqSZ3yp5Gb1867GuAynIjZhqB3p2L3Q7OFCVypCp5B4/s1600/AR-15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEuhgTMCJM4X4nHhp8YM8axSxsr1vf5lX4YZfJIY-uuaDkhdwKhrG7Ci1HcX1JwkkbUU0TERWk2rrszJAavTjNxBquQUynzADRfqSZ3yp5Gb1867GuAynIjZhqB3p2L3Q7OFCVypCp5B4/s200/AR-15.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">First of all, the
AR-15 is technically NOT an assault weapon. According to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christian Science Monitor</i>, “</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The AR-15 is a semiautomatic civilian
version of an M-16 military machine gun (introduced during the Vietnam War). It
is not a true assault weapon, since it can't fire continuously. It's extremely
accurate at 200 yards and easy to modify, and thus has many uses, ranging from
coyote hunting to hobby shooting at ranges. Its short barrel and modified stock
make it easy to maneuver in tight places, making it a popular home defense weapon
as well.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Really? You need a friggin’ machine gun for home defense?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">So, let’s get back to
our mythical assault weapon ban. In theory, it sounds great but reality bites.
First and foremost, we cannot forget the Gun Lobby. They have so many lawmakers
in their hunting vest pockets that any ban will be a long time coming, if ever.
But let’s say for a moment that a ban nationwide is enacted. Will it end the
mass killings and domestic terrorism? I don’t think so.</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">While it’s hard to pin down exact numbers of specific
weapons out there, many sources call the AR-15 the most popular gun in America.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Slate</i> magazine’s Justin Peters
estimates there are 3.75 MILLION AR-15-style weapons in the hands of Americans.
So, besides your average commando wannabe, just about every self-styled militia
and terrorist cell have all the AR-15s they need. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU5iyMGL8jjtjWg1OrVSfGE5Dxjo5_H7cQX3Ik-qz5op222CiWdyTT3-Rr4If0ZEVybsyekoGUm0W4bHawLHXtdh70Wh2-vvc-ts47fTzalCkqnrPb4e2M84l9Iwb-8abnH_jopD6_rRe/s1600/orlando-shooting-0613-super-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU5iyMGL8jjtjWg1OrVSfGE5Dxjo5_H7cQX3Ik-qz5op222CiWdyTT3-Rr4If0ZEVybsyekoGUm0W4bHawLHXtdh70Wh2-vvc-ts47fTzalCkqnrPb4e2M84l9Iwb-8abnH_jopD6_rRe/s320/orlando-shooting-0613-super-169.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">But, you might argue, at least it’s a beginning and,
eventually those weapons will disappear. Really? How long do you think it will
be before attrition takes almost 4-MILLION weapons? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.5pt;">No, I don’t see any type of ban slowing the flow of blood
across America and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> is the sad
truth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-90224698386980475242015-12-18T21:13:00.001-08:002016-05-14T12:43:07.659-07:00Mother Goose Says, "Dumpty the Trumpty!"<style>
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">©201<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">6</span> by LeeZard</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I was sitting at my laptop the other night
trying to NOT listen to the Republican presidential candidates’ debate. I do
sometimes leave the TV on, though, just for the comedy and so I can understand
the late night talk show monologues.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">About halfway through the ridiculous
discussions on foreign policy, there was a light, tentative knock at my door. I
looked through the peephole and, upon seeing that world famous and familiar
face, threw the door open with glee.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“Mother Goose!” I exclaimed. “Where have
you been this election year? I’d just about given up on you.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">She replied, “Humpty Dumpty and I sat on
the wall, thinking we wouldn’t get involved at all. Now we’re both hot to trot,
ready to take all our shots, and dumpty all over Trumpty."</span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“Not your best, MG,” I replied, “but
I get your point.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">So, for the third presidential race in a
row, my old pal and I waddled over to the laptop and proceeded to dump(ty). She
dictated while I typed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Harrumph,
Harrumph, Harrumph,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What
shall we do with the Trump?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
guy's all bombast,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">His
head’s up his ass,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He’s really a fascist old grump.</span>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><style>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let’s look at the others,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This sick band of brothers,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And Carly too while we’re at it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They lie and they bluster,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Their truths have no luster,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mostly it’s political bullshit.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isis, Isis,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I prefer Italian Ices.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The GOP would send troops in,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And continue to bomb ‘em.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">T’would really not ease the crisis.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now Bernie and Hillary,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They both have the Skillary,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And they're better than the rest.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s compared to the others you see,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But really what bothers me,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is even they aren’t the best.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "sans-serif" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Enough, ” I cried. “I can’t take any
more. My eyeballs are rolling back in my head.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She looked at me and winked. “Okay, Okay, I
say but one before I go. I just can’t resist, this farewell kiss, to all the
hot air they blow.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To
listen to them grieve,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How
bad it is, they believe,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
without them America is worse.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let’s
be great again they cry,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But
no matter how hard they try,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Their arguments are just simply borscht.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank
you Mother Goose!! </span></span></span></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-33811970313408187552015-12-16T16:11:00.000-08:002019-11-30T16:11:08.896-08:00Whither Pete Rose?<style><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPR8Xa-LzTR-k-noHzzkVYwrmTrogqfvlawIRCuIe89eH2mev2-UhV0O0v4CtEXEoKzighAVZuJ4MyoLZPvRHLAnF7yPTHz0QKCgq9by18BgwSfuhOlUMzPCElISZ_oqm9fZXIO53vzal/s1600/rose.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPR8Xa-LzTR-k-noHzzkVYwrmTrogqfvlawIRCuIe89eH2mev2-UhV0O0v4CtEXEoKzighAVZuJ4MyoLZPvRHLAnF7yPTHz0QKCgq9by18BgwSfuhOlUMzPCElISZ_oqm9fZXIO53vzal/s400/rose.jpg" border="0"></a>
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">©2015 by Lee Frederick Somerstein</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1937994394"></span><span id="goog_1937994395"></span>I love baseball, especially its history. That is why I am upset by
the decision from Commissioner Rob Manfred that Hits King Pete Rose will
forever be banned from baseball because he bet on the game both as a player and
manager.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_z_46xAwuNAwVUklfdMODxouoS-1_IWFWtf36ENj_Kb3X46lvx-qftlsJ36aBju86o2CZ72eJDYzSHv4NqcAeimIeNHRZ7Wlv5qqeu5Z_wwnGjLiTi9IhDZDv94e7TRTMZ-9KIb5haT8/s1600/rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_z_46xAwuNAwVUklfdMODxouoS-1_IWFWtf36ENj_Kb3X46lvx-qftlsJ36aBju86o2CZ72eJDYzSHv4NqcAeimIeNHRZ7Wlv5qqeu5Z_wwnGjLiTi9IhDZDv94e7TRTMZ-9KIb5haT8/s200/rose.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That Rose did, indeed, place bets – even on his own
team – is not in question. In fact, he stupidly admitted in his news conference
after Manfred’s announcement that he still bets on baseball to this day. He
definitely deserved a severe punishment. What bothers me is the commissioner’s
– and Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) – petty vindictiveness and hypocrisy.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What bothers me even more is that even though Rose
technically could be eligible for a plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF), that
august institution still refuses to consider his entry because of the baseball
ban. In 1991 the HOF passed a rule that bans anyone on baseball’s ineligible
list from entrance into the hall. The HOF Board of Directors could easily
reverse the rule.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyrJCMIMJifDqq4bm3l8hEcLlsmez1gpZM5EhwXxoDz4T-vHoy06IgXaEM1-BQhNVUYXxM8QLNzcQrXOcPjCi-e2C3rJvP-AGYaZxNy2jmHApsbphJadm_ORTMb1uu_LBPwxmHfXwLJjZ/s1600/flying+rose.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyrJCMIMJifDqq4bm3l8hEcLlsmez1gpZM5EhwXxoDz4T-vHoy06IgXaEM1-BQhNVUYXxM8QLNzcQrXOcPjCi-e2C3rJvP-AGYaZxNy2jmHApsbphJadm_ORTMb1uu_LBPwxmHfXwLJjZ/s320/flying+rose.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How can MLB and the HOF turn <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">their</span> backs forever on one of the
greatest players to ever lace up a pair of </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span>spikes?</span></span></div>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Pete Rose’s Major League Records:</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Career Hits 4,256</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Games Played 3,562</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most AB’s 14,053</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Singles 3,315</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Total Bases Switch Hitter
5,752</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Seasons 200 or more hits 10</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Seasons 600 or more AB’s 17</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Seasons 150 or more games
played 17</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Winning Games 1,972</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>5 hits or more in Games 10XS</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Only major league Player in
History to Play 500 Games at 5 Positions</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>1B(969) 2B(634) 3B(634) LF(671)
RF(595)</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; margin-left: 0.25in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most 20 Games or more hitting
streak 7XS</b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: .25in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Total Times on base 5,929</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAYvxhmjq_30mtTxzGOe4vuelHR4a03EIFKDJcQUF37thhAKkEoaI7sex7iayrYKmGap7uJxCrOYCVQuelKuviXYe54-7bPEU-v-RHcQ2CqBCwneML1HuPcPAHTyYhqhjtSmo5ZivOiY5/s1600/Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAYvxhmjq_30mtTxzGOe4vuelHR4a03EIFKDJcQUF37thhAKkEoaI7sex7iayrYKmGap7uJxCrOYCVQuelKuviXYe54-7bPEU-v-RHcQ2CqBCwneML1HuPcPAHTyYhqhjtSmo5ZivOiY5/s200/Rose.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hall of Fame display. Photo by Leezard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And, while Pete Rose is denied his plaque in the Hall of Fame, the HOF doesn't mind exploiting <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">him</span> by displaying his uniform and other memorabilia. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think MLB’s vindictiveness is blatant. Does
Rose’s gambling really deserve a lifetime ban? Back in the day, the National
Football League suspended two of its famous gamblers – Paul Hornung and Alex
Karras – for one season. </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Hypocrisy? Let us count the ways.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Ty Cobb, the man Rose
unthroned as The Hits King, was not only an evil spirited racist, he was a
blatant cheater who sharpened his spikes to injure anyone who got in the way of
his stealing a base.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Mark McGwyer, an admitted
cheater/steroid user, apologized for his transgressions and immediately became
the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. Now, he’s the bench coach for
the San Diego Padres.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Alex Rodriguez,
