tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82410932978575961562024-02-19T00:55:39.345-06:00The View PointA place to engage multiple points of view in
order to illustrate, educate, argue, entertain and ultimately extend the public discourse on a multitude of topics.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-43319824050992035192013-08-01T04:49:00.001-05:002013-08-01T04:49:27.288-05:00The Viewpoint - On Hiatus - August through September<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBnimm8kq3oTIYeY0ZYRv3zL9d9TSOEitp_r7W1J0jSmaoADmgdZMMWymEExLFkt4Q3T4inReS6AlifbR76td3seLAG2J_lacHcwVUynA1bTsG2YBWMpIvyevYx9LYYbliPw8uNjzQeA/s1600/keep-calm-it-s-summer-vacation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBnimm8kq3oTIYeY0ZYRv3zL9d9TSOEitp_r7W1J0jSmaoADmgdZMMWymEExLFkt4Q3T4inReS6AlifbR76td3seLAG2J_lacHcwVUynA1bTsG2YBWMpIvyevYx9LYYbliPw8uNjzQeA/s200/keep-calm-it-s-summer-vacation.png" width="171" /></a>The writers of the View Point are taking a short hiatus for the months of August and September. Look for us with a new issue in October. I hope you all have a great August and September.</div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-27442039331563648922013-07-01T18:13:00.000-05:002013-07-01T18:13:20.389-05:00Welcome to the ViewPoint - July 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With apologies to Martha and the Vandellas, "We are having a Heat Wave". Sheesh, 127 degrees in Death Valley, 117 in Las Vegas. Here in my home of Dallas a couple of days ago, 108. You'd think it was summer or something. Well, get inside, turn up the AC and grab something cold to drink, because it sure beats being outside and cooking. For those of you who have to work outside this time of year, you have my deepest sympathies. Stay hydrated and safe. <br />
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Anyway, welcome to the ViewPoint for July of 2013. We have a holiday coming up this week and I hope everyone has a good time watching the fireworks, having a picnic, taking in a ball game, or just hanging out with friends and family. <br />
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This 4th of July holiday is a reminder of what happened so long ago in the halls of a building in Philadelphia, on the farmlands around Yorktown, Bunker Hill and cities such as Boston and New York. The birth of a nation under conflict could have gone many different ways. We could have moved into another form of monarchy or worse, a theocracy. But we didn't. The people who risked their lives and became traitors to the British Crown had a different idea about what a country should be. Born in Greece, refined by philosophers such as John Locke, the <strong><em>idea </em></strong>of a constitutional democracy with its power derived by the people it serves was an experiment that took hold and to the good fortune of all of us who live in this country today, still serves us pretty well.<br />
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We have two articles today that speak about our country and its system of government. As most know, recent revelations about the National Security Agency's surveillance tactics have come to light and they are troubling. What do we really want our government to do in the name of "keeping us safe"? That question is an important one and we should continue to discuss our points of view in this complicated and very disconcerting issue. Written by our regular contributor, Bill Holmes, "Who's Winning?" delivers some perspective that is thought provoking.<br />
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Our second post for this month is another example of our system of government at work. On June 26th, 2013, the US Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and by virtue of that decision, removed the Federal Government's discrimination against same-sex couples who are married in states that recognize marriage equality. <br />
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I think these two articles highlight the brilliance of the founders who delivered the architecture of our system of government. The checks and balances instilled by Madison, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and many others have served us well to this day and I hope as we celebrate this 4th of July and those to come, we can continue with the idea born in Philadelphia so many years ago.<br />
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Enjoy this month's issue and as always, join the conversation.<br />
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Regards,<br />
Dennis Sherrard<br />
Editor</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-82018857115409348872013-07-01T18:10:00.000-05:002013-07-01T18:10:44.277-05:00A Good Decision <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8ThtABKE3uRGkllNGm9PM6KWnQwj8hyphenhyphen7nrkSPIBq9T8o4zVzOqQdzXS8xxgKYSSyZIZwsuC3ytLV9WFdeUWsmg_im7qP2suY5c9SBfUADJwovfHjCETMYR5cBljNc-NL9NGOJq-ZOWw/s200/DOMA.png" width="200" /> "<em>The arc of a moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." </em></div>
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Those words of Dr. Martin Luther King from so many years ago have relevance now. On Thursday, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton over seventeen years ago. Out of the gates, the law was intentionally discriminatory in terms of the Federal Government's lack of recognition of marriage equality. Finally, after many court battles, much nonsense from politicians and religious leaders, the Supreme Court did the right thing and bent themselves towards justice. In a 5-4 decision, with Justice Anthony Kennedy writing the majority opinion, the law was struck down as unconstitutional and a violation of the 5th Amendment. Justice Kennedy wrote: <em>"The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion. "By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment."</em></div>
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As one might expect, without even reading about the opinion, the decision came down on ideological lines. The majority saw Justices Kennedy, Sotomayor, Ginsburg, Breyer and Kagan voting to overturn DOMA while Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Roberts were in the minority. </div>
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It's a somewhat sad statement to make but I expected DOMA to be overturned, principally because of Federalism and not because of the fact it discriminated against same-sex marriages. Cynical of me, I know, but I was convinced the opinion would overturned with a larger majority with Roberts writing the majority opinion discussing how this was federal government over-reach on something best left to the states. So, as with most good pessimists, I was pleasantly surprised to read Justice Kennedy's majority opinion that derided this law as "humiliating" and discriminatory. The plaintiff in this case, Edie Windsor, an 84 year old widow whose wife had passed away from Multiple Sclerosis several years ago and under DOMA's rules, since Edie was not considered the lawful spouse of Thea Spyer, who died in 2009, left an estate tax bill to Ms. Windsor of over $300 thousand dollars. Ms. Windsor sued, and on Thursday her long goal was finally achieved; that of legal recognition of what she already knew: that she and Ms. Spyer were indeed married.</div>
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What a painful road it was for Ms. Windsor, and others who because they love and care for someone of the same gender and wanted to get married could not because of this odious law. Now, the work is not done, because the court didn't go so far to say that same-sex marriage must be recognized in all states, but only in those were same-sex marriage is legal. So there are still "Edie Windsors" living in Texas, Florida, Alabama and other places who continue to suffer discrimination at the hands of state law. Some states, such as North Carolina, have placed constitutional amendments on their books defining marriage as between"one man and one woman". So be it. To me, these states who continue down this path will lose quite a lot. As with any discrimination, those who decry what the consider as "morally wrong" are blind to the fact that people simply want to be treated the same. There is a simple answer for those who do not like the idea of marriage equality: Don't get married to someone of the same sex. Simple. All the other nonsense is just that. Nonsense.</div>
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I applaud the Supreme Court's decision to strike down DOMA. The more we can throw discrimination of any type into the dustbin of history the better we become as a country.</div>
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Kudos to the 5, and to Ms. Edie Windsor, you can be proud of your battle, I'm sure your wife would be proud of you as well.</div>
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regards,</div>
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Dennis</div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-83649750113903136912013-07-01T07:28:00.000-05:002013-07-01T08:18:08.292-05:00Who's Winning?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">by</span></i><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="color: #ff950e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bill Holmes</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">It
seems like every time I tune in the TV or read an article lately it's about
some new infringement on our liberties. Although this trend didn't start with
9/11/2001, it has certainly accelerated since then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">The biggest change came with the passage of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Patriot Act</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";"> which was written, passed and signed into law by October 26,
2001. That includes coming up with the convoluted acronym USA PATRIOT. You
didn't know it was an acronym? It stands for <b><span style="background: white;">U</span></b><span style="background: white;">niting (and) <b>S</b>trengthening <b>A</b>merica (by) <b>P</b>roviding
<b>A</b>ppropriate <b>T</b>ools <b>R</b>equired (to) <b>I</b>ntercept (and) <b>O</b>bstruct
<b>T</b>errorism. Catchy isn't it? It just rolls off the tongue. I bet Congress
spent more time on the acronym or </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">backronym</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";"> than on the actual legislation. When is the last
time Congress accomplished anything in only six weeks? The Patriot Act was
extended in 2011 with very few changes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">I won't go into the details of the
act but in general it changed the rules of the game. Whereas individual rights
and freedoms were once the principal concerns, we now could infringe on those
rights in the name of national security. It changed the way government agencies
were organized and how they share information. It changed the rules about
gathering that information and the restrictions on that gathering. The rules of
subpoena were changed and relaxed. The lines between domestic and foreign
surveillance were blurred.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">As is to be expected, the
government agencies involved took the ball and ran. They fully exploited their
new freedoms even at the expense of our individual freedoms. It is the nature
of man and his institutions to seek power and control. Once a little bit is
achieved there is a burning desire for more power and control. The problem is
the Patriot Act made it easier for these agencies to increase their power. We
need laws and rules that make it more difficult for government to infringe on
our rights and freedoms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">So, now we have the revelation that the National Security
Agency (NSA) is monitoring phone records, emails and social media sites. They
regularly receive information from the major Internet providers, phone
companies and social sites. The president and others have assured us that the
government is not listening to our phone conversations or reading our emails.
If you believe that then you probably think everything on the Internet is true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">Now I don't think that the NSA is
listening to my phone calls or scrutinizing my Google searches but I do think
they could if they wanted to. I also don't think they would need, or even ask
for, any judicial OK to do it. Maybe if I write about government surveillance,
Google Al-Qaeda or “friend” a suspicious person on Facebook I might show up on
their radar.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">The concern is that once government
has the keys to the information, the odds are that they will use those keys.
Even if they don't, someone else will use the keys. That has been proven by the
Edward Snowdon affair. Do we even know what information he took or who he has
given it to? There is no way that millions of people can have “top secret”
clearance and the information remain “top secret”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">I remember right after the 9/11
tragedy that our leaders implored us to return to normal life as soon as
possible. Go shopping, go to the movies, go to the park, go out to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we didn't do these things then the
terrorists had won. Too bad our government didn't take their own advice. They
went into a bunker and passed sweeping legislation in a very few weeks.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">Besides the Patriot Act, the
president and Congress got us into a protracted war in Afghanistan and soon
thereafter in Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We opened a prison
in Guantanamo, foreign soil, for terrorist prisoners so we wouldn't have to
abide by all those pesky US laws. US citizens who were Muslims were discriminated
against and profiled often involving physical violence.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">The current administration and
Congress have followed along the same path. The fact that Obama has continued
so much of what was put in place by Bush (43) makes me wonder about the
phenomenon that seems to happen with every new administration or new congress.
That phenomenon is that things barely change from one to another. Every
presidential candidate talks about change but few actually do it. I wonder why
this is. Is it because things are just more complicated than expected, the
optimistic view. Or is it that so much government stuff is kept secret that the
new president says “Oh shit, now I understand”, the pessimistic view. This Bush
to Obama hand off is not the first time I've been confused. How many
administrations kept the Vietnam War going?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">The one time when change happens is
when a crisis, real or perceived, occurs. Then we go overboard. Our alleged
leaders pass sweeping legislation that doesn't accomplish what it was supposed
to. Either the legislation is flawed to begin with or it gives too much leeway
to the implementation and enforcing agencies of the executive branch. If you
allow an executive department to make the rules they will build an empire. They
will spend every cent Congress allocates and then ask for more. They will push
every restriction to the limit and then probably blow through it. That's our
nature. Grab as much power and budget as you can. Bureaucrats don't care about
our rights. For that matter, members of Congress don't really care about our
rights either. They care about reelection and the perks of office.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">Although not related to terrorism,
the recent IRS problems are another example of big government agencies running
amuck. It's also an example of the government scrutinizing our political and/or
religious beliefs.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">How many billions of dollars have
we spent on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and on the NSA and related agencies?