Lie-Rod….’nuff said.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiv0O8ylr4Y0D6Dc12_JzIuLVDBKb_hd0MeUNVmlhVYu588Nc7AxWvJYs6xn9HESj7Ny4behd_4oh408A83MlOtkugI7AKFPkEw13RaIC9-sXzPFig1xNVW0WFeBOox1IXuwX3lKQPZ7A/s1600/miccosukee-marlins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiv0O8ylr4Y0D6Dc12_JzIuLVDBKb_hd0MeUNVmlhVYu588Nc7AxWvJYs6xn9HESj7Ny4behd_4oh408A83MlOtkugI7AKFPkEw13RaIC9-sXzPFig1xNVW0WFeBOox1IXuwX3lKQPZ7A/s320/miccosukee-marlins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Gambling? MLB is in bed
with at least one of the short-term fantasy league businesses, which have been
banned in at least five states as illegal GAMBLING.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Many MLB stadiums have
casino advertising on the scoreboard and/or on the walls surrounding the
playing field.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, one thing that has always struck me about
this is that I’ve never seen it mentioned that Pete Rose probably has a
gambling addiction. He shows the classic signs of an addict; he lies, directs
responsibility away from himself and denies he has a problem. “I have myself
under control,” he said at his post-Manfred decision news conference. And, as if to subconsciously flaunt his addiction, Rose held his news conference in Las Vegas.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JDhuYI_mUsIcCUaMdI2mb_rz8vzLPyThWpjzp7maCkoAjldOSiTUTaAW3KMPIGcWqtSNVS24sEH_hi3sL8ZakZu37EqYhI1yN0c-JbUJNTEymQ7YntnYuilJnvMKJiOyAhXhj3vTkgGu/s1600/tips-signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JDhuYI_mUsIcCUaMdI2mb_rz8vzLPyThWpjzp7maCkoAjldOSiTUTaAW3KMPIGcWqtSNVS24sEH_hi3sL8ZakZu37EqYhI1yN0c-JbUJNTEymQ7YntnYuilJnvMKJiOyAhXhj3vTkgGu/s200/tips-signs.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The man needs treatment more than he needs the
continued holier-than-thou punishment from MLB.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-43789557490656154302015-12-01T17:45:00.004-08:002015-12-01T21:19:17.506-08:00WTF is Going On?<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">©2015 by LeeZard </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am sad. I am angry. I am frustrated and shaking my head in disbelief. As the recent Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shootings – which took place just a few short miles from my front door – still shudder through the country I can’t help but ask, What the Fuck is Going On??!!??</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If we can forget for a moment the plague of international terrorism, let’s focus on what is happening right here in the world’s most violent nation – domestic terrorism, an increasing racial divide, fear and hate at every turn. Let me repeat, I am sad. I am angry. I am frustrated and shaking my head in disbelief. Moreover, I feel powerless to do anything about it but grieve for my country.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We already know that America has more guns per capita than any other nation on the planet, almost 89 per 100 people with Yemen number two at just under 60 per 100 people. Saudi Arabia is the first Arab country on the list, checking in at number seven with about 35 guns per 100 people.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></span></a></span></span> What a sad story.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">According to CNN:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Using numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we found that from 2001 to 2013, 406,496 people died by firearms on U.S. soil. (2013 is the most recent year CDC data for deaths by firearms is available.) This data covered all manners of death, including homicide, accident and suicide.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">According to the U.S. State Department, the number of U.S. citizens killed <i>overseas</i> as a result of incidents of terrorism from 2001 to 2013 was 350. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In addition, we compiled all terrorism incidents <i>inside</i> the U.S. and found that between 2001 and 2013, there were 3,030 people killed in domestic acts of terrorism. This brings the total to 3,380.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></span></a> </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Even if you factor in the deaths from 9/11, it’s still not even close.</span></span></div>
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Listen, I can bombard you with all sorts of numbers to prove the point that is already accepted by most people. What troubles me even more than the data is the vibe in this country right now. This ain’t the summer of love.</span></span></div>
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In fact, these times remind me more of 1968 than that “magic” summer of love in 1967. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLarYpoKfTRXOqzB9_Ww4F-NFWLiF-GN0ENc2skDc2B6wlYKQ563_1e_x1092fxEtwptU1OLWMHKeQWRvetmwDXyxkLDIS4gLg1OSYmjNGhTzFzDFX4A7ZmkI8xiMxkXHLTDSVil4vjty/s1600/chicago+riot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLarYpoKfTRXOqzB9_Ww4F-NFWLiF-GN0ENc2skDc2B6wlYKQ563_1e_x1092fxEtwptU1OLWMHKeQWRvetmwDXyxkLDIS4gLg1OSYmjNGhTzFzDFX4A7ZmkI8xiMxkXHLTDSVil4vjty/s200/chicago+riot.jpg" width="200" /></a>Sixty-eight is the single most violent year I can recall; Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3NzwDVkc3n_0-Wnr2wNShyphenhyphenhCCu90B0DvmC2PW40DlPXFwA4Sucyb2ioBV6Y07QSSAaGtLkQ7CMWKOgGE2lFQ6emqoNn0mIMwRSHFVLuGXEd9OO54yi7aFafxsDBYGT9I0VgBUpL-zUD-/s1600/mlk_rfk63.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3NzwDVkc3n_0-Wnr2wNShyphenhyphenhCCu90B0DvmC2PW40DlPXFwA4Sucyb2ioBV6Y07QSSAaGtLkQ7CMWKOgGE2lFQ6emqoNn0mIMwRSHFVLuGXEd9OO54yi7aFafxsDBYGT9I0VgBUpL-zUD-/s200/mlk_rfk63.jpg" width="200" /></a>King, Jr. assassinated, the Chicago riots at the Democratic National Convention and race riots all across the country in more than 100 cities following MLK’s death. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yes, we had landmark civil rights legislation in the 1960s but the racial divide is alive and well today and race riots are definitely not a thing of the past.</span></span><br />
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think the tone in America today is far worse. I am not a fan of sweeping generalizations about large groups of people but I feel pretty safe in joining the hue and cry against the radical religious right in this country along with the lovely and talented (and closet fascist) Donald Trump for fanning the flames of fear and hatred that often lead to violence.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM73R3BUrBzP6RRtC15uGPlMt1qgiOGhwL-iniFRob_0vYu-HM8auVarMGBgqq3ifJlA7FdiqLWSoD17WnjE2D_gNShtWXpG05hLtMRjwgs_LVdDiJQzF1eQ-GhcSUWvhj0VgWLclz8KMe/s1600/hitlertrump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM73R3BUrBzP6RRtC15uGPlMt1qgiOGhwL-iniFRob_0vYu-HM8auVarMGBgqq3ifJlA7FdiqLWSoD17WnjE2D_gNShtWXpG05hLtMRjwgs_LVdDiJQzF1eQ-GhcSUWvhj0VgWLclz8KMe/s200/hitlertrump.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="zn-bodyparagraph">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That is not to say the Democrats are totally blameless. Of all the presidential candidates, only Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has the balls (or ovaries) to lay the blame, directly or indirectly at the feet of the radical religious right and Adolph Trump. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="goog_1653617287"></span><span id="goog_1653617288"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And, according to at least one academic study, incidents of gun violence breed more of the same. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Mass killings and school shootings in the U.S. appear to be contagious, according to a team of scientists from Arizona State University and Northeastern Illinois University. <br />
<br />
Study author Sherry Towers, research professor in the ASU Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center, explained, 'The hallmark of contagion is observing patterns of many events that are bunched in time, rather than occurring randomly in time.' </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her team examined databases on past high-profile mass killings and school shootings in the U.S. and fit a contagion model to the data to determine if these tragedies inspired similar events in the near future.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> They determined that mass killings - events with four or more deaths - and school shootings create a period of contagion that lasts an average of 13 days. Roughly 20 to 30 percent of such tragedies appear to arise from contagion.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span></span></a></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TnbyFKxHYkHTwLS4H2fGwyiGI0Qqcr1_R7GIc3P1lhU_6-YG4g23MZA2zfRij0rQqbnxStre9Hu8O0tifH5iJ6bgJbOmgpPhYJgF_qsyqu_yELvvVRpuF16A4n3oERWAs4eD99J757A9/s1600/evil+genie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TnbyFKxHYkHTwLS4H2fGwyiGI0Qqcr1_R7GIc3P1lhU_6-YG4g23MZA2zfRij0rQqbnxStre9Hu8O0tifH5iJ6bgJbOmgpPhYJgF_qsyqu_yELvvVRpuF16A4n3oERWAs4eD99J757A9/s200/evil+genie.jpg" width="187" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What can we do about all of this? It is what scares me the most; I think the question is virtually unanswerable or, that horse has left the barn or, you can’t put the genie back in the lamp.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have another question, “What even more horrific tragedy must yet occur before we are forced to find the solution(s)?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br clear="all" /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></span></a> CNN.com, from a 2007 survey (I guarantee the number hasn’t gone down since then): <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/03/us/gun-deaths-united-states/">Countries with most guns per capita</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></span></a> CNN.com: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/02/us/oregon-shooting-terrorism-gun-violence/">Domestic violence vs. international terrorism</a></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<div id="ftn3">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span></span></a> Phys.org: <a href="http://phys.org/news/2015-07-mass-school-contagious.html#jCp">Mass slayings study - complete article</a></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-8361375540062509122015-11-10T18:12:00.003-08:002015-11-12T11:53:29.440-08:00United Health Care: What a Mess!<style>
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> ©2015 by LeeZard</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3MRlQoDZA_HJMcmx8t8sbzU6mzrvoOm2RqZe5ph_DlEHHEno88RV-KDXnfWh1qXYXztfr7JxVIepsedrtRk0GernawOqpRBzzpHJu9HzZQ-bI8pWOgYsa4BhgHga_6O3Hu91fN_pgq4E/s1600/question-mark-UHC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3MRlQoDZA_HJMcmx8t8sbzU6mzrvoOm2RqZe5ph_DlEHHEno88RV-KDXnfWh1qXYXztfr7JxVIepsedrtRk0GernawOqpRBzzpHJu9HzZQ-bI8pWOgYsa4BhgHga_6O3Hu91fN_pgq4E/s200/question-mark-UHC.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a rant, a well-deserved
rant.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My younger readers – both of them
– may think this piece doesn’t apply. Take it as a cautionary tale, however;
sooner or later our screwed up health care system will jump up and bite you in
the ass. As for my fellow Medicare inmates, read it and weep.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It started simply enough on the
early September day when I went to pick up a couple of prescription renewals.
For years I’d enjoyed my Medicare Complete Plan through AARP and United Health
Care (UHC) with great benefits and a more than reasonable premium. For a brief
18-month period, I utilized my employee benefits through Starbucks and Premera
Blue Cross. That ended when I left the company in July 2015. I simply assumed my
UHC plan would revert and become my primary carrier. Assumptions – always
dangerous.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkLkSJx6xZyEFO1naQVQ6HHtFWILnvzmYp-MA4YjyECqZdf3SXWKaHcXMVDpjUCko5Ls_gv9Dw-8EkGtV32dnwwmlv_SW4I04DvmFFUlnyCtPksUYtr7kviCRPZ24nQoDZC_REq1oB6HF/s1600/bad-customer-service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkLkSJx6xZyEFO1naQVQ6HHtFWILnvzmYp-MA4YjyECqZdf3SXWKaHcXMVDpjUCko5Ls_gv9Dw-8EkGtV32dnwwmlv_SW4I04DvmFFUlnyCtPksUYtr7kviCRPZ24nQoDZC_REq1oB6HF/s320/bad-customer-service.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">On that day, I went to co-pay
for my prescriptions and I received a whopping bill for more than $300.00!
“Your insurance lapsed on August 31<sup>st</sup>,” the pharmacist informed me.
I was shocked. Unable to pay, I returned home and placed a call to United
Health Care’s customer service department. And thus my Medicare nightmare
unfolded.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Until this point, I never dealt
by phone with United Health Care, never had a problem. I would soon learn that
“customer service” at UHC is a misnomer; it is non-existent. Oh, let me count
the ways.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After verifying my existence to
the so-called customer service rep, I explained my quandary. There was silence
at the other end as I heard the clackety-clack of computer keyboard typing.