How many individual rights have been trampled on? How many dollars will we
continue to spend? It's estimated that the NSA has 40,000 employees and a $10
billion annual budget. Of course the real numbers are “top secret” so I guess
only the four million people with top secret clearance know for sure. Remember,
the NSA is only one of many agencies spying on us so the budget numbers are way
bigger than $10 billion per year. Don't get me started on the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) with their ever changing rules and general
incompetence.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">Wouldn't it be nice to have a few
of those billions of dollars available to fix our decaying infrastructure,
lower our staggering national debt, rebuild West, Texas and the New Jersey
coastline or even lower taxes?</span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi"; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "DejaVu Sans"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">There is a TV program on CBS called
</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_Interest_(TV_series)"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">P</span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_Interest_(TV_series)"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">erson of
Interest</span></a><span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">about the guy who programmed the machine that
analyzes all the data the government collects. He programmed a back door to the
computer that he uses to save peoples' lives. I originally thought it was a
fictional drama but I'm beginning to think it is actually a documentary. Is
there a back door entrance to the NSA computers? If so, who has the key, the
good guys or the bad guys?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">Our government urged us to get back
to our normal lives after 9/11. They then decided that normal was to go to war
with two countries, reduce our rights and build huge government agencies. All
this comes down to my original question. Who's winning? Is it us who have
drained our treasury and reduced our freedom or is it the terrorists? I don't
have the answer but this doesn't feel like winning to me. At best I'd call it a
draw. Maybe that's a good as we can expect. We need national security but we
also need to maintain our basic principles. Let's remember what we're
protecting.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">What do you think?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff950e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lohit Hindi";">wjh</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-63996621719483397912013-06-01T11:34:00.001-05:002013-06-01T11:34:42.999-05:00Welcome to the View Point - June 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ah, the languid days of summer are almost upon us. It is finally starting to feel like normal here in Texas. Temperatures are creeping up to the 90's. Baseball is being played at sand lots and at the Temple in Arlington, where the Rangers look like they are going to make another serious run for the playoffs. The June issue brings along a great article on school safety from our regular contributor Bill Holmes. I've also offered some observations on air-travel and would like to hear from you all about your experiences taking trips whether for business or leisure. As we move into summer our thoughts are still with those who have been recently impacted by the terrible storms in Oklahoma and Kansas. Tornadoes and Heavy Thunderstorms are no laughing matter and some times, like in the case of the tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma become tragic. Please, if you haven't already done so, reach out and help those who lost their homes, their property or loved ones. The Red Cross is still accepting donations for a relief fund for those affected. If you can help,please do so. You can reach the Red Cross by clicking <a href="https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10001&scode=RSG00000E017&subcode=grantdonations&gclid=CI29wbWkw7cCFfLm7Aod0hcAsQ">HERE.</a><br />
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I hope you enjoy this month's issue and please, as always, become part of the conversation.<br />
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Best,<br />
Dennis Sherrard, Editor</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-58692909908979227052013-06-01T11:26:00.003-05:002013-06-01T11:26:25.908-05:00Schools or Fortresses?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">By </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">Bill Holmes</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="graphics1" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 353.3pt; margin-left: -0.2pt; margin-top: 1.25pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 297.9pt; z-index: 251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">With the tragedies that have happened in the last few years at some of our schools, security our teachers and children seems to be a topic of discussion in many of our newscasts and newspapers. Let's get this straight right up front. Protection of our children is our most important duty both as parents and as a society. But at the risk of being politically incorrect let me ask the question: at what cost? At what cost to our school budgets, teachers, parents and most importantly our children?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">No one can deny that incidents like the Columbine High School shootings in 1999 or the more recent Sandy Hook Elementary shootings at the end of last year are tragic. They rip our guts out. There is no way to rationalize the deaths of so many children in such a senseless manner. The fact that these tragedies are reported, talked about and analyzed on every news outlet makes them hard to get away from. We are constantly reminded of them and forced to think about them even when we need a respite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">We can accept when a child dies from disease or an accident. Those things are the luck of the draw. That doesn't make it easy but it's part of the way things have been for all time. Some children don't make it to adulthood. We do a much better job of getting our young through childhood than we ever have before in our history. Medicine, sanitation and improved nutrition means the vast majority of kids are now expected to survive childhood. That makes it even harder to accept when a child dies. We expect all our children to make it safely to adulthood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">Now we have what we think is a new problem. That would be school violence. I don't mean a pushing match in the cafeteria between students. I mean when an armed maniac enters a school campus and kills people. Sandy Hook and Columbine are the worst cases but there are others. Jilted lovers go to schools to confront their ex who is a teacher or employee and it gets violent, maybe with collateral victims. A gang turf war erupts on campus and escalates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">There has always been some violence in schools. Anytime you get a few hundred kids together in the same place there are bound to be disagreements. When I went to school those disagreements were settle by the students with fists or a wrestling match and the discipline was enforced by the teachers. Things have escalated some since those days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqq0y5P03vghMF9zssMyRad8CTxjRgkyqH4Yv1_pEoYouttU5tORQC26kAkRoD11jKVlWQvkIcpaq1HLYBPD8dZknnftztCq3FfwEAbJRDTB-avAaB9u_brd9i9mw1UU55CSkg5hE5vg/s1600/barbed+wire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqq0y5P03vghMF9zssMyRad8CTxjRgkyqH4Yv1_pEoYouttU5tORQC26kAkRoD11jKVlWQvkIcpaq1HLYBPD8dZknnftztCq3FfwEAbJRDTB-avAaB9u_brd9i9mw1UU55CSkg5hE5vg/s200/barbed+wire.jpg" width="200" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics2" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 108pt; margin-left: 350.5pt; margin-top: 3.8pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 2in; z-index: 251659264;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">Although I live in a relatively safe suburb, there is a cop assigned to every high school and junior high. You have to show an ID and be either a parent, guardian or designated alternate to gain entrance to a school. Every door except the main front one is locked. There are surveillance cameras everywhere. Many schools have metal detectors at the entrances. Dogs are used to sniff for drugs in lockers. Teachers, employees and students wear ID badges. Some of those badges have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that allow tracing of each student's location. We have stupid zero tolerance policies that leave no room for common sense. In many places the whole campus is fenced. Our schools are being turned into fortresses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PDhrM_VDQj7Au7kkxym4KCz2pWD801pIe-b2j3kB6mR1FL4mtrbuIr0BfTlbWuP9fW5eGuX8-qMv0ShzCSbSfmvkAUiY43wKXUjLYigQCSZhwpHQWedT1cwcuOMjcjeHZXVnXqeH0g8/s1600/smokin'.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PDhrM_VDQj7Au7kkxym4KCz2pWD801pIe-b2j3kB6mR1FL4mtrbuIr0BfTlbWuP9fW5eGuX8-qMv0ShzCSbSfmvkAUiY43wKXUjLYigQCSZhwpHQWedT1cwcuOMjcjeHZXVnXqeH0g8/s320/smokin'.png" width="226" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics3" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 191.5pt; margin-left: -0.55pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 171.2pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">I wonder what effect all this security has on the children. Do they feel safe or do they feel confined? Are we scaring them and making them overly cautious and suspicious? I mourn the loss of freedom. If there is a camera in the bathroom and one by the back door how can a kid sneak a smoke or cut class? If all the doors have alarms and the campus is fenced how can a student go to Taco Bell for lunch? How do a couple of guys settle a disagreement when they get arrested by the school cop for having a fight?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">I know smoking and cutting class and fighting aren't ideal behavior but they shouldn't be criminal offenses either. I worry about the impact on school district budgets all this security has. The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) recently </span><a href="http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/02/dallas-isd-trustees-approve-4-65-million-school-security-upgrades.html/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">approved $4.65 million in school security upgrades</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">. DISD also has their own police force and a </span><a href="http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/78/BudgetPresentation4-2BudgetBook_June2812.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">security budget over $17 million</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">. The </span><a href="http://www.fwisd.org/business/Documents/Proposed%20Budget_Revised_05-23.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Fort Worth ISD budgeted</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';"> $9.4 million or $112 per student for security in 2012/13. Even my </span><a href="http://schoolctr.hebisd.edu/education/page/download.php?fileinfo=QnVkZ2V0X1N1bW1hcnlfUmVwb3J0XzIwMTItMjAxMy5wZGY6Ojovd3d3NS9zY2hvb2xzL3R4L2hlYmlzZC9pbWFnZXMvZG9jbWdyLzkyNTZmaWxlMTE2NjkwLnBkZg==&sectiondetailid=40052"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">suburban school district</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';"> spends about $800,000 per year on security. That is a ton of money. Is it all really needed? Did DISD approve an additional $4.65 million upgrade in February because of the Sandy Hook incident a couple of months before? Are the upgrades necessary or a knee jerk reaction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">I'm glad our educators and school board trustees are concerned about school safety and security. I'm not happy about the amount being spent. Every dollar spent on security is one less dollar spent on actual education. I also wonder if school boards spend money on things like security and new football stadiums because they haven't been able to fix the real problems in our schools. Chest thumping about a new security system distracts people from the facts that many students aren't prepared for life or college when they graduate from high school, if they graduate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">The fact of the matter is that many more students will be killed or injured in school bus, automobile or athletic accidents than will ever be harmed by an intruder into the school. So our reaction is to install metal detectors in schools but not require seat belts on school buses. We put up a fence around the campus but we let the Jr. varsity kids use old worn out football helmets. We have metal doors with industrial strength locks but we don't build sidewalks or make safe intersections around schools. The schools in Moore, Oklahoma don't have storm cellars or safe rooms but they have security cameras. As usual we concentrate on the issue that's in the headlines, not necessarily the issue that needs attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">It's good that strangers can't just wander into a school or that young students can't wander off campus. It's good that there are cameras to deter vandalism. The problem is that a camera or a metal detector or ID badge are not going to deter a crazed individual with an arsenal from storming a school or a dorm or a movie theater. I support increased background checks for gun buyers but that won't stop the one in a million lunatic from killing people at a crowded theater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">Don't say “we must protect our children at all costs” because that is simply not true. If it were true we would have safe sidewalks, safe intersections, school storm cellars, safer school buses. We make choices everyday where and how to spend our money. We make compromises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">We can and should be careful but we can never be completely safe. Bad stuff is going to happen and sometimes it will happen to innocent children and good people. I loathe the nanny state and overprotective, helicopter parents. Kids need some freedom. They need to be able to make a mistake or do foolish things and then suffer the consequences.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">Remember, there is a finite amount of money for our schools. Should we buy another surveillance camera or another computer for the classroom? Do we need another security officer or another teacher? Do we need more metal detectors or more trombones for the band?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">I'm thankful that none of my schools had surveillance cameras, RFID sensors, police officers or locked doors. If they had I would have been in trouble all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lohit Hindi';">I don't have the answers. I hope that our school security budgets are based on real need and not knee jerk, politically prudent and feel good reactions. I just want every possible dollar spent on real education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-19525272700955636622013-06-01T11:25:00.005-05:002013-06-01T11:25:38.459-05:00Leaving on a Jet Plane...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuwrarPaHcnvEaSNJ1cMIVCCZxosJw6r1UMvRD2qVXpaNIBAobfq5iRijjSgMzavmRmOH_glE9o1PegYQtgvNBZWW5lqV3Cpm8I6nLuQfIvhnTpsqun2HFAF9lYqlxjjsUSSkUr6a4aw/s1600/JetPlane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuwrarPaHcnvEaSNJ1cMIVCCZxosJw6r1UMvRD2qVXpaNIBAobfq5iRijjSgMzavmRmOH_glE9o1PegYQtgvNBZWW5lqV3Cpm8I6nLuQfIvhnTpsqun2HFAF9lYqlxjjsUSSkUr6a4aw/s200/JetPlane.jpg" width="200" yya="true" /></a></div>
Like many of my friends, I spend a lot of my work life on airplanes. My clients are scattered across the United States and Internationally so it is become commonplace for my backside to be in seat 6A or 10B of some airliner headed to yet another city and hotel room. So, it has become something I don't think a lot about. However, this week I got a notice that a trip my wife had planned for a vacation we haven't taken in about 10 years jolted me back into thinking about air travel. <br />
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I've been riding airplanes now for almost 40 years. Travel back in the mid 1970s was much different than it is today. My first flight was to a baseball tournament in West Texas on Southwest Airlines, remarkably, one of the few airlines operating in the United States that is still in business. Think back to those days of less stringent security, more luxury on the trip, and the fact that it was an <em>event</em>. Travel by air was still very expensive in those days and when one got to go somewhere on an airplane it was special. If you remember this time, air travel was considered sexy, cool, and things that celebrities, athletes, big business executives and politicians did. The average person would usually drive their cars, take a bus, or if it was available still ride a train to get to where they wanted to go. The "elite" that could afford air travel got treated like royalty in my eyes. I remember flying these now defunct airlines and wonder how many of you recall the experiences when on Pan Am or Brannif. See a sample set below of airlines that catered to both leisure and business travel, and for one reason or another do not exist anymore.<br />
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Remember Pan AM? Pan Am was cool. Pan Am was short for "Pan American, and it was the airline of James Bond and the Beatles (though they did fly BOAC, which is now British Airways quite a bit). When I was a kid, I thought the scenes of Sean Connery coming off a Pan Am jet in Dr. No was just about the coolest thing I ever saw. I got to fly on a Pan Am flight before they went under in 1991. I've always wanted to see them return for more nostalgia reasons. I thought the logo was cool, the uniforms the flight attendants and pilots wore was classy as well. It was a shame to see it disappear.<br />
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Braniff International Airways was based at DFW Airport with a massive headquarters location called "Braniff Place". Those of you alive in the 1970's probably remember seeing one of their garishly painted airplanes, which were bright orange, turquoise, neon green or yellow. Their headquarters was decorated the same way. After Braniff went under, GTE leased the facility and it became GTE Place, then Verizon Place. I worked there for GTE Directories in the late 1980's, and it was something to see when it was being prepared for GTE. The doors of many of the offices were painted like the airplanes, the CEO had an indoor swimming pool just off his office. The back part of the property had a golf course! No wonder they went under. Braniff was in business for 54 years starting as a small mail carrier in Tulsa Oklahoma. But mismanagement and staggering debt caused the airline to cease operations in 1982. For months, at terminal DFW, there were many planes lined up together like so many Popsicles. One of the interesting things about Braniff was that it had a cooperative relationship with Air France and British Airways to provide Concorde service in the United States. Braniff pilots flew the plan in the US between their hub in Washington DC and Dallas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9as2Zra3_cg_XYG8DNiXO6tiPV-Fn7zYaXFCl3VthfzD-wANBzVIPz6Gi3UhzcFxjn_3N9sJG-xb2zNa8pTuJ-FF_iW0dsvtyN2eDvq1zSdU1Ac1aDYChTLNHoUdFYCuBvs7CPVl6ZPg/s1600/Eastern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9as2Zra3_cg_XYG8DNiXO6tiPV-Fn7zYaXFCl3VthfzD-wANBzVIPz6Gi3UhzcFxjn_3N9sJG-xb2zNa8pTuJ-FF_iW0dsvtyN2eDvq1zSdU1Ac1aDYChTLNHoUdFYCuBvs7CPVl6ZPg/s200/Eastern.jpg" width="200" yya="true" /></a>Eastern Airlines is another airline I remember from the 1970's and 1980's that disappeared from the scene in 1991. Once headed by an actual Apollo Astronaut, Frank Borman, Eastern fell victim to recession, debt and high fuel prices like many other carriers did. I flew the Eastern shuttle a couple of times from DC to New York and it was a reliable and pleasant airline. </div>
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We've all seen brands come and go, but with airlines there is something emotive about seeing one disappear. It is like losing a friend. I fly American Airlines now exclusively because I live in DFW and have an elevated status that gets me checked bags for free, pre-boarding, access to the airline club and upgrades on many flights to first class. It's nice I suppose, but the whole thing has become workmanlike. The chore of standing in the security lines, baggage claim lines, rental car lines, etc. has lost all of its luster from my youth. Now, I get excited about air travel when I'm heading out with my wife for a trip to some of those exotic locations I used to dream about when I was watching the James Bond movies of my youth. </div>
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This September, Judy and I will be gong to London, my favorite city in the world, then Paris, then on to St. Petersburg Russia for 10 days. It will be my first trip of any length to Paris and first trip at all into Russia, so am excited about seeing the new places. I could stay in London forever, there is so much to do. I approach this trip with a little of the enthusiasm and excitement of my youth, when I was getting on that first airplane ride to West Texas to go play baseball. </div>
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Since that first ride, I've probably flown about 3 million miles since I've been traveling on business for over 30 years. It's a good feeling to be able to look at this coming trip as an adventure and not a chore. </div>
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I'd like to hear from you regarding your experiences with air-travel. What were or are your favorite airlines? What is your favorite destination? Who do you think is the best airline today?</div>
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Tell me what you think.</div>
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Regards,</div>
Dennis<br />
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-62307179243571885852013-05-01T01:00:00.000-05:002013-05-01T01:00:15.655-05:00Welcome to the View Point - May 2013 Issue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Welcome to this month's issue of the View Point. It's May and we're still enjoying the wonderful season that is spring. Here in Texas, we've not seen it get too hot yet, the trees and flowers are blooming and it is a great time to get outside, take in a ball game, go on a picnic or just take a walk. I hope you all are enjoying this great time of year.<br />
<br />For this month, our regular contributor, Bill Holmes brings us a great story about how we are very, very much like our parents. It's an amusing and thoughtful article and I believe right on point. I catch myself often doing something I've remembered seeing my father do. I get occasionally surprised by my kids, when they remark that I'm starting to look and act "like Grandpa". Of course, they say it with good intent, and I take it that way, but it is interesting that we exhibit behaviour of our parents as we get older. <br />
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We also have another article regarding the recent announcement by NBA Center Jason Collins, who recently came out regarding his sexual orientation. Yes Virginia, there are living breathing professional athletes still playing in the big four sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) that happen to be gay and one of them just said so. I think this is a good thing and write about it.<br />
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Give this month's issue a read and as always, we'd like to hear from you. Tell us what you think.<br />
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Peace,<br />
Dennis Sherrard<br />
Editor.</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-76898702009224145252013-05-01T00:30:00.000-05:002013-05-01T00:30:01.057-05:00We Are Our Parents (Children)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">by</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><b><span style="color: #ff950e;">Bill Holmes</span></b></i><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I did something today that reminded me of my Dad. It was just a gesture with my hand, no not an obscene gesture. I realized as soon as I did it that it was one he often made. I've caught myself doing it before but for some reason this time it triggered further reflection that has turned into this blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I've noticed many other things I do and say that remind me whose son I am. We can't help but pick up at least a few things from our parents. Most of us live with them for our first 18 or more years. The years when we learn to do all the basic skills like talking, walking, climbing, throwing, running and a million more. We also learn basic beliefs like morals, religion, social, political and fiscal views, not to mention the favorite family routines, traditions, words and sayings. Those are also the years when we absorb things like a sponge. We imitate those around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are lucky our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins might be around too. That reinforces everything.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;">There is also the small matter of genetics. Families tend to have similar body types. That influences how we walk, run, throw and jump. Faces, mouths and teeth may be the same which influences how we pronounce words and our tonal quality. Isn't it wonderful how well siblings can harmonize. Not only do their voices blend, they also have the same accents and speech patterns. Listen to the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKn6h2x5IcY"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Everly Brothers</span></a><span style="color: black;"> or </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNOBrUITV4A"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mills Brothers</span></a><span style="color: black;"> sing for proof. <i>An aside, I went to YouTube to get the above links for the Everly and Mills Brothers. It took about 45 minutes to get back to this blog. It's hard to listen to just one tune by those folks and one thing leads to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have taken longer but I have a very demanding editor and I had to make deadline.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In my case, some of those influences aren't that strong. Mom was born in New England but spent much of her youth in New Jersey so she had a mixed accent. Neither the pronounced Boston type accent or the harsh accent of the metropolitan New York area. Dad was born and raised in northern New Jersey but his accent wasn't that strong either but it was obvious he didn't grow up in Alabama or Chicago. We moved to Florida when I was six, so I went to school with people who had very different accents from my parents. I have no idea what kind of accent I have. I know it's not a strong northeast or Midwest accent but it's not a deep south drawl or Texas twang. You'll have to ask friends and family. Because of all that, I don't think I talk like my parents but I know I do things like they did. Gestures, facial expressions, sitting positions, phrases and probably other things. I missed out on other big family traditions. By moving 1,000 miles from the rest of the family I didn't have much influence from grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins. We didn't go to Aunt Helen's house every Thanksgiving or Nana's house for Christmas.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;">This would all be horrifying to me when I was 20 or 30, probably at 40, a little less so at 50 and now I don't mind. We would never admit that we did or said anything like our parents when we were growing up. They were old and mostly stupid. They were old fashion and certainly not cool. They couldn't possibly understand what our life was like or what horrendous problems we were dealing with. I didn't want to be anything like my Dad and took every opportunity to reinforce that. Growing up in the 1960's<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>added to the rebellious leanings but I don't think I really needed much of a push. There was more than a bit of tension during my youth. I couldn't wait to move out of my parents' house.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics4" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 180pt; margin-left: 4.4pt; margin-top: 4.75pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 140.25pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">As long as we are young and single we can continue this charade. We can be self-righteous and smug about our parents values, behavior and old fashion sayings. They are quaint, but completely behind the times. That changes a little when we get into a relationship and either live together or get married. I'm not talking about our living arrangements with our college roommate Bluto, but a more committed and hopefully longer lasting collaboration. That teaches us about compromise and we maybe appreciate some of our parents challenges.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The real change happens when we have children. It's not too bad when the child is an infant although there may be some family traditions carried on. Maybe a pet name for the baby that is common to the clan. Once the kid is a toddler and can understand what we are saying it all changes fast. Here's a question, how long after your first child was born did it take for you repeat a phrase that your parents used? A phrase that you all swore you would never use on your kids. How long did it take for the second and third and fourth and so on “quaint” phrase to slip out? Every family has their cliche phrases and every new generation swears they will never use them. Of course every generation eventually does their part to carry on the family traditions. There are some </span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://www.parentsconnect.com/parenting-your-kids/parenting/mom-parenting/things-my-mother-said.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">universal sayings</span></a></span></i><span style="color: black;"> that we've all heard and used. When viewed objectively they may make us cringe but they seemed completely appropriate in the heat of the moment. Many families also have there own little sayings. Probably no more logical but perfect in the right situation.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If we get to live long enough we will see all this happening several times. We may first notice we use a phrase or gesture our parents used. We may notice a familiar behavior in one of our children. So, did they learn it from grandma or from us? If they only see grandma once a year for a few days we probably should look in the mirror. If we live a little longer we will hear our children us a familiar phrase on our grandchildren. Maybe we'll see a familiar look or wink or twinkle by that grandchild that reminds us of our Mom or Grandmother. No one else may notice it, but it's there. When we see it, it brings a smile to our face and maybe a little shake of the head. It feels good. It confirms that the family and gene pool have survived at least another generation or two.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If we pay attention there will be many examples. Ever notice that members of one family holds their fork or pencil the same way or tie their shoes a little differently than another family. Did the kids learn how to tie their shoes like Mom or Dad, a combination or are some kids in Dad's camp and some in Mom's? It's fun to contemplate. Sometimes we don't even notice it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A long lost aunt may come visit and notice our five year old child does or says something exactly like grandpa. Once pointed out we notice it every time from then on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics2" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 253.4pt; margin-left: 286pt; margin-top: 4.6pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 204.45pt; z-index: 4;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">The whole point is that we are our parents children and as we get older we become more and more like our parents. I'm not saying we're carbon copies, after all we are a combination of Mom and Dad. We may be totally different in our political leanings. We probably have at least a somewhat different moral compass.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl2IXzWwiBu_LELzktiijxsdaXNGcPh4jMcvtO4xrI3d2LoCA8pWGMSRccEHKMHS3IJl4nIBFupUfk1I4VgDkzxEzKyijbkM7FJdEFT_mt8VgGLeQY7RvCVAINPeToicXr-2Qte4rugE/s1600/Cleavers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 483px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 324px;"><img border="0" height="400" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl2IXzWwiBu_LELzktiijxsdaXNGcPh4jMcvtO4xrI3d2LoCA8pWGMSRccEHKMHS3IJl4nIBFupUfk1I4VgDkzxEzKyijbkM7FJdEFT_mt8VgGLeQY7RvCVAINPeToicXr-2Qte4rugE/s400/Cleavers.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
We may have different religious convictions or no religious convictions. Some of my parents beliefs and behavior would be unacceptable today. Not because they were bad people but because times change. My parents were born in 1912 and lived through World War I, the Great Depression, World War II and legally enforced segregation. Generations since then have different experiences. Regardless of all those differences, we still carry the family behavior forward. I've said phrases my parents used, I've made a gesture they made, I've reacted to situations the same way they did. I've become more and more like Mom and Dad. Now, that's finally OK. As it turns out, I'm not that much like my father. We had different talents and interests. We did things differently and had different priorities. I probably am more like my Mom but of course there are many differences. She was mostly a housewife and I wasn't. I've had different experiences, lived in a different time and places so we developed different values. Despite those differences, I still make gestures like my Dad and say things my Mom did. If the fork isn't to the left of my plate I put it there. There are many little quirks, some I don't even realize. So, I'm not exactly my Dad or Mom just like my kids are exactly me. We are all different but we damn sure are related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49kILoynzhW9ldYNr7YSROUKjFvg11Fwt9SFlCX1UoESPfZqaOhRoxFbGC_IEFheywVSkYKpYYpjnrXjWQFU_SJVVAFDqt1_uzuqufSGuYNsqfh3ar1vWQ5S-r4cfvL9sRucYRGKAF04/s1600/Cocktail.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49kILoynzhW9ldYNr7YSROUKjFvg11Fwt9SFlCX1UoESPfZqaOhRoxFbGC_IEFheywVSkYKpYYpjnrXjWQFU_SJVVAFDqt1_uzuqufSGuYNsqfh3ar1vWQ5S-r4cfvL9sRucYRGKAF04/s200/Cocktail.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<v:shape id="graphics3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 124.4pt; margin-left: -0.1pt; margin-top: 1.75pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 154.55pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">Embrace it and watch our children become us. It's been happening for centuries and will continue for a few more despite the younger generation's denial that it will ever happen to them. We start out life as our parents' children and end it as our parents.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I think I'll have a nightcap now or as Dad used to say “just a short nightcap” or “a short one”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it wasn't actually that short but the last drink of the day was always “a short one” regardless of how big or tall it was. Goodnight Dad.</span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff950e; font-size: 10pt;">wjh</span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-16361236143643257102013-05-01T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-01T00:00:03.711-05:00Something Good Happened<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzcZvX3sxz3XCTIGKcwh2f1B5-q0gi8oCkyTzEoQsocdVnTCJ4m7yykuXM0uAnK9rKfq2ay2lvDoxItHN1R-RHNWxUVTmjsphq4uEhu_RKFYOIEjUwR36g1P_kBxWYgKOA_F0zrrwPWY/s1600/jason-collins-4_3_r536_c534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzcZvX3sxz3XCTIGKcwh2f1B5-q0gi8oCkyTzEoQsocdVnTCJ4m7yykuXM0uAnK9rKfq2ay2lvDoxItHN1R-RHNWxUVTmjsphq4uEhu_RKFYOIEjUwR36g1P_kBxWYgKOA_F0zrrwPWY/s200/jason-collins-4_3_r536_c534.jpg" width="200" /></a>Jason Collins is a professional basketball player. Jason Collins is a very good professional basketball player. Jason has been in the NBA for 12 seasons, and has played for the Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics and Wizards. Jason Collins has a couple of championship rings. Jason Collins is a 7 foot plus center who is an aggressive player both on the offensive and defensive side of the court. Jason Collins went to Stanford and made it to the NCAA championship on the same team as his twin brother Jarron. Jason Collins is a very good basketball player. Jason Collins is also gay. Jason made a decision after the end of his most recent season with the Wizards which has seen him move into free agency that he couldn't sit back and hide who he was anymore. There are many reasons for his decision to announce his orientation and his <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/" target="_blank">words</a> describe those reasons better than I can.</div>