After a moment or two she said, “Can I put you on a brief hold while I check
this out?”</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Sure.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Five minutes passed, then ten, 15 and more. Thirty minutes
later the woman came back on the line. “I’m sorry, but it looks like ‘they’
failed to move your plan from Washington to Colorado when you phoned in your
change of address.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Okay,” I replied, “that’s easy enough. Just move my plan to
Colorado.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Well,” exaggerated pause, “it’s not that simple. First, you
have to re-enroll in a Colorado plan. Then, there’s an outstanding bill of
$440.00 on your Washington plan.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“What?” The word exploded from my mouth. “Why should I pay
an erroneous bill because your system screwed up?” A reasonable question,
right? Wrong!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Well,” she replied, “you can always appeal it but our
computer says you owe $440.00 and that is unlikely to change.” Now there’s a
hopeful statement.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Well, let me re-enroll in the meantime.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After another 30-minute hold I was passed to a sales
representative who put me through the lengthy enrollment procedure – another
30-minutes worth. When we were done she informed me, “Your new plan will take
affect October 1<sup>st</sup> and you will receive your new membership card
shortly before then.” Right.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlEleh7vESK81ZlkaN3YXTB5TpeaJeSX5797FJwBJK2jX83No7EC97k3dlsZH-VoJTsKWwflDYgMumKzUrVfuKh7iiSLbRndB8OUdEWMUOI-Fmm2134dDpA9viCRJA1ZwnUa4qtKmUqpV/s1600/comcast_bad_customer_service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlEleh7vESK81ZlkaN3YXTB5TpeaJeSX5797FJwBJK2jX83No7EC97k3dlsZH-VoJTsKWwflDYgMumKzUrVfuKh7iiSLbRndB8OUdEWMUOI-Fmm2134dDpA9viCRJA1ZwnUa4qtKmUqpV/s200/comcast_bad_customer_service.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On October 2<sup>nd</sup> I reluctantly called UHC again; no
new card. “Let me place you on a brief hold,” the rep told me. Ouch.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Forty minutes later she returned, “I’m sorry but we can’t
find any record of your enrollment.” By that time I’d spent one hour and 40
minutes on the phone and the result was I had no Medicare Complete and its
benefits that far outstrip those of Medicare. My frustration was beginning to
boil.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Wait, she offered, “let me have one of my colleagues try to
find your record. She has more access than I do (Whatever that means). Let me
put you on a brief hold.” You know the drill. I opened my laptop and began
playing Backgammon.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No longer bothering to time the “brief hold,” I waited.
Eventually a new voice came on the phone, “Sir, I did find your record. Do you
live at blah blah blah?” It was my address from seven years previous. Holy
guacamole; the left hand doesn’t even know there’s a right hand!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Can I talk to your supervisor, please?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Sure, let me put you on a brief hold.” Noooooooo!!!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More than thirty minutes later, a conservative estimate, I
connected with the supervisor. I calmly explained my dilemma and urged her to
look for my record; it had to be in there. “Let me put you on a brief hold,”
she said. Sheesh.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Upon her return – another lengthy wait – she informed me, “I
did find your enrollment application but it’s been denied because you owe
$440.00 in premiums for your Washington plan.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“That was billed while I was in Colorado,” I explained, “it
was an error on your part and I am not paying.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Well, then I’m afraid we can’t re-enroll you.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Ldp0ERTdaaqA267rK2Myv3Pk7DFsDhEXazcuYt7jCQyteHGpaSUcYGyPeWBDKM8j30qHQkSDP6K6hHkGMYHpjTjQn5iLSbtIxANKJJtZpnWLAzKsjX1ZTJjxkP-1kdWkCaAS51dgVfq/s1600/angry-consumer.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Ldp0ERTdaaqA267rK2Myv3Pk7DFsDhEXazcuYt7jCQyteHGpaSUcYGyPeWBDKM8j30qHQkSDP6K6hHkGMYHpjTjQn5iLSbtIxANKJJtZpnWLAzKsjX1ZTJjxkP-1kdWkCaAS51dgVfq/s200/angry-consumer.png" width="200" /></a> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My frustration was now anger, pure and simple. Luckily I
learned a long time ago that displaying anger by getting excited, yelling,
threatening, etc. is counter-productive. So, in my calmest voice, but clearly
displaying my dissatisfaction, I asked, “Can I please talk to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> supervisor?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” came the reply.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“What? Why not? I’m not getting any help here and I need to
talk to someone who can make a decision.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” she repeated.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“What? Are you guys the CIA? Why can’t I talk to your
supervisor?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“I can’t tell you that,” was her astonishing answer. I hung
up.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The next day I thought I’d try again and I did hit some sort
of shallow pay dirt. After laboriously explaining the problem yet again, this
representative said, “You know, you can complain directly to Medicare; they
have complete control over what we do.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Funny, nobody mentioned that to me before.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I’ll spare you any more details; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m</i> already bored writing and reading this. It took another two and
a half weeks but, after investigating, Medicare, to their credit, made UHC move
my plan cancellation retroactive to the date I began benefits under Starbucks
plan, February 1, 2014, in essence erasing my $440.00 debt.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV6PrGy4dL7FlcsgvLoH17DACraG8X6d2Ht2DpNUobvt1qKBc-N98Ki-heKsL6AnPRLiUbeP5SoMWzABvdfx8P2D92mc6x5gLVuOUxF4kwBJ2bLG8lQt0eINQrzcWH47yiyfjI22rMIAO/s1600/Hold.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV6PrGy4dL7FlcsgvLoH17DACraG8X6d2Ht2DpNUobvt1qKBc-N98Ki-heKsL6AnPRLiUbeP5SoMWzABvdfx8P2D92mc6x5gLVuOUxF4kwBJ2bLG8lQt0eINQrzcWH47yiyfjI22rMIAO/s200/Hold.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Today, I am enjoying my Colorado plan – with NO monthly
premium – and a full menu of benefits. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ironically, I repeatedly get phone calls
from United Health Care, which I refuse to answer.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Graciously they always leave a message asking me to return
their call and let them know how they’re doing. Hah! Now I have them on a very
long hold.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-1618055911831422642015-09-23T09:52:00.002-07:002015-09-23T09:58:35.015-07:00Yogi's Place<br />
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<span style="font-family: "; font-size: 10.0pt;">©2015 by LeeZard</span></div>
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></b>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguT-XArZn6GxVXkzFNT1Sm0LQG-5qgcuyEa6kfgJsJ-lj1rZvEd9ppA3wlB6Boludk_JW_L_ggiC3c_AKE-fuQTT-nCLPF1_m00faFhrAIrzD913HvkPs-1NGPov4nrMOZ4bYIt-ovPmy/s1600/Berra+Plaque.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguT-XArZn6GxVXkzFNT1Sm0LQG-5qgcuyEa6kfgJsJ-lj1rZvEd9ppA3wlB6Boludk_JW_L_ggiC3c_AKE-fuQTT-nCLPF1_m00faFhrAIrzD913HvkPs-1NGPov4nrMOZ4bYIt-ovPmy/s320/Berra+Plaque.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">On The Hill, St. Louis, MO, August 2013. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She is sitting and reading a book. I
don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t an attractive young woman in shorts
and a college sweatshirt lounging on Yogi Berra’s front porch. I glance down
and the bronze plaque embedded in the sidewalk tells me I’m at the correct
address.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Excuse me,” I call, “I’m sure you hear
this a million times but I’m still another tourist and Yogi Berra fan. Can I
take a picture?”</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa5Y7JGzDp6l874k-sAI72EmZmNxb5Du4iLvc5gy5mcf7TfLILNqCYYx1J83_ADDpEfVnhR7Z4PO3PNd4RF2Y_wVwW7sIxzBIudOk4Q9aHeFhiAw0WQvBUhR00Wgut_yTamy6FwE_8Kxk/s1600/Berra+Home.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa5Y7JGzDp6l874k-sAI72EmZmNxb5Du4iLvc5gy5mcf7TfLILNqCYYx1J83_ADDpEfVnhR7Z4PO3PNd4RF2Y_wVwW7sIxzBIudOk4Q9aHeFhiAw0WQvBUhR00Wgut_yTamy6FwE_8Kxk/s320/Berra+Home.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As a youth, Yogi Berra lived here<br />for 18-years</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She smiles brightly, “Sure, go ahead.” I
snap away but I’m not </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">done yet.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span>I <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">take </span>a few steps up the short walk,
“Listen, I’m sorry to bother you but I’m driving cross country and writing a book
on my travels. Can I interview you?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She marks her place in the book and
throws me another killer bright smile, even friendlier than the first, “Sure but I
only have a few minutes.” I cannot believe my luck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She introduces herself as Courtney Brown
and then, my luck gets better. “I’m Yogi’s grandniece. I grew up here” she
informs me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“How many tourists like me stop by every
week?” I ask her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Oh, hundreds. We get tour buses.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“How often do you talk to Uncle…..,” I
hesitate. “”Do you call him Uncle Larry or Uncle Yogi?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“We call him Uncle Yogi,” she says
laughing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“How often do you speak with him?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“We used to talk to him a lot more; he
used to come visit at least twice a year. It’s not as much since he got older
and my grandma passed away. Grandma was Uncle Yogi’s sister.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A horn honks behind me and Courtney says,
“That’s my sister, I have to go.”</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaFak-NKE8rsRwdRiZOiCmJ_1Ive0sQXiwXpVwYbcEP7woi-_stxS7nki6jI0m1547Z_X0Oo-6KZB7MGodenwa-xCmWqQKK8yPLJzB986nzCddL0FGGsVsReFUfyoM6kzzQCL0Wb3RAQ2/s1600/Berra+Niece.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaFak-NKE8rsRwdRiZOiCmJ_1Ive0sQXiwXpVwYbcEP7woi-_stxS7nki6jI0m1547Z_X0Oo-6KZB7MGodenwa-xCmWqQKK8yPLJzB986nzCddL0FGGsVsReFUfyoM6kzzQCL0Wb3RAQ2/s320/Berra+Niece.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grandniece Courtney Brown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“One last question, please?” My mind is
racing, searching for a good one. I can only come up with, “Uncle Yogi is
iconic as a slow thinking guy who never paid his syntax. <i>I</i> know he’s not dumb; you can’t be and catch for those great Yankee
teams. What’s he really like?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“He’s a very nice guy, very funny, he’s
always got a comment to make about something. He likes to talk a lot. He never
minded getting bothered by people for autographs and whatnot. Uncle Yogi now
lives in New Jersey. He is a healthy 88-years old (May 12, 1925) and just
opened the new Yogi Berra Museum.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">As Courtney gets up to leave I can’t help
but ask, “Are you a baseball fan?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Of course!” Big smile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Yankees?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Cardinals!!”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">So much for family loyalty.</span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-45222779703316731042015-09-02T13:22:00.001-07:002020-04-21T10:44:44.362-07:00The Donald Scares the Hell Out of Me<style>
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</style><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">©201<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6</span> by LeeZard</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytcgwxdSJL8XBvxCHe9z1WJ2hNUiTjarZ02EqFMS8zqB84535C5vBFcGTuhm3XNSpfWI6LwjvhyphenhyphenYC7cw0HN75xyrP4ntuaDKwyfD6hn1HchHU0qn-rqc-emwUQd9IH1rmDE_g_uac9TZ8/s1600/Trump2016Hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytcgwxdSJL8XBvxCHe9z1WJ2hNUiTjarZ02EqFMS8zqB84535C5vBFcGTuhm3XNSpfWI6LwjvhyphenhyphenYC7cw0HN75xyrP4ntuaDKwyfD6hn1HchHU0qn-rqc-emwUQd9IH1rmDE_g_uac9TZ8/s200/Trump2016Hair.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Donald
Trump scares the hell out of me and I'm not just talking about his hair.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lceUxK9urNfB4oan1BPVFMVx_4soSCrirMhMKCtBJRjYwELnNNeeSwLFFdCH_zFENVNYpw3vcjhy5E83YlIyV8TQfBXnuap7XqW9CaaXM1jtmWWc0IB7i1AiTEoIMdRxioZJc8PHKbGN/s1600/dailynewstrump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lceUxK9urNfB4oan1BPVFMVx_4soSCrirMhMKCtBJRjYwELnNNeeSwLFFdCH_zFENVNYpw3vcjhy5E83YlIyV8TQfBXnuap7XqW9CaaXM1jtmWWc0IB7i1AiTEoIMdRxioZJc8PHKbGN/s200/dailynewstrump.jpg" width="154" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">When “The Donald” first announced his
presidential aspirations I, like a lot of people, laughed him off as a joke, a
sideshow. Well, the circus has come to town and The Donald is its ringmaster. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">His rise and staying power in the Republican Party’s polls is simply beyond my
imagination and, yet, the more I look at America today, the more I understand
why his campaign is not merely a flash-in-the-pan. Let’s count the ways in