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This is a very good thing. We have for some time now seen a softening of the general opinion towards LGBT people and a progression towards important things like marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. So, this event is one of an ever increasing series of events in our wonderful experiment that is America that is moving towards stopping or curbing bigotry towards homosexuality.</div>
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The reason this is a very good thing is that professional athletics, and particularly male-dominated professional sports such as football, baseball, basketball and hockey seem to have been the last bastion of tolerated homophobia. Not necessarily by the players, as evidenced by the outpouring of support for Jason by his team mates, coaches and friends in the game, and not by the owners either, who have been supportive of Jason's decision as well. The principle level of bigotry seems to rest with the fans. I don't mean overt bigorty such as those lunatics from the Westboro Baptist Church like to display on a daily basis, but a latent, and hidden bigotry that has kept athletes like Jason in the closet while being active in their professional careers. We've had athletes come out before, but not until after they had retired and were out of the game and limelight for a period of time. For whatever reasons they had, they kept their orientation to themselves. They might have thought of a backlash by teammates, by fans, etc. It really doesn't matter and there is no value judgement that should be held against anyone in my view as their personal situation is just that: personal. However, Mr. Collins decision to come out while still active in the NBA is a bold and a welcome move.</div>
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Professionial athletes are lionized in our society. Our kids look up to them as role models. I know when I was a kid I idolized baseball players and some football players and looked up to them as they carried themselves in the public view. I admired those athletes in the 60's who marched in civil rights marches as well as those in the 1940's and 1950's, after Jackie Robinson broke through the color line to join the Dodgers (side note: If you haven't seen "42" yet, please go and see it<em>. </em>Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey is one of his best roles yet, and the young man, whose name escapes me that portrays Robinson does it with great results), that stood up to prejudice because someone happened to be not-white. To me, this decision by Jason Collins is a culmination of the efforts started so long ago to fight against the stupidity of bigotry and prejudice. Mr. Collins is a role model because he is a professional athlete. He is admired by his fans many of whom are kids. He has, by his decision to come out done a great service to many who are gay but hide it, or who are confused about who they are and why <em>they feel </em>different from their friends. Perhaps this decision will provide the confidence for a young man or woman to come out to their friends or parents. Perhaps we will see a continued erosion and declination of old and tired prejudices. Perhaps we will see people for who they are, appreciate them for what they do, and not be worried they are flawed or sick or deviant or sub-human as some of the very few demented people who have commented negatively about this decision suggest.</div>
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It is right and proper that Mr. Collins' decision to come out comes on the 50th anniversary year of Dr. King's "I have a Dream Speech". Dr. King's plea for people to be judged by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin is a relevant today and in regard to Mr. Collins decision as it was during 1963. Mr. Collins character has been revealed. It is strong. It is confident. It is honest. I think Mr. Collins example as a professional athlete will benefit this country in many different ways. I am very glad Mr. Collins decided to make this decision. It is a decision that's time has come.</div>
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A good thing happened this week. We've not had a lot of them but I am very glad this one did.</div>
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Tell me what you think.</div>
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Regards,</div>
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Dennis </div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-47316249481529325272013-04-01T05:03:00.000-05:002013-04-01T05:06:30.679-05:00Welcome to the View Point-April 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. This Month's issue has an article from our regular contributor Bill Holmes, about how our perspective in life shapes our opinion of our entertainment. Definitely a good read with lots to consider. Also this month, an article about our ancestors and where we came from and the science that allowed me to discover my own connection to my ancient past.<br />
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I hope you all enjoy this Month's issue.<br />
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Warm regards,<br />
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Dennis Sherrard<br />
Editor</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-41328960969603088112013-04-01T04:58:00.001-05:002013-04-01T16:20:29.508-05:00How Our Lives Color Our Perception of TV & Movies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">by</span> <b><span style="color: #ff950e;">Bill Holmes</span></b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLK0JOyDzSupFPgQWNrD6fP6UK5ijnDfgeM6J0hgT3Fc6ij7fr70qnRAiFMxWBON5QmQ3r5TlY8QoqgTrTWBz9Ayho9LomJwiDYSau6lUz_tdBi0UIRSjfvsvBSXjsoWnhzrsjP36XS4/s1600/DA.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLK0JOyDzSupFPgQWNrD6fP6UK5ijnDfgeM6J0hgT3Fc6ij7fr70qnRAiFMxWBON5QmQ3r5TlY8QoqgTrTWBz9Ayho9LomJwiDYSau6lUz_tdBi0UIRSjfvsvBSXjsoWnhzrsjP36XS4/s200/DA.png" usa="true" width="200" /></a></div>
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="graphics2" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 167.65pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 234.2pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape>Last month I wrote about <span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><strong><a href="http://thereasonedviewpoint.blogspot.com/2013/03/tv-news-sweeps.html" target="_blank">TV Sweeps and News</a></strong></span>. In keeping with that TV theme, this month I'd like to discuss how our lives influence our consumption of entertainment. The spark for this blog occurred a few days ago when a friend, Rick, posted a <a href="http://futurelawyer.typepad.com/futurelawyer/2013/03/downtown-abbey-lawyers-dream-or-lawyers-nightmare.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><strong>blog about </strong></span></a><a href="http://futurelawyer.typepad.com/futurelawyer/2013/03/downtown-abbey-lawyers-dream-or-lawyers-nightmare.html"><i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><strong>D</strong></span></i></a><a href="http://futurelawyer.typepad.com/futurelawyer/2013/03/downtown-abbey-lawyers-dream-or-lawyers-nightmare.html"><i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><strong>ownton Abbey</strong></span></i></a>. Rick is a lawyer and he brought up points about <i>Downton Abbey</i> that would never have occurred to me. The article was done tongue in cheek but he had to know the law and view the show through a legal mind to make the comments. Even if I did notice some of the issues he exposed, I would not have seen the situations in the same details he did. This friend and I converse on Google+, Facebook, Twitter or our blogs several times each week. We have many things in common going back a couple of million years but also many differences. That makes our exchanges familiar and comfortable on one level but stimulating and challenging on another level. I'm hoping he doesn't mind that I've expanded on an idea he inspired. If he does he can sue me, he probably knows a good lawyer.</div>
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We are greatly influenced by our life and experiences in how we view, perceive, consume and enjoy (or not) media. Depending on where we grew up, age, family, education, career/profession, marital status and a myriad of other factors all influence our perception. It is extremely difficult to suspend all reality and knowledge when watching a movie or TV program. My lawyer friend pointed out how inept the Crawley's of <i>Downton Abbey</i> were in their legal dealings, civil, criminal and fiduciary. I hardly ever notice the legal ramifications of a TV show I'm watching but sometimes the legal stuff is so ludicrous even I know it is wrong. I bet lawyers cringe about a lot of our TV shows and movies. <i>Downton Abbey</i> is not a show about the law or lawyers and yet a real life lawyer saw that aspect in the program. I'm sure cops and firefighters have trouble with many of the procedural shows about their professions. I have problems with our crime shows too but not so much the legal or law enforcement stuff. Those in the medical fields must be particularly troubled. It seems wonderful, caring, brilliant doctors and nurses regularly make stupid decisions and lose patients all while having sex in the janitor's closet. Of course next week Dr. Stupid will perform the first ever successful left earlobe transplant. Nurse Lovey will power the patient through the earlobe therapy to a full recovery.</div>
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</v:textbox><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>My particular peccadillo is the depiction of technology and computers in movies and TV. <i>Dragnet</i> would show a card sorter. Several punch cards would fall into multiple pockets but a single card would fall into one slot (pocket) with the name of the bad guy. Well, card sorters are dumb, mechanical machines, not computers. They read one column of information at a time and drop it into one of 13 pockets, 0 through 9, two zone punches and a reject (unreadable or no punch) pocket. They were for sorting a stack of punch cards into numerical or alphabetic order, not identifying a criminal for Sgt. Joe Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other standard computer props were a whirling tape drive going backward and forward, a printer spitting out reams of paper or a bank of blinking lights. Often the whole “computer” consisted of a single tape drive. We don't see spinning tapes or card sorters much anymore but the unrealistic depiction hasn't change all that much over the years. Now everyone on <i>NCIS</i>, <i>Criminal Minds</i>, <i>CSI</i> or any other TV show or movie can hack into anything, anywhere in 30 seconds or less. They guess the password on the third try or dramatically only one second before the PC goes into self-destruct mode. The “computer experts” can do a query of every computer on earth in seconds and find the exact information needed. Thankfully it's a little more difficult than that. I'm sure whenever your profession is depicted on the screen you laugh or cry. I bet carpenters, plumbers and electricians hate some of the renovation shows on HGTV and DIY.</div>
I started working in Information Technology (IT) around 1970. We didn't call it IT back then. I've worked in the Computer Room, Computer Department, Electronic Data Processing, Data Processing, Remote Data Center, Information Management and a couple of other names over the years. The media has distorted what we do and how we do it for as long as I can remember. In the 1960's, 70's and 80's, before the age of the personal computer (PC), all the media did was show a card sorter, spinning tape drive or flashing lights whenever depicting a computer. There was never any mention of the software and programming. Somehow IBM or UNIVAC or NCR or DEC or Honeywell just manufactured machines that could solve your specific problem. If you were a police department then just order one of those Crime Fighter 2000 computers and all your problems will be solved. Same for a bank but you'd need the $hylock 3000 model. Computers were depicted like other manufactured goods. A model for every need, just like cars or TVs. The worst cases I can remember were in the 1960's and 70's when programs like <br />
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If you're a sports fan and/or ex-athlete you will notice the actors who can't pull off the jock parts. A girly baseball throw, a terrible swing, a 150 pound football star linebacker and so on. Very few pull it off. I'm always amazed how many nonathletic actors have portrayed hall of fame athletes. A couple of klutzy actors can ruin an otherwise good sports movie.</div>
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Age and upbringing figure into the equation too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Catholics found mistakes in the recent papal election reporting. Jews and Muslims have heartburn with how their beliefs are reported. Those of us brought up with the Beach Boys and Beatles find fault with retrospectives about those groups and times. That 30 year old who produces a show about the Vietnam war will probably get a lot of stuff wrong or interpret things inaccurately or at least differently than those who lived through it. If it's a show about stuff you know you'll notice what is depicted incorrectly and what is left out. It will probably bother you.</div>
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<v:shape id="graphics3" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 292.65pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: left; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: top; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 201.4pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape>Have you ever seen a supposedly true story that takes place in a location you are familiar with? Was there a mountain in Florida? Maybe a palm tree in a Chicago suburb? Did the actors walk into the library and wind up in a courtroom? Did two places that are 30 miles apart suddenly become part of the same neighborhood? How about that beach that's a block from a city 20 miles inland. I once saw a <i>Criminal Minds</i> episode that supposedly took place in the city I grew up in. The FBI team was helping the local police department and police chief who had PD insignias on their uniforms and cars. That city doesn't have a police department or police chief, it has a sheriff and sheriff's department. There were several other faux pas.</div>
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I guess if you have little or no knowledge about what's on screen you're OK. If I were to watch a show about rap culture in New York City I'd probably accept most of what I saw. You got a show about architecture and engineering? I'll go along with that. That documentary about the sex life of honey bees may be 99% crap but I'll never notice. Set your show in Wyoming and odds are I won't notice any geographical mistakes unless maybe there are palm trees and beaches.</div>
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Unless it is a compelling, well written, well produced, brilliantly acted presentation it is impossible to suspend all our history and accept everything we see on screen. In my personal experience it becomes harder and harder. I find myself watching much less prime time TV fiction. There are only one or two TV shows each season that I begin to watch. Even those fade from my viewing schedule after a few episodes. I don't have much interest in most movies either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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My problem is that I am now old enough to have seen stupid, inaccurate, distorted and slanted depictions of so many things that I have at least a passing knowledge about that I hardly believe anything I see from the entertainment industry. The news folks fall short too. Intellectually I realize that TV entertainment shows and most movies are not documentaries but I often wish that the writers and producers would do at least a few minutes of research.</div>