which he scares me more and more every day.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">It’s not just about his billions. Not everyone
can “buy” an election. As a journalist, I’ve covered countless campaigns and,
as a communications professional, I’ve managed media for countless others. The
winner is not always the candidate with the most money. It is more often the
candidate who taps into the major blood vessels of the body politic. Sadly it
is often the candidate who taps into the fear in that body. Hence, The Donald.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxI7ay20d-i8QF5HCbzut1k7AO8CtkH1gGE5d2DE2B0k9Y0gLlgCd3KrlQ83UagtrICUoaTruFUrHhKhyphenhyphenwgj-H836qqAMdg1VtgiclsFAhwmd_XpEPVLgqhPTOUwC63nv9EGikEXg3wJn/s1600/Angry_donald_duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxI7ay20d-i8QF5HCbzut1k7AO8CtkH1gGE5d2DE2B0k9Y0gLlgCd3KrlQ83UagtrICUoaTruFUrHhKhyphenhyphenwgj-H836qqAMdg1VtgiclsFAhwmd_XpEPVLgqhPTOUwC63nv9EGikEXg3wJn/s200/Angry_donald_duck.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The most common phrase I see when people explain
why they support Trump is, “He speaks his mind.” Really? My uncle is a
blithering alcoholic but he speaks his mind. Does that mean my uncle is
qualified to be president? What about knowledge of the political and
legislative process or the ability to achieve consensus among those with
differing agendas and ideologies? What about restraint of pen and tongue (I
think it’s called diplomacy)? Gawd, can you see The Donald at an international
summit meeting? My brain starts to melt at the thought. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Others cite Trump’s phenomenal success in
business and real estate. They ignore the fact that his success is most
certainly built on the backs of the poor. This is the man who wants to build
The Great Wall along the Mexican-American border; we have to keep those
rapists, pimps and druggies out. Yet, I have to wonder how many illegal aliens
work at his resorts, casinos and golf courses. And, he may not want them, but
White supremacist leaders around the country are falling into Trump’s line
because of his outrageous stance on immigration. Shivers run up and down my
spine.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">What's even scarier is <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Donald's use of social media to feed the Trumpsteria. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you remember your history then you know that whomever <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'gets' and controls the latest media technology often wins the race.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John F. Kennedy, in 196<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">0, was the first presidential candidate to 'get' television and<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, even though he beat Tricky Dicky Nixon by just a hair, JFK wipe<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">d</span> Nixon's ass in the<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ir <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TV</span> debate.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ronald Reagan, the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Great Communicator,"</span> turned his skills in <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">movies and television into political hellfire against the incumbent Jimmy Carter. And, eight years ago, Bara<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ck Obama</span></span> </span></span>turned the World Wide Web i<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">nto his personal information superhighway.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Trump reminds me of the man in a picture I
viewed on Facebook. The man was wearing a t-shirt that proclaimed “NO More Taxes”
and decried government interference in peoples’ lives. At the same time he was
shaking the hand of soot-blackened firefighter who’d just saved the man’s home
in the perilous wildfires in Washington State. Hey buddy, guess who pays that
firefighter? You and your taxes, that’s who!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">So, let’s get back to those billions. It’s a
scary and powerful mix <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in</span> the intravenous line Trump has injected into the
body politic. What’s in that line? Fear<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">!</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A</span>nd, he spre<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ads it by dominat<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ing</span> traditional media headlines</span> with outrageous rhetoric and outlandish behavior while spreading his real message of hate, bigotry and bu<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">l</span>lyism via social media<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5BVBfFZAm5gbsvCpB4AJnZLo4dGJX-b0e_VQoIZY1xds9yx-Vo80BlEulMsHd2iss0hsy7xW157CDzE4SO9I7V4vgnF8VK3_72MP28C8YCzaupe6i4NNhLO7HrDWMumMpqsUsONtsz3M/s1600/TrumpF.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5BVBfFZAm5gbsvCpB4AJnZLo4dGJX-b0e_VQoIZY1xds9yx-Vo80BlEulMsHd2iss0hsy7xW157CDzE4SO9I7V4vgnF8VK3_72MP28C8YCzaupe6i4NNhLO7HrDWMumMpqsUsONtsz3M/s200/TrumpF.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Here’s what I fear; the American public is
gullible and cares very little to dig deeper than <span id="goog_1820381141"></span><span id="goog_1820381142"></span>the surface pap doled out by
traditional media. Trump knows that.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Please see the histories of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and
George “Dubya” Bush (and his vice-thug Dick Cheney). Trump’s <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">bizarre</span> public
persona, his blatant racism and sexism and his disdain for the political
process should and could still be his Kryptonite. On the other hand, it is those very
same things that fuel his support. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">That’s why Donald Trump scares the hell
out of me.</span></span></div>
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</span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-69375623246478343272015-05-08T12:12:00.000-07:002015-05-08T12:45:51.482-07:00Some People Will Hate This<style>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">©2015 by LeeZard</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWo5g9FhK54FOsrD8h89sSAQavUjPTDmxlrhn-b7oTqUpIF8SebKkd4vklaVodf4RG_rQxn7kKFFHLRQNHetclkTA58B8IezrSyE5uBc2A5SU2jkVYxrWKkEjf1BPaJQLvsBaGQiH_nhu/s1600/patriotism.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWo5g9FhK54FOsrD8h89sSAQavUjPTDmxlrhn-b7oTqUpIF8SebKkd4vklaVodf4RG_rQxn7kKFFHLRQNHetclkTA58B8IezrSyE5uBc2A5SU2jkVYxrWKkEjf1BPaJQLvsBaGQiH_nhu/s320/patriotism.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">I’m glad I live in America; it could be a helluva lot worse. I could be living in Haiti, Nepal, an African nation ravaged by Aids and/or Ebola or even Russia. But I don’t. The fact is, though, I don’t think America is the best country in the world anymore, far from it. Yeah, this is the part that will piss people off. So it goes. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blind patriotism, like anything in the extreme, is dangerous. There’s a reason the word ‘blind’ is there; it means you don’t see anything beyond your nationalism. It means you don’t see the racism, the violence, the poverty or the perpetually hungry. It means you think we don’t live in a dictatorship when, in fact, ours is a dictatorship of the wealthy. OMG, he’s talking like a fucking Communist! Really? Let’s compare.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>ECONOMY</u> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are no longer the economic engine that drives the world. According to Bloomberg Business:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Emerging markets in Asia and Africa reign supreme: They're at the top of global growth projections over the next two years.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">The
world is expected to grow 3.2 percent in 2015 and 3.7 percent next year
after expanding 3.3 percent in each of the past two years, according to
a Bloomberg survey of economists. China, the Philippines, Kenya, India
and Indonesia, which together make up about 16 percent of global gross
domestic product, are all forecast to grow more than 5 percent in 2015.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By
comparison, the U.S. and U.K., which combined account for about a
quarter of global growth, are expected to grow 3.1 percent and 2.6
percent this year, respectively. “</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dictatorship of the wealthy? The gap between the rich and the rest of America has
been much in the news recently. Here’s why. According to The Pew Research Center:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“The
U.S. has one of the most unequal income distributions in the developed
world, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development — even after taxes and social-welfare policies are taken
into account.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Before
accounting for taxes and transfers, the U.S. ranked 10th in income
inequality; among the countries with more unequal income distributions
were France, the U.K. and Ireland. But after taking taxes and transfers
into account, the U.S. had the second-highest level of inequality,
behind only Chile.”</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><u> </u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>HIGHER EDUCATION</u> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to AlterNet.org:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6gJY64sgR_E2bmlb3GT02_aa7R1nPzSPDUD19EOHksQH525Djmdp5B_X1fDsvoC4oG9zBBweG8YeNijtauRj5STMY6JSjLd514Bc3qcp7OsDy2AZCWPTakHwbxVciPoPNGthqw_3aRB-/s1600/astudentdebt.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6gJY64sgR_E2bmlb3GT02_aa7R1nPzSPDUD19EOHksQH525Djmdp5B_X1fDsvoC4oG9zBBweG8YeNijtauRj5STMY6JSjLd514Bc3qcp7OsDy2AZCWPTakHwbxVciPoPNGthqw_3aRB-/s200/astudentdebt.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Two-thirds of American college students graduate with college debt, and that debt now </span><span style="font-size: small;">tops $1.2 trillion. By every indication, college is now more expensive than it has ever been, out of reach for not only poor Americans but even middle class ones. While various reforms made in the past few years may have helped slow the growth of college costs, they continue to outpace Americans’ ability to pay.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Google search for countries in which higher education is “free,” reveals at least these six:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Germany<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">France does charge tuition – but normally around $200.00 at public universities, a far cry from what you’d pay in the United States, even in a state school.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finland</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brazil</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Norway</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Sweden</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hmmmm, there’s not a communist country on the list.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYAUJTdUdl7OVIkp0svZTBZEUmzTVMP-AiMCOoJuNP7nZtHyLrLzwXJSrvpOy_JhcAdgg1nqalZE2TEHX2udTk7DGN85TSmTzMLVTd_Rvy5gvqnCty5Mu7ol3SIYvpex8PjDGc8oP7oVU/s1600/Handguns.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYAUJTdUdl7OVIkp0svZTBZEUmzTVMP-AiMCOoJuNP7nZtHyLrLzwXJSrvpOy_JhcAdgg1nqalZE2TEHX2udTk7DGN85TSmTzMLVTd_Rvy5gvqnCty5Mu7ol3SIYvpex8PjDGc8oP7oVU/s320/Handguns.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><u>CRIMES INVOLVING HANDGUNS</u> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to Forbes.com:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Few major nations have the right to bear arms configured in their Constitution. Even fewer (as in we are the only one) have gun control legislation as a hot button political issue. The U.S. is the most violent core economy in terms of gun related deaths. It is also the leader in gun violence at school campuses. Yet, the U.S. does not lead the world in firearms related deaths.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, if you look at Forbes’ list of countries with the most handgun-related crimes, 12<sup>th</sup> ranked America embarrassingly finds itself in the company of third-world countries:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">El Salvador</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Jamaica</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Honduras</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guatemala<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Swaziland</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Colombia<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Brazil<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Panama</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mexico</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">The Philippines</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">South Africa</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">United States</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6yFGkXFz9iD5grMLt76MSHwT8zouwToVlaMn8HMxEJ4myaKaHBrPaSbcSgCcGI1eJoYM8lIrGfugKheb_n5HlE_wA1E3uqCuKEydrDHnitwf4BJgrmxU1diWQ-rg_EI9Q7_hYA-myA3T/s1600/killers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6yFGkXFz9iD5grMLt76MSHwT8zouwToVlaMn8HMxEJ4myaKaHBrPaSbcSgCcGI1eJoYM8lIrGfugKheb_n5HlE_wA1E3uqCuKEydrDHnitwf4BJgrmxU1diWQ-rg_EI9Q7_hYA-myA3T/s1600/killers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6yFGkXFz9iD5grMLt76MSHwT8zouwToVlaMn8HMxEJ4myaKaHBrPaSbcSgCcGI1eJoYM8lIrGfugKheb_n5HlE_wA1E3uqCuKEydrDHnitwf4BJgrmxU1diWQ-rg_EI9Q7_hYA-myA3T/s320/killers.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>SERIAL KILLERS SINCE 1900 </u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Oh boy, have we got ‘em (And we glorify them!):</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Serial Killers by Country</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">United States - 2,625</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">England - 142</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">S. Africa - 101</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Italy - 100</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Japan - 88</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Germany - 75</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Canada - 74</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Australia - 72</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Russia - 64</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">India - 57</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">France - 52</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">China - 41</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mexico - 23</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Austria - 17</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brazil - 15</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Poland - 15</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scotland - 13</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spain - 13</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Netherlands - 11</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sweden - 10</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note: Serial killers operating in multiple countries are not included</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Radford University/FGCU Serial Killer Database</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">September 6, 2014)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND PRISONS </u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to the non-profit Death Penalty Information Center, The United States had relatively few </span><span style="font-size: small;">executions in 2013 but, once again, we find ourselves in some dubious company:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Countries with the Most </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Confirmed Executions in 2013</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. China (estimated in the thousands) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Saudi Arabia (79+)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Iran (369+)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. United States (39)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Iraq (169+)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. Somalia (34+)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The U.S <i>is</i> Number One with the most prisoners in the world. The American Psychological Association reported in October 2014:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“While the United States has only 5 percent of the world's population, it has nearly 25 percent of its prisoners — about 2.2 million people.</span></span> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over the past four decades, the nation's get-tough-on-crime policies have packed prisons and jails to the bursting point, largely with poor, uneducated people of color, about half of whom suffer from mental health problems.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">This startling reality has cost U.S. society in many ways, concludes a sweeping National Research Council (NRC) report produced by an interdisciplinary committee of researchers.</span></span> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">‘We reached a broad consensus on what negative impacts these policies have had on individuals, on families, on communities and on the nation,’ says Craig Haney, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Santa Cruz, a report co-author and member of a committee that in July briefed the White House on the report's findings.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One out of every 100 American adults is incarcerated, a per capita rate five to 10 times higher than that in Western Europe or other democracies, the report found. Though the trend has slowed in recent years — from 2006 to 2011, more than half of states trimmed their prison populations — in 2012 the United States still stood as the world leader in incarceration by a substantial margin.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">While the United States has 707 incarcerated people per 100,000 citizens, for example, China has 124 to 172 per 100,000 people and Iran 284 per 100,000. North Korea is perhaps the closest, but reliable numbers are hard to find; some estimates suggest 600 to 800 per 100,000.”</span> </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">That same NRC report came up with shocking numbers for the cost of imprisoning our citizens:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“State spending on corrections increased by 400 percent, adjusted for inflation, between 1980 and 2009 (over the same time, state prison populations increased by 475 percent). The rise in corrections spending at the federal and local level has been similarly steep.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="c0ceadc082"></a>As a result, the report points out, the criminal justice system in many states has increasingly become the main provider of health care, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, job training and education for the most disadvantaged populations in America.<b>”</b></span></span> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9fwS6ZWlLtorP4ndgxLMErMAVMoKB-BjDy75PhuxjHKrwzzCGD67x8oaDPkaYAGUaI489pItICF-pM4VuCYFhHkN8bdZ_WIVEiPqkjhIIdjkrVOQI-CwI9JjIOjylIsQp6899JIc_lxi/s1600/black+hands.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9fwS6ZWlLtorP4ndgxLMErMAVMoKB-BjDy75PhuxjHKrwzzCGD67x8oaDPkaYAGUaI489pItICF-pM4VuCYFhHkN8bdZ_WIVEiPqkjhIIdjkrVOQI-CwI9JjIOjylIsQp6899JIc_lxi/s200/black+hands.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, the report quantifies what we already know:</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Today, minorities constitute 60 percent of the U.S. prison population. Men under the age of 40, the poorly educated, people with mental illness and drug and alcohol addicts are also over-represented.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, as I look over to the right side of the room, I see many super-patriots reaching for their handguns. Hold on boys! I’m not writing this to bash America.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> What I am doing is pointing out that we are not that shining light in the world anymore and we cannot be blinded by our patriotism.</span> I write this because I love my country, I really do. I also write this because I am very concerned about my country.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the one hand, we are THE singular superpower playing both good and bad cop on the international stage. I can't think of any other country where I could feel safer from any enemy attacking us, terrorists notwithstanding.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAgOZkTgtQSZVx-p2U0xWyXAPMywTF7t5wCg1EY6zOdYg0uOqNY9On_JIEj7-z-9bzGHXaaiSLZjUqr-qdko8EYZg5pHUjHJqp8jkKOra1Jb26gmSCqHwHPuRCXg1fl0MdPW1vEaJsazt/s1600/baltimore-cover-final.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAgOZkTgtQSZVx-p2U0xWyXAPMywTF7t5wCg1EY6zOdYg0uOqNY9On_JIEj7-z-9bzGHXaaiSLZjUqr-qdko8EYZg5pHUjHJqp8jkKOra1Jb26gmSCqHwHPuRCXg1fl0MdPW1vEaJsazt/s200/baltimore-cover-final.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF7v5XAn3MAbVb6xFhVyMmjTomMIWdfUmiLrxxFdoFT60L-Pg7CypnWcU8JEVIPu8hhUdkr2ztrojuwNx08T1hmjKZHOpoz4VyqX4EtvOWvpM2AFcDx5wfaRYSRgSjoox4CNvJDtiDbk9/s1600/150427-bmore-fire-660.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF7v5XAn3MAbVb6xFhVyMmjTomMIWdfUmiLrxxFdoFT60L-Pg7CypnWcU8JEVIPu8hhUdkr2ztrojuwNx08T1hmjKZHOpoz4VyqX4EtvOWvpM2AFcDx5wfaRYSRgSjoox4CNvJDtiDbk9/s200/150427-bmore-fire-660.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">What troubles me, what really troubles me, is what we do to ourselves. Look at all the data I’ve presented. Look at the protests </span><span style="font-size: small;">and race riots across the country. This is 20-fucking-15 people. If we are supposed to be the greatest country in the world, why haven’t we figured this shit out?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyBToBYgOFV_mkcuqjkERkuFg5WBRXk3J1od9ZoxDt7Bpneu54QyLd7dhIyvP0vGUsw8skWFiNuUVrPxHf0HhpqB3Fzk2lAuVhgMw0mvLHSFy9TbUUkeDSWxgRBxPxOsxlWJi0sBPZjGF/s1600/fdr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyBToBYgOFV_mkcuqjkERkuFg5WBRXk3J1od9ZoxDt7Bpneu54QyLd7dhIyvP0vGUsw8skWFiNuUVrPxHf0HhpqB3Fzk2lAuVhgMw0mvLHSFy9TbUUkeDSWxgRBxPxOsxlWJi0sBPZjGF/s1600/fdr.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s most famous quotes is, “The only thing we have to fear is fear </span><span style="font-size: small;">itself.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With apologies to FDR, I say, “The only thing we have to fear <i>is</i> ourselves.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9fwS6ZWlLtorP4ndgxLMErMAVMoKB-BjDy75PhuxjHKrwzzCGD67x8oaDPkaYAGUaI489pItICF-pM4VuCYFhHkN8bdZ_WIVEiPqkjhIIdjkrVOQI-CwI9JjIOjylIsQp6899JIc_lxi/s1600/black+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-52386212631101236022015-05-02T14:00:00.003-07:002019-11-06T12:15:31.394-08:00Oldies for Oldies<style>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">©2015 by
LeeZard</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">An old high school pal recently re-posted on Facebook, “</span><span style="font-family: "times";">Some of the artists
of the 60's (or their estates) are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby
boomers.” She proceeded to add a pretty funny list from the original post,
along with a few of her own (and from other friends).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Let's give it a roll, shall we? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Here's <i>my </i>random list. Feel free to comment and add
your own.</span><span style="font-family: "times";"></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
<span style="font-family: "times";"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">ABBA --- Aching Queen</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Beatles --- I Don’t Feel Fine/I Saw Her
Lying There/I Wanna Hold Your Gland/Yellow Hematoma</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Johnny Nash --- I Can Cialis Now</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToixHFb-S6YvWKszCruEOucX3aYieBZr7g8MI1waC12ALLTLZ0pIZJAoXcx3Q2Bv-WrzLN5KgZHELGc0xzqYPpkVtp8V_zRnF6NWc61_7BDeXEeE_TADUfOBlFXZjwe5XD7H-4Lc0l87v/s1600/stones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToixHFb-S6YvWKszCruEOucX3aYieBZr7g8MI1waC12ALLTLZ0pIZJAoXcx3Q2Bv-WrzLN5KgZHELGc0xzqYPpkVtp8V_zRnF6NWc61_7BDeXEeE_TADUfOBlFXZjwe5XD7H-4Lc0l87v/s1600/stones.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Rolling Stones --- Let's Spend Social
Security Together/Sympathy for the Surgeon</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Bette Midler --- Wind Beneath My
Jeans/I’m Wrinkled Dammit/Do You Wanna Limp</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Mamas & Papas --- I Forgot Your
Name</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Queen --- Crazy Little Thing Called
Arthritis</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Three Dog Night --- Easy to be Sick/Doctor's Comin'</span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPDHZwhDPIUtxBeQR3AHeozM2v2_5xiqCJJ3XhAWRQEYuuoNu_cARF3oRJO3m0t1mULvJOm1YVLzYepzncWz9nRDvHmZiElN0rZerdkCYc6KFjySPJBaGscg5hzw1adwKAOaF5Z1paTU-/s1600/Billy+Joel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPDHZwhDPIUtxBeQR3AHeozM2v2_5xiqCJJ3XhAWRQEYuuoNu_cARF3oRJO3m0t1mULvJOm1YVLzYepzncWz9nRDvHmZiElN0rZerdkCYc6KFjySPJBaGscg5hzw1adwKAOaF5Z1paTU-/s1600/Billy+Joel.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";"></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Billy Joel --- Making a Scene at an
Italian Restaurant/A Matter of No Lust/River of Pee</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Jackson Browne --- Takin' It Queazy</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Bob Seger --- Night Chills/Against
Passing Wind</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Sonny and Cher --- Baby Please Don’t
Go (To the Bathroom Again)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Crosby, Stills and Nash --- Move in
With Your Children/Sweat for Judy Blue Eyes/Wooden Legs</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Shirelles --- Will You Still Hear Me
Tomorrow</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Moody Blues --- Nights With No Statins/
I'm Just a Singer in the Coroner's Van</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Smokey Robinson and The Miracles ---
It Was Just My Indigestion/You Better Flop Around</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Four Tops --- Can't Feed Myself</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Creedence Clearwater Revival --- Bad
Bile Rising/Limping out my Back Door</span><span style="font-family: "times";"></span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnTnDVuRWIoWKzA5nlNiTj4xfR2FT751hU3kpsFI-npgl4nbPojPnac76zFwf3tmnbRk8zC0cVHNAcyPU7CftFWQ3gsfZLCqwthNJUeh8fPyqacA5t1JcGlz3WR6SFF8qg5-k84F9XE3Q/s1600/Bruce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnTnDVuRWIoWKzA5nlNiTj4xfR2FT751hU3kpsFI-npgl4nbPojPnac76zFwf3tmnbRk8zC0cVHNAcyPU7CftFWQ3gsfZLCqwthNJUeh8fPyqacA5t1JcGlz3WR6SFF8qg5-k84F9XE3Q/s1600/Bruce.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Bruce Springsteen --- Pink
Cataracts/Cataract Ranch/Human Crutch/Raise Your Pants/Tenth Avenue </span>Pharmacy/Throwin’
Up<span style="font-family: "times";"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Sam Cooke --- Pain Gang</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Derek and the Dominos --- Fat Bottom
Blues</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Van Morrisson --- One Eyed Girl</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Ricky Nelson --- Poor Little Stool
Sample</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Simon and Garfunkle --- Bridge Over