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No one but a lawyer would consider the legal aspects of <i>Downton Abbey</i>. No one but a geek would notice the depiction of computers on <i>Dragnet</i> or actually read and critique the database SQL queries on <i>Criminal Minds</i>. Only an electrician would worry about the wiring in a DIY or HGTV remodeled kitchen. What drives you a little crazy when you're watching TV or a movie?</div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-2436950219817164672013-04-01T04:58:00.000-05:002013-04-01T04:58:14.776-05:00Who Are You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmlo9y-jVZA08wLCxkkbNFxJV_cN6AAr9jheQegsaeXsVZdmAakmSGR3bT-aCHGSKePWSHuKJsgQoti94_Sy7fQ3uFnQVnYREBLD_3KYhUMoHb0FFRjW4etlKeWiHgGti3sPMGIBntPI/s1600/imagesCAMJDL8W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmlo9y-jVZA08wLCxkkbNFxJV_cN6AAr9jheQegsaeXsVZdmAakmSGR3bT-aCHGSKePWSHuKJsgQoti94_Sy7fQ3uFnQVnYREBLD_3KYhUMoHb0FFRjW4etlKeWiHgGti3sPMGIBntPI/s200/imagesCAMJDL8W.jpg" usa="true" width="200" /></a>One of the more intriguing things about humanity is our connectedness. It seems unlikely, given all of the ethnic diversity we see in our lives but we all come from pretty much the same place. Theology of all stripes has creation myths that attempt explain our origins ranging from Native American mythology such as the <a href="http://dept.cs.williams.edu/~lindsey/myths/myths_12.html" target="_blank">Iroquois</a> story regarding the Sky Mother being the mother of all and the earth being created on the back of a giant tortoise to the more well known Genesis myth of Adam and Eve. These stories have been advanced through the ages and depending on who you are and where you grew up, you may take one of these myths seriously and as your "belief" in our origins. The stories are interesting, with quite a lot of drama and excitement. But, they are just stories and while we may hold a special place in our minds for them, they are simply an unsophisticated explanation by an uneducated group of people. It's not their fault and perhaps they were using the best tools of thought they had in the day and after all, if your mom or dad told you a story about how the world began why would you not believe that? </div>
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Thankfully, we live in an age where science has been able to move past fable and bring us information that provides an understanding of where we came from that is both profound and incredibly important. In recorded history, thinkers as far back as Aristotle considered how "traits" were inherited. Many different people reflected and wrote about this for centuries but it really wasn't until a Augustinian Friar named Gregor Mendel, who was conducting experiments on pea plants began to notice a statistical constant in terms of traits inherited by the offspring of the parent plants. He noticed that each "trait", such as color consisted of two factors inherited by the parent. Further work by Mendel also produced a hierarchy of traits that became known as recessive and dominant traits. Thus, the field of modern genetics were launched. Others of course had done research on inheritance, but Mendel's theories really set the course for the field going forward. Fast forward to the late 1940's and early 1950's and the work of Francis Crick and James Watson, who riding on the shoulders of many who came before published a paper in 1953 that would gain them the Nobel Price in 1962 for the discovery of <span class="st">Deoxyribonucleic acid or (DNA). DNA was a breakthrough and it has broken through the "mystery" of understanding what we're made of and how we are all ultimately connected. With the possible exception of the Moon Landing in 1969, the discovery of DNA and the chromosome pairs DNA contains is perhaps the most important scientific discovery of the 20th Century.</span></div>
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<span class="st">So, back to how humanity is connected. For Christmas in 2012, my wife got me National Geographic's GENO 2.0 DNA testing kit. The kit contains a couple of swabs and vials that one uses to deposit a DNA sample in which is then analyzed by National Geographic's testing team who will then provide a report back to you and tell you where you came from. Cool huh? Basically a 45 second scraping of the cheek, mail the samples in and 6-8 weeks later you get a report telling you where your ancestors came from. </span></div>
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<span class="st">Well, I got the results of the test a couple of weeks ago and found the information incredibly interesting. Like quite a few human males, in fact all that are alive today, my DNA maps back to a man born approximately 140,000 years ago. Around 75,000 years ago, the BT branch of the Y-chromosome tree was born, which contained many genetic markers including one called M42 (a genetic marker is a mutation in a gene that is passed on to descendants), carried by a man who lived in a place in eastern Africa that comprises countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. During this time frame, the first migrations out of Africa began and the M42 marker traveled along with them. Over the course of the next 70 thousand or so years, this marker, along with others picked up along they way found their way to the United Kingdom, where my paternal ancestors were to eventually settle. Over the course of the migration, my ancestors were African, Southwest Asian (Iranian, Indian), Central Asian (Kazakhs), German, Italian, Spanish and finally, English. The name Sherrard is an Anglo-Saxon name established in the County of Cheshire in the early middle ages and are my direct anscestors who had family that immigrated to the United States. The map below produced by the GENO 2.0 project shows the migratory path of my ancestors that contained the same genetic markers that I do. </span></div>
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<span class="st">Additionally, it seems that I, like most of all non-sub Saharan Africans contain a little does of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal" target="_blank">Neanderthal</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denisova_hominin" target="_blank">Denisovan</a> DNA. These two groups of hominids, distinctly separate from Homo Sapien, were evidently on the planet as recent as 30-40 thousand years ago, in the case of the Neanderthals, but who have since vanished as a separate species of hominid. Once again, the idea that most of us are a mixture of difference species of the same genus is fascinating to me. It shows me that while I am a distinct and unique individual, I came from a vast and varied set of ancestors. That's pretty comforting to me. It gives me a sense of connection when I try and understand how people in other parts of the world think, live, love, worship and die. It means that while we may have many things that we hold as unique to ourselves such as cultural history, nationalism, ethnic affiliation, etc., deep down we all, every one of us, come from the same place and same ancestors.</span></div>
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<span class="st">I would encourage you if you haven't to get this test done. It's about $200.00, so it isn't cheap. However, the work the project is doing is important and a portion of the proceeds goes to continuing the research. To date, over 500 thousand samples have been collected and the sample size is growing. If you are interested in checking this out, go to their website at <a href="http://www.genographic.com/">www.genographic.com</a></span></div>
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<span class="st">So, who are you? Well, you're evidently related to me in some form or fashion, so don't forget the Christmas Cards.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Understanding where we come from and who we are is important. Today we are more connected than ever technologically. This test shows we've always been connected biologically. That's a pretty cool thing to think about.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Tell me what you think.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Regards,</span></div>
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<span class="st">Dennis</span></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-28450086572779757992013-03-01T08:15:00.001-06:002013-03-01T08:15:49.725-06:00Welcome to the View Point - March 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Spring is on the way. March in Texas is usually a great time of year. We start to see the budding of the Bradford Pears and Dogwoods, the birds are all over the place gifting us with song and color (and if you don't have covered parking, something else) and we get a sense of renewal. Baseball season is right around the corner and hopefully our Texas Rangers can once again make it to the playoffs and garner that elusive World Series ring.<br />
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This year March also brings us something not so great. SEQUESTER. That word to me has become synonymous with ineptitude, selfishness, and idiocy. I have a piece this month on this utterly stupid event that could have been avoided.<br />
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On the brighter side of things this month, we have a great article from Bill on TV Sweeps and all that brings to us, some good and not so good as it pertains to watching the television machine and in particular, TV news.<br />
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I hope you all have a great March and remember to join the conversation.<br />
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regards,<br />
Dennis Sherrard<br />
Editor.</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-4658437000947934422013-03-01T08:10:00.003-06:002013-03-01T08:10:31.566-06:00TV News & Sweeps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black;">By: Bill Holmes</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvdZJD_i7u5AXEFwq7goD3FOrN9OzO38QNAAgnKFpLUoCzyxqJwhdsMniw7SVW71PtGBncBda7qhaeaqU-XdgVhNzREE3G8MrekkSIMmAxyRXvwhfXwpzCRagNAiecwsunfAwnC2n72c/s1600/sweeps.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvdZJD_i7u5AXEFwq7goD3FOrN9OzO38QNAAgnKFpLUoCzyxqJwhdsMniw7SVW71PtGBncBda7qhaeaqU-XdgVhNzREE3G8MrekkSIMmAxyRXvwhfXwpzCRagNAiecwsunfAwnC2n72c/s200/sweeps.png" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Here we are at the end of February </span><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/27044/how-do-tv-sweeps-periods-work"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sweeps</span></a><span style="color: black;"> for the TV networks. Sweeps are the thrice yearly periods when </span><a href="http://www.nielsen.com/us/en.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nielson</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and the other TV rating agencies do extra polling and analysis of our viewing habits. These sweep periods occur in February, May and November. The extra effort ratings are used by the networks and local stations to set their advertising rates for the next few months. Sweeps also bring out the best and worst in the networks and local stations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The sweeps don't mean quite as much to local stations in a big TV market like DFW or NYC or LA. That doesn't stop them from playing the game. Big market areas are measured daily (overnight ratings) by various means all year. Smaller markets depend more on the sweep numbers. National networks get a more complete count of total viewership as opposed to just the major markets. So of course the more complete counting of eyes brings out more intense competition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The good part of sweeps is that the networks air first run episodes of their hit series and tend to show specials or movies in place of their bad shows. There may be a cliffhanger or two during the month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Series crossover episodes are a good possibility. It's the time of year when the <i>NCIS</i> guys from Washington show up to help the <i>NCIS: Los Angeles</i> team. A <i>CSI: NY</i> cop may track a criminal to Las Vegas because they can't go to Miami this season, Horatio Caine and his sunglasses got canceled. The bad part is that many of those specials and most news shows are sensationalized. All are over hyped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Some of the worst offenders are the local 10:00 PM, 11:00 in the east, news broadcasts. The investigative reporters we haven't seen in weeks are suddenly all over the screen with shocking findings. There are promos all during the day, teasers during the 5:00 and 6:00 news broadcasts all with a promise of life changing information. If you take these reports to heart, you will never leave your house again. There are dangers everywhere. Restaurants, grocery stores, packing houses and farmers are trying to kill us. Every merchant is trying to cheat us and every service provider who comes to our house will come back later to burglarize your home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I'm not denying that some of these investigative reports provide useful information. There are bad guys out there and some companies do not provide safe products or the service they promised. What bothers me is the sensationalism of the reports and the constant teases during the day. The promos have compelling video and doomsday voice overs. The hype is outrageous and doesn't belong in a news organization. The big payoff is usually far from life changing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4htBdrnlMLWSxAEYBHLaQ6wVDLyASmCCc360w37u_cM3KX2mmlMITu5_VU_vZIV9DEjvT3LhiZ_TCkqpv27JpEbJ2oF3siBLQ3iKsQ8ABlxrCdVEqGx7kTUAxU9Bci69U8N7RevMPhtM/s1600/coke+can.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4htBdrnlMLWSxAEYBHLaQ6wVDLyASmCCc360w37u_cM3KX2mmlMITu5_VU_vZIV9DEjvT3LhiZ_TCkqpv27JpEbJ2oF3siBLQ3iKsQ8ABlxrCdVEqGx7kTUAxU9Bci69U8N7RevMPhtM/s200/coke+can.png" width="200" /></a><v:shape id="graphics3" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 186.75pt; margin-left: 283.4pt; margin-top: 0.75pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 212.65pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">One recent story on a local station was about contamination on drink cans. They included soda and energy drinks. I didn't see any of the most important canned beverage, beer. There were sensationalized promos for a couple of days. The reporters bought random canned beverages for the test. There was the required swabbing of the can tops by gloved laboratory professionals. The swabs were dramatically rubbed on to culture dishes. The samples were grown in a professional lab with professional lab employees. They were analyzed by professional scientists. When checked, the culture dishes were full of bacteria. We had proof of the bacteria because an ultraviolet light was shined on the culture dishes and it glowed brilliantly. There was a multipage lab report, held up by the reporter, to go with the ultraviolet pictures. Very dramatic and convincing unless you know that bacteria is everywhere. In the last few seconds of the report, there was a statement from a medical doctor saying that the bacteria found was not dangerous to most people. This looked suspiciously to me like a cover their ass statement to avoid any legal actions by the beverage companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that last brief statement that negated most of the manufactured crisis the investigative reporter had a little happy talk with the anchors. They made comments about how gross it all was and of course ignored the doctor's comments that torpedoed the story. Oh, the solution to this national crisis was to rinse off the top of the can. Who would have ever thought of that without this gripping news report? I should point out that the investigative reporters at this station have recently been named the iTeam. Expect a lawsuit from Apple any day now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The local news outlets are not the only purveyors of this hype. <i>60 Minutes</i>, <i>20/20</i>, <i>Dateline</i>, <i>Rock Center</i> and any other news magazine I missed tend to rev it up a gear. The star anchors of the network evening news programs don't take nights off during sweep months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Not being a TV marketing genius I can't tell you if these bait and switch stories work to pump up the ratings. I don't know if people care that Diane Sawyer, Brian Williams or Scott Pelley, rather than a substitute, is at the anchor desk for a full month. I do know that new episodes of entertainment programs I usually watch will increase my likelihood of viewing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">With today's technology, it seems archaic that we still have sweep months. As mentioned, major markets like D/FW are measured every day. Those results are available the next day. Many smaller markets ratings are available within a week. Why would an advertiser pay rates based on a one month sample when the networks and stations stack the deck and are putting their best stuff on the air? Those viewer numbers have to be greater than the average over the course of a season. Why are November, February and May more important than October, January and April?