Troubled Bladder/I am in Shock</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Mason Williams --- Classic Gas</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Danny and the Juniors --- Kidney Stones are Here to Stay</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">The Monkees --- Wrinkle Cream Believer</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Elvis Presley --- Shake, Rattle and Crawl/Old Folks Hotel</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Beach Boys --- Don't Hurry Baby/Let’s
go Burping/Little Dark Poop</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">The Doors --- Fight My Piles/Roadhouse
Restrooms</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Ray Charles --- Here We Go Again, to the hospital</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Dave "Baby" Cortez --- The
Unhappy Organ</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Harry Nillson - Jump Into the Pyre</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M2uMbm0GzWzsUfn2kGXF9hvhVUfTCne8YueEtH5fnArbOqqclabkvo6msnwWce1otFy9hMRT-A3CB7SFDvgvSqC37zwyd0kEFKe1QaeRPmLceX3TJomIQHkJMro38x5OtDctO3dof8yT/s1600/dylan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M2uMbm0GzWzsUfn2kGXF9hvhVUfTCne8YueEtH5fnArbOqqclabkvo6msnwWce1otFy9hMRT-A3CB7SFDvgvSqC37zwyd0kEFKe1QaeRPmLceX3TJomIQHkJMro38x5OtDctO3dof8yT/s1600/dylan.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Bob Dylan --- Positively False Teeth/I
Can’t Stand Maggie’s Farts No More</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">The late, great Tom Petty --- I Won't Black Out</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Fats Domino --- I'm In Pain Again/Blueberry
Pill</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">The Rascals --- I've Been Constipated
Too Long</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Ramsey Lewis Trio ---- The Old Crowd</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Steven Stills --- Find the One You're
With</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Bobby Darin --- Under the Knife</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Rod Stewart --- Maggie May Not /Every
Scar Tells a Story</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";"></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Chuck Berry --- Johnny Be Old</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Jackson Browne --- Doctor My Eyes!!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqimrib3_4x4Mnb0lFTuRPe3dJdeRfJ3B5pMdWV1qPr4ZfApvLOzrofshY87Q2Sf35YnZ4ngKvy6jhCEfds2w8FpU54xxk__M3OhDJimfgeIalcQ67QlDvKUlczlQ3mxkkabdm4a-SR9vX/s1600/Jerry+Lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqimrib3_4x4Mnb0lFTuRPe3dJdeRfJ3B5pMdWV1qPr4ZfApvLOzrofshY87Q2Sf35YnZ4ngKvy6jhCEfds2w8FpU54xxk__M3OhDJimfgeIalcQ67QlDvKUlczlQ3mxkkabdm4a-SR9vX/s1600/Jerry+Lee.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess Who This Is</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Warren Zevon --- Lawyers, Guns and Wheelchairs</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Jerry Butler --- He Can’t See You</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Jerry Lee Lewis --- Great Balls On
Fire/Too Much Shakin’ Goin On</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">The Dovells --- You Can’t Sit Down;
Your Piles are Killing You</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Johnny Mathis --- It’s Not For Me to
Decay</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Mamas and Papas --- I Call Your
Doctor</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Pointer Sisters --- I’m So Bloated</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Supremes --- Where Did Our Kids Go</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times";">Little Anthony and the Imperials ---
Teeth on My Pillow</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-3044523781475097302015-04-29T09:41:00.000-07:002015-04-29T19:00:49.870-07:00In Search of the Commerce Comet<style>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">©1992 by LeeZard</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">"Mickey wasn't known as a baseball player when he was growin' up here."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">It
was a quiet Sunday afternoon in the cramped storefront office that
serves as the Commerce, Oklahoma, Police Department. The sergeant on
duty was a precious link to my boyhood hero's past. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"Mick was really a
great football player in junior high school."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4IZkvi9osqll4hA5YAnZ-_Iwd8HPQvgh9MslFNdxHE5SwAh2KZK40uN-jMfUftQZu2Cx2LMCGKqFhJr043TSZYePIspdG4eo-jDAe0_E6cM0OB5plR45fe9iidEoerLCWUX2AwGJP3kO/s1600-h/home2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4IZkvi9osqll4hA5YAnZ-_Iwd8HPQvgh9MslFNdxHE5SwAh2KZK40uN-jMfUftQZu2Cx2LMCGKqFhJr043TSZYePIspdG4eo-jDAe0_E6cM0OB5plR45fe9iidEoerLCWUX2AwGJP3kO/s320/home2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157004483223402594" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Mickey Mantle's boyhood home in Commerce, OK</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I
had driven to this small, dusty town in the northeast corner of
Oklahoma to just experience the place where Mickey Mantle grew up. I
don't know what I expected to find, but I was quite surprised at what I
didn't find. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The only business open on this lazy
winter church-going Sunday was the 7-11. I was looking for anything that
proclaimed this as, "Commerce, Oklahoma: Boyhood Home of Mickey
Mantle!" To my shock, dismay and disappointment I could find no such
treasure. In fact, except for the name "Mickey Mantle Boulevard" on
State Route 69 that skirts “downtown” Commerce, there was no recognition
that this was, indeed, the hometown of one of America's beloved
baseball icons. I became determined to find out why.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I
turned down Main Street, looking for anyone who might shed some light on
this historic omission. As I drove through town I was overcome by
something more than Sunday quiet and solitude. I knew from reading about
Mantle's life of the nearby copper mines in which he vowed never to
work and die. And now, driving past the sun bleached, sandblasted stores
of Commerce, I understood why he fled.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The only thing
open on Main Street was the police station and, in my quest for ANYTHING
that said Commerce, OK, on it, I entered and asked for a blank sheet of
letterhead. I ended up spending almost an hour talking with the desk
sergeant and it was here I learned of the long-standing grudge Mickey
Charles Mantle held against the city fathers of Commerce.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">It's
funny how something simple—a mere misunderstanding—can have Life-long
implications. It seems the town of Commerce was planning to build a new
Little League baseball field and the idea was to name it for Mickey
Mantle. "The Mick" had other ideas; he wanted it named for his father,
Mutt Mantle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZsXYlZomybmXIufHdstgviW-229nnSbVGaMDzbqrECtRnSIKMr5uY6AQpFecJDOjjqC9917lb9cRtODtfCII5ZIkWz-ExR_L4E5J5ISWf_sKuKK8BPkx_cyfbz1EFLk6HyTryRtFWFF1/s320/mant.184.1.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156997156009195570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Mantle Family. That's Mutt on the far left</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Mutt
was the reason Mickey became a ballplayer. After working the copper
mines everyday Mutt would take Mickey out after dinner and throw
grounder after grounder at the young man (Mickey actually began his
baseball career as an infielder). Mutt, like most of the Mantle men,
died relatively young of Hodgekins Disease and, according to my new
friend at the Commerce Police Department, Mickey wanted the town to
honor his dad.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">It's not clear whether the
powers-that-be first agreed and then reneged, or if they flat out
refused. The bottom line: there was to be no Mutt Mantle Field and, when
Mickey was invited back "home" for the ground breaking ceremony his
reply reportedly was, "I left nothin' in Commerce, Oklahoma, and have no
reason to go back there." The town fathers, in return, took down the
big fundraising billboard with Mickey's name on it. Mickey, in apparent
retaliation, settled across the state line in nearby Joplin, Missouri,
and that was that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">After my visit to Commerce, and up
until the time Mickey became fatally ill, I called my hero’s agent
regularly to try and get Mantle’s side of the story. He never returned
my calls and I never learned if “The Commerce Comet” made peace with his
boyhood home town.</span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-47793309218904911502015-04-06T22:06:00.000-07:002015-04-06T22:07:51.594-07:00Tales From Behind the Green Apron<style>@font-face {
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKeOTSbQzMOT6rlMLhQR8sGJkXZRyHoZPe8ZCZAB8gRQ5QzfvrCM97KYf7g3ngbYKisxzHNWKgf8dyIWLUTMLCQ0LkIyKbyEbG0MHXKCLlqC3hPzOy-bdqOnadsY23piPRPZywF4-rdM6/s1600/Barista+Lee.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKeOTSbQzMOT6rlMLhQR8sGJkXZRyHoZPe8ZCZAB8gRQ5QzfvrCM97KYf7g3ngbYKisxzHNWKgf8dyIWLUTMLCQ0LkIyKbyEbG0MHXKCLlqC3hPzOy-bdqOnadsY23piPRPZywF4-rdM6/s1600/Barista+Lee.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>©2015 by LeeZard</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What better way to study human
nature than wearing the famed Green Apron in one of the cafes that is part the
world’s favorite coffee chain? Not only have I learned to take an order in
30-seconds and make – in less than a minute – a grande half-caff soy 130-degree
no foam add sugar free caramel and extra caramel drizzle caramel macchiato,
I’ve also observed the human condition across every socioeconomic line. It’s
been quite a show.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’ve served Super Bowl
champions, millionaires, homeless people, TV personalities, doctors, lawyers,
nurses, soccer moms, cops, laborers, po’ trash of every stripe, a few certifiable
crazies, a wide variety of canines (“A puppaccino, please.”)<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">[1]</span></span></span></a>, the
sight and hearing impaired – you name ‘em, I’m their caffeine fix.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Most of them are just plain ol’
folks – just as nice as can be. All they want is their cuppa java, tea, frappachino or
smoothie. As in the rest of society some of them take themselves way too
seriously. Moreover, some of them take their coffee way too seriously.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I don’t begrudge them that,
however; I understand, I really do. In today’s fast-moving digital mile a
second world, our pleasures are often fleeting and few and let’s face it,
coffee <i>is</i> addictive.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Not only do people take their
caffeine fix seriously, they want it fast. Survey after survey shows the most
important thing to our customers is speed and the company expects the Green Aprons
to make it so. Occasionally things do get bogged down and, for the most part,
people understand; shit happens. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Someone adds a drink or two at
the window. Another has eight different gift cards with $5.00 on each paying
for a $37.67 order. Still another wants to reload their card, a time consuming
transaction. It can all add up very quickly and clog the pipeline. At an
eight-minute wait we start handing out free drinks. Not a happy time, I can
assure you.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once in awhile a customer or
two <i>will </i>get testy. In rare instances
things get nasty. Luckily, I’ve only experienced it once in nearly a
year-and-half in The Apron but he was a dilly.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">----</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">IT’S ONLY COFFEE, PEOPLE</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It was a typical busy day at
one of the busiest stores in Washington State. I was “at the window,” meaning I
was at the drive-thru dispensing drinks and taking money. At peak times there
is one person taking the drive-thru order at the first stop – menu and
speaker/microphone – and a second at the window handing out and raking in the
$$. Ideally the whole transaction takes two-minutes or less. A good 30-minutes
will see more than 30 transactions; the expectation is more than 40. But, as
with the rest of life, the unexpected happens and the times can increase
dramatically. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I can average more than 30
transactions per 30-minutes and things were moving along nicely with a long
line of cars, but our wait times were good. Inevitably, something happened and
the wait jumped to four-to-six minutes. As usual most people understood but
this one dude was clearly angry when he pulled to the window.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://cdn.brobible.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/angry-driver.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="angry driver" border="0" class="size-full wp-image-290111" src="http://cdn.brobible.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/angry-driver.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>When things get crazy like that
the tension rises and mistakes happen. In this case, the barista gave this guy
our standard 2% milk when he’d ordered non-fat. No big deal, right? It’s a
quick fix. Nonetheless, this guy went ballistic – on me. He screamed, he ranted
and raved. He threw obscenities like fastballs. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now I’m good with assholes and
bullies. I don’t take their shit personally. They try to intimidate and it
doesn’t work with me. I let this guy blow his top for a few seconds and then
calmly said, “Sir, there’s no need to talk like that to someone who’s trying to
provide you with good service. Let me quickly get you a new drink.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">You would’ve though I’d tossed
acid in his eyes; he began an even more irate tirade and his volume rose
accordingly. I’d had enough; I was about to close the window on the jerk before
I said or did something rash when the driver behind him began to honk her horn.
She honked hard and long until the screaming meemie finally drove away. My new
hero horn honker got a free drink.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">-----</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">SAFE AT FIRST PLACE</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Colorado winters can be mean.
Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures hit often and hit hard. One of the things
I really like about this company is its policy of being a “third place.” That means after home and work, your local Starbucks is the third place where you feel most comfortable. Sadly, in some cases we are the first and only place,
especially in the freezing, driving snow.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://photoblog.statesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lkv-snowblog1.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-11385];player=img;" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cold and alone, James Walsh waits for a bus outside the Starbucks at 10th and Congress Avenue on Friday, February 4, 2011 He was probably one of the first customers in Starbucks and was hoping that a bus would arrive and deliver him to a 9 a.m. appointment. About an inch of snow fell overnight in downtown Austin on Friday, February 4, 2011......photo by Larry when it openedKolvoord...AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN" class="size-full wp-image-11386 " src="http://photoblog.statesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lkv-snowblog1.jpg" height="198" title="lkv-snowblog1" width="320" /></a>In bureaucratese they are
“displaced persons.” To us, they are homeless and too often they are invisible.
We don’t care who you are, as long as you cause no trouble, you can order a cup
of water or an iced venti, half-caff, two pump vanilla, four pump caramel,
nonfat, with whipped cream white mocha and stay as long as we are open. I’ve
been known to buy a cuppa java or two for those who are too scared, embarrassed
or shy and huddle in a windbreak outside.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just recently I witnessed a
heartwarming scene. Two obvious transients standing in front of me at the front
register ordered a couple of venti coffees and some sandwiches. This is an
unusually large order for these cash-strapped folks but the smartly dressed woman behind them stepped up to pay
for their order. She then followed them to their table and talked with them for
about 20-minutes.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m sure she was preaching to
them, if not trying to recruit them to some church, because when I thanked her
afterwards for her kindness she mentioned something about “The Lord.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Frankly, I don’t give a rip
what she said to them. Just the fact that she brought them in and fed them was
enough for me.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">-----</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE RELUCTANT QUARTERBACK AND
THE PROUD DEFENSIVE COACH</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That crazy busy drive-thru I
mentioned above was in Renton, WA, just east of Seattle, right across the
freeway from the Seattle Seahawks magnificent headquarters/training facility on
the shore of Lake Washington. Frankly, it was the main reason I applied at that
particular location but, as usual, I digress.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Needless to say, we are a
favorite pre-workout stop for players, coaches, top brass and the reporters who
follow them around. Most of them prefer the drive-thru rather than coming into
the store. Understandably, they value their privacy and they don’t want to
create a scene.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A small few do come into the
café and we treat them just like our other regulars, being careful not to draw
any unwanted attention to them, especially when they come in with their wives
and kids – which they often do. Again, we work hard to make our stores a place
where people feel at home and comfortable. It’s in our DNA.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One particular day, more than
halfway through the Seahawks Super Bowl season, I was taking orders at the
window. A big SUV comes to the order point – it is equipped with a microphone
and video camera – and I can barely see the driver; he was leaning away from
his window toward the passenger side. I thought he was talking to someone or
dealing with a kid. Nonetheless, I could barely hear him.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Sir,” I asked politely, “could
you please move closer to your window so I can hear you more clearly?” He
complied, but in the process raised his tinted side window two-thirds up.
Though his voice was still muffled I finally got the order.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<a href="http://static.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/images/Auto/izmo/371975/2015_mercedes_benz_g_class_angularfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://static.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/images/Auto/izmo/371975/2015_mercedes_benz_g_class_angularfront.jpg" border="0" src="http://static.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/images/Auto/izmo/371975/2015_mercedes_benz_g_class_angularfront.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">When the SUV rolled up I was
obviously curious as to who the shy guy was and there, less than three feet from me was the Hawks rising star quarterback, Russell Wilson. Yours truly was both starstruck and speechless</span><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmS5s2NsnLogq2KcJA6UPEEkqsBc9lWLAEtAjsrOTcEvDNrzWZJoEQ4B34T7XmCVfzflr-F6b223B8aJMlSVvl_4xWX61HD4nwv0448g1yAZ6XX9NromGJtgJE3yLnRG02UFnM9seKDxu/s1600/seattle-seahawks-super-bowl-ring-300x237.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmS5s2NsnLogq2KcJA6UPEEkqsBc9lWLAEtAjsrOTcEvDNrzWZJoEQ4B34T7XmCVfzflr-F6b223B8aJMlSVvl_4xWX61HD4nwv0448g1yAZ6XX9NromGJtgJE3yLnRG02UFnM9seKDxu/s1600/seattle-seahawks-super-bowl-ring-300x237.png" height="157" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">The opposite end of the
spectrum entered our café after the ‘Hawks stunning beat down of the Denver
Broncos in Super Bowl XLVII. One of the defensive coaches – I don’t know which
one to this day – walked in proudly wearing his brand new Super Bowl Ring. It
is way more impressive in person than any picture can portray. Can you say
Bling-Bling -Ring-a-Ding?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">----</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE BARISTA AS BARTENDER</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA_ouVVSEqwvomwd019A8TG-OyxmIRa2HEygdsUCQR4OvCNOUKpLYCF1jb5y4ugCRZWR3LOVa3o4kR6hEnEvmITk8Ta9iIoN10KkgdGlUWulMQpZjdnvI0yPtnNRV_rJmy3TY8YoakbcY/s1600/bartender-customer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA_ouVVSEqwvomwd019A8TG-OyxmIRa2HEygdsUCQR4OvCNOUKpLYCF1jb5y4ugCRZWR3LOVa3o4kR6hEnEvmITk8Ta9iIoN10KkgdGlUWulMQpZjdnvI0yPtnNRV_rJmy3TY8YoakbcY/s1600/bartender-customer.jpg" height="106" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m not sure why but there is a
certain and instant intimacy created between some customers and the barista
taking their orders at the front till. You often hear about bartenders as
substitute psychologists, marriage counselors, etc. We often find ourselves in
the same role from behind The Green Apron. Sometimes, it is surprisingly – and
gratifyingly – successful.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m not really one for idle and
meaningless chitchat like, “So, how’s your day going?” Or, “enjoying the nice
weather?” In fact, I prefer to play the goofball (surprise!) telling corny
jokes, tossing bad puns and often, singing a song that relates to their name.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As a side note, after spending
most of my life thinking I have a tin ear, many customers have complimented my
singing and, the more I sing, the more I can hear that I am actually hitting
the notes. WTF? But, I digress as usual.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Strangely, my comic behavior
sometimes opens the door for serious discussion. For example, a guy my age,
after giving his order, asked me to hold his drinks while he went to the
bathroom. I, of course, replied with a prostate joke. The guy turned around and asked
if I had trouble with <i>my</i> prostate
(guys my age will understand this). “Not really,” I replied, “if you don’t
count that it’s the size of a cantaloupe.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This opened the door for a
serious discussion with the customer asking me how I knew mine was so large. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Haven’t you ever had your doc do an examination or take blood for a PSA test?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The guy looked blankly at me,
clearly having no clue about any of what I’d just mentioned. I briefly
explained the concerns for men our age and urged him to make an appointment to
get checked. A few weeks later the man returned, walked up to my register and
shook my hand.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Thanks man,” he said, “you may
have saved my life.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“I went to the doc like you
said and my PSA was sky high. They did a biopsy and I have prostate cancer. I
start treatment next week. They don’t know if that will work; I may still need
surgery. I can’t thank you enough.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was floored. It never
occurred to me that he might have cancer. I’m pretty up-front with people and I
don’t hesitate to offer what I consider helpful advice but I never think about or
really worry if they heed that advice. Thank goodness <i>he</i> did.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Some women have volunteered,
without any urging from moi, that they went out for their cuppa java, to “get
away from that asshole.” I take that as
a need to share and I am extremely sensitive to any sort of domestic abuse,
emotional or physical – it’s a hot button – so I don’t hesitate to ask if
someone is mistreating them. Sadly, the answer is often, “Yes.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This is obviously a very
delicate situation but I try to give a little encouragement and some helpful
information. So often these victims of abuse feel hopeless and trapped. I offer
up some local resources and urge them to do research online.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On the lighter side, I’ve had
women <i>and</i> men make passes. I
think at least one guy hit on me when he said, “I really like the way your
(shoulder length) hair curls.” Hmmmm.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then, it is not rare for
another self-styled goofball to come in and try to out-goof me. The results are
often hilarious. I consider myself a success when I see a whole line of
customers chortling if not outright guffawing right along with us.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">----</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I like to tell my customers
that I don’t sell coffee and tea; I sell service and I take that very
seriously. It turns out that when you
serve and observe from Behind The Green Apron, you never know what service you
might need to provide. It’s a challenge that makes my job all the more
interesting.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Stay tuned for more Tales From
Behind the Green Apron.</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br clear="all" /></span>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6117424271613570184#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">[1]</span></span></span></a>
“Puppaccino,” simply a tiny cup or cup lid with a small amount of whipped cream
– guaranteed to satisfy any canine customer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
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<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">[2]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> Though never seen with the vehicle, it is
generally believed Wilson drives a Mercedes G Class similar to the one shown.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117424271613570184.post-32112090920963854502014-08-26T21:56:00.000-07:002014-08-26T23:27:55.992-07:00Random Ramblin' in The Springs<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">©2014 by LeeZard</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC3D1u60pRkOubE_fwlGSx5YCWLPYob6TkSWeh4Y_F2uCVkH7R63UntuBRg4tbbVfnCRtExdY3KW4WA8RFUihtKEeDNBiFDcCoFLvFasP1eU_cSdc1_iQyAYEMM1g7q9FtoZk5DYXAweV/s1600/honest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are some random thoughts and observations
after two weeks in and around Colorado Springs or, as they call it here, The Springs.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is this somewhat familiar big shiny yellow
ball in the sky. It emits tremendous heat and the sky around it is always blue.