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Other changes in the landscape are the use of DVRs and that cable networks don't follow the normal September to May TV schedule. New shows and series are liable to pop up at any time on the calendar. They don't seem to be particularly concerned about sweeps. With a DVR that special sweeps program in February may not be watched until April and certainly not on the same day of the week or time it originally aired. Bet you'll skip over the commercials too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The second point of this blog is how do you choose which news to watch? I'm mostly talking about the morning (5:00 to 9:00 AM) and evening (5:00 to 6:30 and 10:00 PM) broadcast news. The cable news stations are far too partisan for this debate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zMikGiNFCQNFE6ewk6zw7ZF_BiozzBemreSLlCbHaJpD-6-YP_PwE6hCkH6XbJAWvTxpWBc3l_RV5fhF21Apt7m7-q-CGaarmHaUpiqSWVgwe7WyluuplwzAJ4pxJgdb6EMDnHsNyck/s1600/newsteam.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zMikGiNFCQNFE6ewk6zw7ZF_BiozzBemreSLlCbHaJpD-6-YP_PwE6hCkH6XbJAWvTxpWBc3l_RV5fhF21Apt7m7-q-CGaarmHaUpiqSWVgwe7WyluuplwzAJ4pxJgdb6EMDnHsNyck/s200/newsteam.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics4" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 120.75pt; margin-left: -0.05pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 234.75pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">I live in the Fort Worth-Dallas area, </span><a href="http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/public%20factsheets/tv/nielsen-2012-local-DMA-TV-penetration.pdf"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">the number five TV market</span></a><span style="color: black;">, so I have a better choice of news than many. I have often been amazed at how bad the local news programs are when I travel. DFW has all the usual ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC affiliates plus some independent and Spanish language stations. Over 25 plus years here my primary local news station preference has changed a few times. Anchors change and so do news directors and marketing gurus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I think the most important factor in local news is who are the people delivering the news, weather and sports. It's rare when all three are your favorite but if it happens, you are hooked. It also depends on the lead in and lead out programs. For years one local station had a huge rating advantage at 5:00 because the news followed Oprah. The CBS affiliate has an advantage now at 10:00 because of the strong CBS prime time lineup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy3x7OXygb8iwDVN3VO_JKTZ9xCHwlniFExwnPKqUrXAZXagcwSRWppMbRDQ8Fbx6DNLXITOlptZ4ZX12LFRkLCOOoPAyALPC3V1S6YqWeWBtyp1Lp0jWzwUIcZdB9H9f6l0ND9kaExs/s1600/charlierose.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy3x7OXygb8iwDVN3VO_JKTZ9xCHwlniFExwnPKqUrXAZXagcwSRWppMbRDQ8Fbx6DNLXITOlptZ4ZX12LFRkLCOOoPAyALPC3V1S6YqWeWBtyp1Lp0jWzwUIcZdB9H9f6l0ND9kaExs/s200/charlierose.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics2" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 270pt; margin-left: 168.3pt; margin-top: 48pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 5in; z-index: 5;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">Still, anchors matter. I used to watch one local early morning news program almost exclusively. They changed the weather person, not as good but OK. They changed one of the news anchors, OK. Another weather and another anchor change. Then they changed the traffic reporter and weather person again. Well, to me the new weather guy is unwatchable and the traffic reports are boring. Changed stations and there was the guy that got fired from my former favorite station. He and his co-anchor are good, the weather guy is watchable and the traffic reporter is both competent and attractive. It may also help that it leads into the <i>CBS This Morning</i> show which is now my preferred network morning show. I like Charlie and Nora although the main reason I watch is because it's more news oriented. I don't really care to watch segments on fashion or makeovers or cooking at 7:00. I also can't stand to watch or listen to Savannah Guthrie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">At 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 PM it's a little more difficult. In my opinion, three of the four local newscasts are OK. Unfortunately, I think the anchors are better and have more integrity than their bosses. I see them wince sometimes while reporting a story. All three of the news anchor pairs are competent, the weather guys OK and the sports guys are good. The field reporters are OK too for the most part. I'd like to be completely objective in my news choices but since they all report the same stuff does it really matter? I usually watch one station at 5:00 and a different one at 6:00 just to get some contrast. The local CBS affiliate usually gets the nod at 10:00 because I'm more likely to be watching a CBS prime time program and because it leads into Letterman. I'll also occasionally watch the Fox newscast (the local affiliate, not Fox News Channel) at 9:00 PM.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I hate the intrusion of sweeps and marketing and hype into TV news. I don't like it much in the network prime time shows either although that is harmless. As cable channels with their unconventional seasons increase we may soon see the end of sweeps as we know it. There is also the new paradigm introduced by Netflix. They released the whole season, 13 episodes, of <i>House of Cards</i> at one time. You can watch it one episode at a time, a 13 hour marathon or any other combination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">My guess is that in a few years most media content will be consumed on-demand via the internet. There will be no need for these occasional sweep spikes in content. Every program will be tracked at the moment of download or consumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If you want to promo and hype a future TV series or special or movie that's OK. If you have news that is important and informational to the public then report it. Any news that the networks or local stations promo and delay is not that important. If it was really important, every station would be either breaking into normal programming or leading their next newscast with the story. Remember, being first with the story is almost as important as being accurate to most news organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I don't remember ever seeing a promo for the <i>CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite</i> or the <i>Huntley-Brinkley Report</i>. I also don't remember poorly researched sensationalized fluff reports during sweeps. I know times change and many people no longer watch TV news and those that do probably already know the big stories of the day. They have seen it on the internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Q0RCcuRO7iu9cEQnL4cWqSXxnlhHgnzxa-WBsERKgrBmN_fA_Ma3cj8OhgJSCSY0sRKCMJpQK1R5ifImiz1s1ncq1yY4STcfeoATx7yCuij13juJuanH03hKia_lyUVjI8NXZwqoJU/s1600/towncryer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Q0RCcuRO7iu9cEQnL4cWqSXxnlhHgnzxa-WBsERKgrBmN_fA_Ma3cj8OhgJSCSY0sRKCMJpQK1R5ifImiz1s1ncq1yY4STcfeoATx7yCuij13juJuanH03hKia_lyUVjI8NXZwqoJU/s200/towncryer.png" width="124" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics5" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 361.5pt; margin-left: 1.05pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 225pt; z-index: 3;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">Choose your own favorite news source, be it TV, internet, newspaper or town crier, but please choose a source or two or twelve. We all need to be informed about our world. It's also a good idea to get at least a second opinion or slant on the news. If you're a Fox News fan, maybe watch a little MSNBC or vice versa. It can be painful but it may make you stop and think about an issue rather than just nodding approval. There is even some real news value in the <i>Daily Show</i> and <i>Colbert Report </i>or a late night talk show monologue. Don't be afraid to check out that story that supports your beliefs in </span><a href="http://www.snopes.com/"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Snoops.com</span></a><span style="color: black;"> or one of the </span><a href="http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/techofalltrades/top-10-sites-to-debunk-urban-legends/100"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">other debunking websites</span></a><span style="color: black;">. Be curious, be skeptical, be informed. Enjoy all the reruns and substitute anchors in March too. Just wait, the anchors, investigative reporters, new episodes and more hype will be back in May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff950e; font-size: 10pt;">wjh<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-5497282197486326412013-03-01T07:49:00.002-06:002013-03-01T07:49:52.713-06:00Dysfunction Junction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today is the day. Today the ominous "Sequestration" goes into effect. What will be the impact? Well, depending upon who you talk to, it will be doomsday, not a big deal, or somewhere in the middle. I think the impact will be entirely based on one's perspective. If you get laid-off or furloughed as a result of the sequester, it's not good. If you run a business and get contracts canceled it is not good. If you are on Wall Street, the collective response on this has been "Meh". Wall Street has already planned for and accounted for the intransigence in Washington, and basically wrote them off long ago. We'll likely see some dip in the markets but overall, we won't see the catastrophic decline in the markets like we did in September of 2008. This crisis is different than that one. This crisis is a manufactured crisis created by Washington (The President and the Congress) and is entirely of their on doing. The sad thing about this is that the sequester comes because Washington couldn't, for whatever reason reach a deal on dealing with the financial situation in the country. By all accounts, the sequester was supposed to be the deal so bad no one would ever allow it to happen. Well, it's happened. It exemplifies two things: One, that if you don't deal with problems when they happen and simply kick the can down the road, the problems become harder to solve. Second, Congress is supremely broken and won't likely be back to health until one party or another gains a clear majority over the other. Grid-lock is entrenched now. It used to be a good thing. Having checks and balances in government was by design. However, this last decade, we've seen Congress go from a balancing act to one of destruction. The House of Representatives and the Senate are both at fault here. It is easy to understand what is happening. The Republican majority in the House has become Balkanized. There is no unification anymore between moderate and ultra-conservatives anymore. The Tea Party has taken over and like a wild-eyed ideologue refusing to compromise on any measure with the Democrats. The members of Congress who might be tempted to compromise live under the threat of a primary challenge from the right. Speaker Boehner has lost his majority as evidenced from having to drop the "Hastert Rule" that says legislation won't go to the floor unless there is a "Majority of the Majority". His own party is in revolt over working with the other side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxiw2YmYU6U6QL2JikdCkct3_MB2dXLbFhx7xZKkt9OAdkDHN37Wfkvl9Ra1djU-4CwIRiSW0Q9XR2FRqC1ZjcLnZ1L7yuBvgcHRG2wHu4RVI4HVcjynciaruTGAi6PZg9aPg9Ht3esw/s1600/Nero.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxiw2YmYU6U6QL2JikdCkct3_MB2dXLbFhx7xZKkt9OAdkDHN37Wfkvl9Ra1djU-4CwIRiSW0Q9XR2FRqC1ZjcLnZ1L7yuBvgcHRG2wHu4RVI4HVcjynciaruTGAi6PZg9aPg9Ht3esw/s200/Nero.bmp" width="182" /></a>Likewise in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid has become the proxy-veto for the President. Any bill the President doesn't like coming out of the House of Representatives never sees the light of day in the Senate. The Senate has not passed a budget in years. As intractable as the House of Representatives is, the Senate is similarly plugged up. Action is either not brought to the floor by the Majority or, if it has a chance of coming <span style="background-color: yellow;">to </span>the floor, it is generally something Minority Leader McConnell cannot stomach so it is immediately filibustered. So, Congress fiddles while the country burns. </div>
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There are many who would cast the President in the role of Nero, that hedonistic leader of Rome who indulged himself and friends while ignoring the plight of the Roman people but I disagree with that altogether. The President has consistently offered up compromise on this issue only to get his hand bit by the rabid dog that is Congress. A "Grand Bargain" was negotiated with the Speaker in the summer of 2011 that had both revenue increases and significant entitlement cuts, a 3 to 1 ratio of spending cuts to revenue increases. Mr. Boehner could not make it work in his own party, so it died. Subsequent attempts to make deals have resulted in preposterously negative results. There is no equivalence here. Congress (both Democrats and Republicans) are the villains here and the President seems to be the only adult in the room. During the campaign he repeatedly said he believed the Sequester wouldn't happen, that a deal would be made. What happened? Well, a deal was reached to eliminate the Bush-Era tax cuts for those making above $450 thousand dollars a year while retaining the cuts for everyone else. That yielded about $600B in revenue which was half of what the President was looking for. Spending cuts, originally designed to go into effect January 1, were deferred to March 1st, where assuredly we would get a deal. It was not to be. The President has said he wants tax reform to close loop-holes and raised additional revenue as part of the deal. The Speaker, now suffering from Tea Party Stockholm Syndrome has refused to discuss this. "No deal, Mr. President. You've had your tax increase. Now it is time to cut spending". The House has flatly refused to discuss anything resembling revenue/tax increases and the Administration has refused to discuss any deal that doesn't include revenue increases. Well, what's the problem you say? The President got his tax increase. Why is he being so obstinate? Well, for one thing, it wasn't really a tax increase, it was an expiration of Tax Cuts that were originally supposed to be long gone before President Obama ever showed up. The other issue is that the President campaigned on not wrecking the anemic recovery we currently have by implementing Draconian Austerity measures that would send us reeling back into recession. One only has to look at Europe to see the fruits of the Austerity measures employed in the last couple of years. </div>
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So, we have no action. A decision forced on us because of lack of action. Everyone in Washington says this sequester is an idiotic idea. So why is it going forward? Congress could simply write a one page document saying that the law is repealed. The President could sign it and it would be done. Well, it seems no one has the sense to suggest or take that route, so we devolve into partisan finger-pointing and the blame game. The White House is embroiled in this as much as the Congress is. The polls show weakening support for both the President and the Congress, although Congress is taking the brunt of the criticism. As well they should. This Congress is shaping up to be just as feckless and inept as the last one. Those who like to get into political prognostication are saying that both Congress and the White House are looking toward the 2014 mid-terms to shore up strength in their respective areas and <em>then </em>something might get done. I think both groups underestimate the rancor and ill-will they are generating through their inaction. They might be very surprised what the American People have to say in 2014. It wouldn't surprise me to see an independent uprising with people voting out incumbents who are so locked in their intransigence that they won't vote for common sense solutions that deal with both reducing the cost of government and raising enough revenue to make a serious dent in the debt. Those who think we can deal with the debt and deficits by either only raising taxes or only cutting spending are either naive or lying. The President has said he wants a balanced approach. The Tea Party, holding the Republicans and the American People hostage have said "no thanks". As a result, we get the Sequester. An idiotic solution to a problem caused by idleness, cowardice, and irrationality. What a wonderful legacy for this Congress.</div>
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For an explanation of what happens now the Sequester has begun, go to the <a href="http://bipartisanpolicy.org/print/7480" target="_blank">BiPartisan Policy Center</a> and you'll get an objective and clear eyed reading of what the Sequester means. This graphic shows the impact on spending for government. It will not be pretty.</div>
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Write or call your Congressional Representatives and tell them to get off their backsides and get this resolved.</div>
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Tell me what you think.</div>
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Regards,</div>