I do remember something similar in the Pacific Northwest but here it seems more
intense, as if it has more confidence it will show up nearly every day. I’m
told it even makes regular appearances between blizzards in the winter. What a
concept! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As in the Northwest there are mountains here,
lots of ‘em. They’re called the Rockies and, while they are quite beautiful, I
still find the Cascade Mountains more dramatic. I think this is because the
Cascades are viewed primarily from sea level while The Rockies grow from the
high plains.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEWPyqDpha98zIvXmoiUiIxKH-mcwE2JNdyrcq60jZiZcMj3YfhULL-AiYuCVVFwSUqv6ogAuFZtIGR6OSgL-QygfO2rZ1NBBSNxi9Ptm8lanqWPaXt93sXUj9HkJvKz9hPyAT_7ECFzI/s1600/space-needle-rainier-skyline-22.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEWPyqDpha98zIvXmoiUiIxKH-mcwE2JNdyrcq60jZiZcMj3YfhULL-AiYuCVVFwSUqv6ogAuFZtIGR6OSgL-QygfO2rZ1NBBSNxi9Ptm8lanqWPaXt93sXUj9HkJvKz9hPyAT_7ECFzI/s1600/space-needle-rainier-skyline-22.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mt. Rainier From 50-Miles Away</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-D30NnwlHKPy1zl92uctiq9g1XpgK1QntcVu6JgCLKL5jsPDNXqu_ESNr-Qd_BbUmpy5zmnd-n4VVvhMNiRYed9e3BB6svg_G1z6y9ucdpDyY_98fGlORGj60p-ka3XcdQYjeCBmGKwS/s1600/PPeakSnowJuly810.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-D30NnwlHKPy1zl92uctiq9g1XpgK1QntcVu6JgCLKL5jsPDNXqu_ESNr-Qd_BbUmpy5zmnd-n4VVvhMNiRYed9e3BB6svg_G1z6y9ucdpDyY_98fGlORGj60p-ka3XcdQYjeCBmGKwS/s1600/PPeakSnowJuly810.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pikes Peak Up Close</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Springs sits</span> at 6,035 feet – sorry Mile High
City – and in the shadow of one of the most famous mountains in America, Pikes
Peak. At an elevation of 14,114 feet it is only a few hundred feet “shorter”
than the Northwest’s beloved Mt. Rainier. But the so-called gateway to The Peak
is at more than 7,000 feet and the illusion is that it is not nearly as mighty
as Rainier. Plus, Pikes Peak does not sport the sparkling white glaciers that
cover the top of Rainier. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can hike to Pikes Peak’s peak in running shoes
while my dear friend Peter Sandler had to endure weeks of mountain climbing
classes before he could even attempt to conquer Rainier. Still, the Rockies
have majesty of their own and I delight every day living in their shadow.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The people in Colorado are much better drivers
than those in Seattle and environs. But then, so is almost everyone else in
America. I’m told motorists here even know how to drive in the snow, which
apparently falls in abundance in winter, one of the area’s distinct four
seasons.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Jeep is celebrated here much like salmon are
in The Northwest. To my knowledge, there haven’t been any treaty wars over Jeep
purchasing rights but they are everywhere. I’m not surprised since I’ve owned
five. Their legendary four-wheel drive is, well, legendary. Out here people
trick ‘em out with lots of lights and humongo wheels/tires. I’m sure it’s a
macho cowboy thing. My little ’06 Liberty is dwarfed by most of its cousins but
it has a nice patina of Colorado mud thanks to my isolated, rural location. I
love it!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC3D1u60pRkOubE_fwlGSx5YCWLPYob6TkSWeh4Y_F2uCVkH7R63UntuBRg4tbbVfnCRtExdY3KW4WA8RFUihtKEeDNBiFDcCoFLvFasP1eU_cSdc1_iQyAYEMM1g7q9FtoZk5DYXAweV/s1600/honest.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC3D1u60pRkOubE_fwlGSx5YCWLPYob6TkSWeh4Y_F2uCVkH7R63UntuBRg4tbbVfnCRtExdY3KW4WA8RFUihtKEeDNBiFDcCoFLvFasP1eU_cSdc1_iQyAYEMM1g7q9FtoZk5DYXAweV/s1600/honest.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">While we’re on the subject of wheels, The
Springs, like most of America, has its share of shady auto repair shops. I had
the misfortune to fall into the clutches of one but I had no choice; the
bearings in the Jeep’s A/C unit were about to seize which would’ve taken the
whole engine down with it. At 5:30 pm on a Friday I had to use the only place I
could find that was still open. The end result was a $670.00 bill that I later
found out would’ve been about $300 if I could’ve waited to find an honest
grease monkey. Ironically, the place I used was called (I can hardly write this
with a straight face) Honest and Accurate Auto Service (ROFLMAO)<roflmao>.</roflmao></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guns. Colorado is an open-carry state and, while
you don’t see a lot of openly carried sidearms, as near as I can figure almost
everyone has one either on his/her person (a concealed weapon permit is
required) or under the pillow at home for self-defense. I’d be lying if I said
I wasn’t considering it.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1ZuNxipyi8JWDvSQwTTzL5e-GNtvkiwbeZWBgSpxYr0SkoFGMy0FT2Mo7LkUEull6V0jqEKXnR694NxYwebLLC64HCHkg7OEoxFjlXsItQwxf85HPSWRgreq1ph8_NqNafBQjMzjaIoE/s1600/Bunkos.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1ZuNxipyi8JWDvSQwTTzL5e-GNtvkiwbeZWBgSpxYr0SkoFGMy0FT2Mo7LkUEull6V0jqEKXnR694NxYwebLLC64HCHkg7OEoxFjlXsItQwxf85HPSWRgreq1ph8_NqNafBQjMzjaIoE/s1600/Bunkos.jpg" height="200" width="152" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In sports, I am shocked – shocked, I say – by
the endemic amnesia that’s crippled the region. Hardly anyone can remember the
score of this year’s Super Bowl. Yet they crow about a recent pre-season
victory over the champion Seattle Seahawks. So sad. Other fans here are very
quick to point out their allegiance to any team other than the Denver Buncos.
Given the climate here, it’s no wonder these folks are called fair weather
fans.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Colorado, the term “passive aggressive” is
used primarily in Psych 101 classes. Back in Seattle it’s a pastime. You know
who you are.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUkTs6-x9RtH5FLqbIfJMvj9fywVN-rEef-qWFSo30Nn3wgndv32fhQagRVVRPkzmyogNsGVdkRA1991WutoXcECLzBPDNhWTr6e5wuwCleGcvUuubDTCNADWsqdTw2CuH9UHRCWqLsTT/s1600/Dirt+Road.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUkTs6-x9RtH5FLqbIfJMvj9fywVN-rEef-qWFSo30Nn3wgndv32fhQagRVVRPkzmyogNsGVdkRA1991WutoXcECLzBPDNhWTr6e5wuwCleGcvUuubDTCNADWsqdTw2CuH9UHRCWqLsTT/s1600/Dirt+Road.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My "Driveway"</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally, what is it with dirt roads and me? I
just love ‘em. I think everything happens for a reason and, when my apartment
wasn’t going to be ready for my arrival, I </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">immediately found this amazing 750
sq. ft. loft In-the-Middle-of-Nowhere, CO, otherwise known as Franktown. It is
halfway between Castle Rock – my Starbucks gig – and The Springs, where I push
my other remaining drug, cigars. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwPOXA-jgk2hQFHDRm_EX-QV3-5smOrfTYNDZRcHxdPVWsxY1VDaIGnC_8JG0glNdSkvEjQsXS-55sJWb-xQTenO_ovwEK63dV_WEKgPhMQupy0q8sRF7TrK1OanpLMVzaiWxKISqWz4K/s1600/The+Castle+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwPOXA-jgk2hQFHDRm_EX-QV3-5smOrfTYNDZRcHxdPVWsxY1VDaIGnC_8JG0glNdSkvEjQsXS-55sJWb-xQTenO_ovwEK63dV_WEKgPhMQupy0q8sRF7TrK1OanpLMVzaiWxKISqWz4K/s1600/The+Castle+copy.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">That's Moi Above the Garage</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My palatial domicile is two miles of dirt road
off State Highway 83. My Jeeps’ wheels </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">haven’t touched the freeway since I
moved in. </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTHXd02FgbLEyE3eO_ZNDb51ukRWDdeMPoY0q2vkWuZF_RnJgKNR6fF8nzdittKHKqrxZW6yr5Gw2e9peQHX-LB6kGAzqscNaXnR32-PLNYponihOGEhItvKPrevoVegCYLFeKfkEB5Lc/s1600/Neighbor2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTHXd02FgbLEyE3eO_ZNDb51ukRWDdeMPoY0q2vkWuZF_RnJgKNR6fF8nzdittKHKqrxZW6yr5Gw2e9peQHX-LB6kGAzqscNaXnR32-PLNYponihOGEhItvKPrevoVegCYLFeKfkEB5Lc/s1600/Neighbor2.jpg" height="126" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nice to Have Good Neighbors</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My nearest neighbors are friendly but have little to say, although they neigh.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QAaCPiWcv3cwocVr33_xYd3klUN4hQdH26CAYgOT10y8o8jp6PB8osio-MfS6wwaBHIWvDDS29gNriv7FpbxP4XDBRt9qPr9fNlcqGUU98cXUV3nfd69n5BA8GnKGH10iWoZ0jSndl0n/s1600/The+Hood.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QAaCPiWcv3cwocVr33_xYd3klUN4hQdH26CAYgOT10y8o8jp6PB8osio-MfS6wwaBHIWvDDS29gNriv7FpbxP4XDBRt9qPr9fNlcqGUU98cXUV3nfd69n5BA8GnKGH10iWoZ0jSndl0n/s1600/The+Hood.jpg" height="130" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Hood'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">All in all, it's been a grand two weeks in my new 'hood.' </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span>
LeeZardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01849734530434430902noreply@blogger.com1