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Dennis</div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-7255459412337115212013-02-01T13:14:00.000-06:002013-02-01T13:14:00.143-06:00Lance and Oprah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">by</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b><span style="color: #ff950e;">Bill Holmes</span></b></span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="graphics2" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 306.75pt; margin-left: -1.95pt; margin-top: 3.45pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 405.4pt; z-index: 5;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">Another step in the sad saga of Lance Armstrong, professional cycling and sports cheating has been taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is now absolutely no room for doubt that Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) during most of his professional career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That includes all seven Tour de France (TDF) races that he crossed the finish line first in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the fallout and analysis begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Armstrong's final downfall began when the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) started<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>investigating his career and then published their findings last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote a </span><a href="http://thereasonedviewpoint.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-fall-of-lance-and-future-of-cycling.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">blog about that in November</span></a><span style="color: black;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes into some detail including links to the USADA report.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics3" o:spid="_x0000_s1030" style="height: 166.5pt; margin-left: 255.3pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 222pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">On January 17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> Armstrong was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for a total of 2:30 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within the first 10 minutes of the interview he admitted to using PEDs and blood transfusions from the mid 1990's until his first retirement after the 2005 TDF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five yes answers to Oprah's opening “yes or no” questions and the charade was over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This after a decade of not just denying ever doping but of aggressively going after anyone who accused him. As of this date I can not find the full interview on the web although there are excerpts on YouTube and OWN.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Armstrong and his legions used every method available to belittle, humiliate, discredit, threaten, punish and even sue his accusers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He won or settled those suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of his wealth and influence within the cycling community he was able to punish and marginalize those within the sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He refused to allow access or grant interviews to journalists and broadcasters who questioned or criticized him or his team.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">So now we have to decide how we feel about Lance finally confessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it means to us, cycling, </span><a href="http://www.livestrong.org/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Livestrong</span></a><span style="color: black;">, celebrity endorsements, sports, role models and a host of other issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won't even pretend to have all the answers to one, some or all those questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will share my thoughts on the interview and maybe some opinions on where we go from here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Because Armstrong's story was so compelling and he rose to such dominance in his sport, it becomes even harder to forgive him for lying all these years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a cancer survivor who rose from his deathbed to win seven Tour de France races, the greatest and most grueling bike race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started a foundation that has raised over $500 million to help cancer patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He almost single handedly revived bicycling in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a beautiful wife and kids, then after the divorce dated a rock star and later fathered two more kids with his girlfriend despite being thought impotent after his cancer surgery and chemotherapy.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The facts and details have been all over the news so I'll concentrate on my reactions and opinions about the interview and where we go from here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">First a little background for the newcomers to this blog site or my writings;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am an old guy who started cycling again about five years ago after a very long layoff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ride almost every day, I watch the Tour de France and other bike races on TV, I read bicycle magazines and I spend too much money at the bicycle shop in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I care about cycling as a sport, a recreation and a lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also am the child of a cancer survivor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lance and his story hit close to home.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I watched all of the interview twice and some parts more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never watched Oprah, not when she was the queen of syndicated TV and certainly not on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would give her a B-/C+ grade on the interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is Mike Wallace when you need him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no real new information, just confirmation.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Armstrong admitted to using most every PED he has been accused of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cortisone, testosterone, growth hormones, erythropoietin (EPO) and blood transfusions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His thinking was that he could not have won on the professional cycling circuit without the drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put air in the tires, water in the squeeze bottles and a few PEDs in the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All part of the normal equipment and preparation for a race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately I think his assessment is correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt he was just leveling the playing field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no feeling of cheating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His words, cheating is getting an unfair advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If everybody is using the same stuff it's not unfair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He feels he had no special access to anything others couldn't get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of whether he felt he was cheating, he was breaking the rules and sometimes laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That “everybody else is doing it” excuse didn't work for me when I tried it on my Mom and Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Once he won a TDF or two the expectations rose and became unrealistic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn't just the bike racing but the cancer survivor thing, the foundation, the sponsors, the perfect life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says the drive and win at all cost attitude that got him through the cancer became his behavior in all facets of his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before the cancer that behavior only manifested itself in competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doubtful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Lance was always competitive and combative in all facets of his life.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">He admits to a very flawed character and that he has a lifetime of apologies in front of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He admitted to being narcissistic and all that entails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He admitted to being a bully and a jerk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very true.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">While he admitted the majority of things, there are still areas that weren't cleared up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He denied using PEDs during his 2009/2010 comeback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He claims the use of the biological passport beginning in 2008 cleaned up the sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's still a little suspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finished third at the TDF after a four year layoff and there were still drug problems in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 2009/2010 TDF winner, Alberto Contador, was stripped of the 2010 title for failing a drug test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems drugs might have still been in wide use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need a few years of drug free races to determine if the PED era is past.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Armstrong denies strong arming (pun intended) his teammates to dope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He admits that there was implied peer pressure to perform and that the team leader (Lance) was doping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the pressure was less subtle than just implied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect some “my way or the highway” conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">He failed to implicate </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Ferrari"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dr. Michele Ferrari</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and even called him a good man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ferrari was the top doping expert, mostly in cycling, beginning in the mid 1990's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed Ferrari was a very good man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seven TDF victories and no failed drug tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>USADA has banned Ferrari and claims Armstrong paid him over $1 million during his cycling career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's a lot of band-aids.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">He admitted to reaching out to some of the people he tried to bury but only in general said he owed them an apology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No specific apology to the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Andreu"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Andreu's</span></a><span style="color: black;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect some of this is counseling from the lawyers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-Y42Pyk0SWevjzjD8O_D5vew6umHb5yU-4nxt4JTtnZhlhN7ojsGNKFsIW-C7linHRIOP5SB4OTxj16DtiEEjYhmE4AGd4aBtOUbDj8WZc7ej0STaNPKPTfImut2Q0ly30KUozkP7Kk/s1600/lance+jerseys.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-Y42Pyk0SWevjzjD8O_D5vew6umHb5yU-4nxt4JTtnZhlhN7ojsGNKFsIW-C7linHRIOP5SB4OTxj16DtiEEjYhmE4AGd4aBtOUbDj8WZc7ej0STaNPKPTfImut2Q0ly30KUozkP7Kk/s320/lance+jerseys.png" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black;">The part that was the most touching to me was when Lance talked about confessing to his older kids, a 13 year old son and eleven year old twin girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He chocked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't imagine telling your kids that you have been living a lie for their entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The effect on his Mom seemed to cause him concern too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also stated that his most humbling point was when Livestrong indicated he was no longer wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That has to be hard even for a narcissistic person to face your kids, Mom and foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids and Mom are still with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't blame Livestrong for dumping him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could not survive with Lance still in the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically, the cancer surviving founder became a cancer to the organization's continued survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are dozens of potential lawsuits on Lance's horizons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will drag on for years and new allegations and facts will emerge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of that is good for an organization that depends on contributions and sponsors.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics1" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 206.3pt; margin-left: 136.4pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 356.3pt; z-index: 6;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.png"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">The old Lance came out a few times during the interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traces of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the jerk were still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He feels that the lifetime<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sports ban is too harsh especially considering that those who testified against him got minimal punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He claims he was not given the opportunity to testify and maybe strike a plea bargain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not buying this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up until a couple of months ago the Armstrong team was in denial and still jousting windmills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there is the Twitter picture he posted in November flaunting his Tour victory jerseys after his titles had been vacated.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I think the Oprah interview is a decent start but Lance needs to go several more steps to begin to fix this mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think there is a possibility that a new, kindlier, gentler Lance may emerge but not quite yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still comes across as an arrogant jerk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's probably to be expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be near impossible to change overnight from a complete prick to a humble, meek person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was and is a competitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately he forgot where the sports competition ended and real life began.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In the long run, I don't really care what happens to Lance Armstrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect that even with all the lawsuits that he'll be able to live a decent life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is or was allegedly worth over $100 million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He probably has figured how to salt away and hide some of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">What I do hope is that the people who told the truth the last 10 or 15 years are vindicated and celebrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that Lance and many others tell the whole truth and help clean up cycling and any other sport tainted by doping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're not there yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baseball seems to be doing a fairly good job but I'm not sure about several other sports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cycling still has a couple of cyclists every race who fail drug tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Football, college and pro, hardly ever have someone suspended for PEDs yet the players keep getting bigger and stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Olympic sports continue to have drug test failures.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I truly hope that the former bad boys of cycling are able to come forward to some kind of truth and reconciliation commission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A commission that can offer appropriate punishment and some assurance that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>meaningful changes will come about in the sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not talking just about more or better drug testing and enforcement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm talking about a top to bottom overhaul of cycling from the regulating bodies to the drug enforcers to the race organizers to the sponsors to the manufacturers and suppliers to the team management to the riders and the team staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doping was rampant in cycling for over a decade and anyone inside the sport who didn't know it was either complicit or stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way they deserve to be sanctioned or eliminated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5vmcitl3QMOOpO604DE0vb3s-O5xIYtw0AfB9-s7M3jHFWH8l-yiJiJ7Jf0FXxbrHLB7FuwTk5JRbXM2D8f-VNpcJq0aFD0IXZwcLPpdqEnJQsPJfc7-Q3ifG2HSYjyy3AD9U036xo0/s1600/UCI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5vmcitl3QMOOpO604DE0vb3s-O5xIYtw0AfB9-s7M3jHFWH8l-yiJiJ7Jf0FXxbrHLB7FuwTk5JRbXM2D8f-VNpcJq0aFD0IXZwcLPpdqEnJQsPJfc7-Q3ifG2HSYjyy3AD9U036xo0/s200/UCI.jpg" width="200" /></a><v:shape id="graphics6" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 114.65pt; margin-left: 309.3pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 165pt; z-index: 4;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">The governing bodies, the UCI and various national commissions, are corrupt and self serving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are much more concerned with maintaining their power and lining the commission coffers and members pockets than advancing the sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are overly concerned with minutia such as ridiculously detailed specs for bicycles and even socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bull shit in place of real governing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This governing body corruption and malaise is not limited to cycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole Olympic governing structure is a mess as are many professional sports and leagues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's fodder for a future blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In recent days the UCI recommended a truth and reconciliation approach to this mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suspicion among those who follow cycling is that the UCI is proposing this now because an “independent” commission that they appointed to investigate the whole doping mess was about to implicate them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The UCI has refused to cooperate with there own independent commission and has now decided to support a proposed future commission in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), if the details can be worked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expect years of delays.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics4" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 180pt; margin-left: 0.3pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 270pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">In even more recent news Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA, in a 60 Minutes segment aired January 27<sup>th</sup>, responded to the Armstrong-Winfrey program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tygart refutes several of Armstrong's statements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He contends that Armstrong had inside information about drug testing so it wasn't a level playing field among dopers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lance was a ring leader and did push others to use PEDs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Armstrong's representatives tried to bribe USADA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Armstrong was still doping during his comeback but didn't admit it because of the statutes of limitations.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcdv2Bqtk57U8_bB7szL__kQ3KSlsRScK8dizMXAK0AopGo2FkhpC-VyNDVdQqtdg95DftLquFHwBGy24HIw5dMYV3pAZlMWXF2v4HtivSJ2NRCx7VAcsLjVDk9r1dM-b8S0_jbvY_MI/s1600/Tygart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcdv2Bqtk57U8_bB7szL__kQ3KSlsRScK8dizMXAK0AopGo2FkhpC-VyNDVdQqtdg95DftLquFHwBGy24HIw5dMYV3pAZlMWXF2v4HtivSJ2NRCx7VAcsLjVDk9r1dM-b8S0_jbvY_MI/s200/Tygart.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="graphics5" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 252pt; margin-left: 275.55pt; margin-top: 13.5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 3in; z-index: 3;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image008.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="color: black;">In my opinion Tygart is an arrogant jerk too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe not that much different than the person he is pursuing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He comes across as a typical cop/prosecutor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything he says is the truth and most of what others say is a lie unless they agree or support him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No room for doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tygart and USADA have given Armstrong a February 6, 2013 deadline to come to them and testify under oath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he doesn't, the lifetime sports ban is permanent and irreversible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also assume that if Lance's testimony doesn't confirm Tygart's version of the truth the ban will remain in perpetuity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a totally artificial deadline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no logical reason or circumstance to justify it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another power play by a prosecutor trying to force a confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>USADA looks a lot like a combination investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What could possibly go wrong?</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">There aren't many good guys in this scenario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody had and has an agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I've said before, any truth and reconciliation board needs to be completely independent and have the authority to make changes to the status quo no matter who's toes get stepped on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also needs a credible and strong leader, probably somebody from outside cycling and sports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if Bishop Desmond Tutu is available?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows how to do the job.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Bottom line, Lance Armstrong did significant, maybe irreparable damage to professional cycling, Livestrong and countless individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know what the future holds and if pro cycling can be fixed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll have more to say either here at the </span><a href="http://thereasonedviewpoint.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">View Point</span></a><span style="color: black;"> or my personal blog </span><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">BillyJim47</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In the meantime, I'll continue to ride my bike and encourage others to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you'll join me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff950e; font-size: 10pt;">wjh</span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-12131716981119854402013-02-01T13:12:00.000-06:002013-02-01T13:12:42.493-06:00What Are We Doing?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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America is a land of contrasts to be sure. It's obvious in our choices of lifestyle. It's obvious in our politics. It's obvious in our various faiths. We are at the same time a people of vast differences and similarities. The similarities are just as obvious. We all generally appreciate the rights and liberties we consider inviolate and traditional. Most people, at least most thinking people believe that we set up this system of governance in our country as an attempt to better the overall condition of the people who live in this nation. The general point of view of most people is that we want to be free from oppressive rule, protected in our homes, schools and other public places, free to worship or not worship as we choose, etc. etc. It's a story as old as our country. We learn about this in grade school. The world at large at one point in time or another has come to respect the United States as both a land of opportunity and a land where people are in most cases <em>free.</em><br />
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It is therefore not surprising that an issue like gun regulations causes so much consternation within the citizenry of our nation. Loud and passionate voices are screaming their respective talking points from both sides of the political spectrum. Some believe that the right to bear arms is as sacred as any other we have. Others believe that we have taken the 2nd Amendment, poorly phrased as it is and have narrowed its scope to a very focused application of the right. Who is correct? Well, it depends on your point of view. There are massive amounts of case law that will support either point of view in a reasonable fashion. The issue of an individual's right to bear arms is one of constant debate and discussion. When tragedies like the Newtown incident that left over 25 people dead at the hands of a mad-man who used semi-automatic weapons occurs, it brings the debate into the spotlight. Passions are rightly inflamed. Those who are victimized by the crimes are justifiably angry and asking for something to be done to stop this madness. It is a reasonable response. Those who would take issue with the <em>manner </em>by which action is taken are just as passionate about trying to stop governmental over reach into an individual's liberty. No better example of this is the recent statements by Wayne LaPierre, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA is probably the best known of several guns-rights advocates and Mr. LaPierre has been quick to get in front of a camera and microphone to admonish leaders in government not to take actions around gun legislation that he considers worthless and simply something that would make us <em>feel good about ourselves</em> but in the end not do anything to quell this type of violence we seemingly see over and over again.<br />
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Why the dichotomy of opinion and point of view? Why do the passions on this issue go so far afield from each other? The cynic in me believes that Mr. LaPierre is not so much an advocate of individual liberty as he is an advocate of the manufacturers of firearms. To me, this is about money. It is about big, big business. As the data from the statistics site called <a href="http://www.statisticbrain.com/firearm-industry-statistics/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Statistic Brain</span></a> shows, it is a VERY big business. In the past 8 years, there have been an average of about 3.4 million firearms sold in this country. In terms of revenue, including ammunition, the firearms industry generated over $11 Billion dollars last year. There are over 400 weapons and ammunition manufacturers in this country, employing over 35 thousand people. So, yes, there is an enormous level of influence from the weapons industry on insuring people can continue to purchase the products they manufacture. While I would like to think the issue of gun regulation is as simple as people who want to get stricter gun laws are simply opposed by the big, evil corporate players who are making money off of the carnage, the reality is not that cut and dried. The matter of gun ownership or gun regulation is much more complex with opinions ranging from my own as illustrated above, to those who are almost religious in their zealotry regarding their 2nd Amendment rights to bear arms. Every possible reason for not implementing stricter gun regulation or banning certain types of weapons is out there. From the idea that gun ownership is a tradition and part of our culture, handed down from those halcyon days of settling the frontier, to the father and son who go hunting together, etc. We also have those who believe and I think do so delusionally, that any gun control legislation is a plot by the government to remove firearms from our landscape altogether, thereby encumbering the nation towards passivity and inability to respond to the government should those black helicopters come for us. Of course, there are others, who simply believe that a responsible person doesn't need government oversight and can own and manage a firearm with reason and maturity. I know many of the latter in the example. I am one myself. I own a firearm, and have for years. I keep it secure and away from possibility of misuse and theft. Many people like me go about their lives with no incident that would lead me to believe I should get rid of the weapon. I also go about my life with little to no reason to use the weapon in defense of myself and my family. In that instance I'm lucky. I don't live in an area where the threat of danger is persistent to the point it makes sense to own a weapon for defense. But, one wonders why we tolerate areas in this country where it is so dangerous to live that people do need to own weapons in order to be secure? It's puzzling to me that we don't discuss that issue more.<br />
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However, one thing is true and never will be otherwise. That is that those killed by gun violence will never, ever be able to voice their opinion on the matter. They will never be able to support or decry this massive amount of gun ownership and advocacy in this country. Their voices are silent. They are by virtue of the action of some lunatic, who in my opinion has no business being around a firearm let alone being able to own one completely stripped of their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a shameful response we have to these incidents, whether it is Columbine High School, Aurora, Colorado, Virginia Tech, Tucson, Newtown or any of the numerous mass shootings that have occurred in our recent past. The country must make some fundamental changes in how we approach this. The status quo is not acceptable. Parents should not have to fear that their kid might not come from school, or from the movie theater. A 15 year old girl, who just recently had a highlight in her brief life that she would remember for the rest of her days by singing at one of the Presidential inaugural balls was shot and killed this week in Chicago. No parent should have to put their child in the ground before them. No sibling should have to wake up the next day and find their brother or sister dead at the hand of gun violence. There is no squaring this circle folks. Your and my rights to own a weapon do not supersede the right of a parent, grandparent, sibling or child to live.<br />
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There are all manner of approaches to this issue of gun violence. Yes, mental health issues must be addressed. Yes, this adolescent adoration of violence in movies and video games must be addressed. But, at the end of the day, we will have to decide we are better than we are behaving, and yes, put paranoia aside and do something to limit the amount of guns that are available for the lunatics to get and use. The picture at the top of this post shows several semi-automatic weapons that you can simply walk into a big-box retail store and purchase. There is of course a "back-ground" check on these and any other guns you purchase from that store, which will remain nameless, but you can find it on the Internet in about 60 seconds. However, what is not obvious is that people who purchase these weapons can sell them in gun shows to people who do not have to go through background checks. They can sell them privately to people who do not have to go through background checks. They do not have to register those weapons. They do not have to report them stolen. They do not have to do the most basic things we do with an automobile. Are our "rights" to bear arms so precious that we do not have to be sensible? I think not. It's time for this country to stand up as a citizenry and declare an end to the nonsense. We are more alike than different, and as John Kennedy said along time ago regarding the threat of obliteration from weapons that are very tightly controlled: <em>"For in the final analysis our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children’s future, and we are all mortal.” </em>Of course, the President was referring to nuclear war. <br />
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I think we can have a sane approach to this issue and come up with a plan that will reduce the amount of tragedy we incur year over year because some mad man decided to go shoot someone. If we can't get there on this most basic of issues, then we are truly lost as a nation. <br />
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There are several interest groups that are looking for reasonable solutions to this problem. One of them, the <a href="http://www.bradycenter.org/?s=1&gclid=CPPB9cKolbUCFZGPPAodplkA_w" target="_blank">Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence</a> has some interesting perspective on the matter. <br />
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Get engaged in this no matter what side of the fence you are on. The idea is to reduce and prevent where possible gun violence. I can't imagine any thinking person would believe that we don't have a problem here. What are we doing about it?<br />
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regards,<br />
Dennis</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-63281807318519964322013-02-01T12:51:00.000-06:002013-02-04T08:13:02.210-06:00Welcome to the View Point - February 2013 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, February is upon us, and we have a Super Bowl to look forward to this month with two brothers coaching against each other for the first time in Super Bowl history. For me, the game has moved more towards what cool commercials will we see. I hope the game is a good one, and it looks to be with San Francisco and Baltimore both being exciting teams who as evidenced by this season won some remarkable games. <br />
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This month's issue has two articles. Our regular contributor, Bill Holmes continues his analysis of the Lance Armstrong saga with a recap of Lance's recent sit-down with the queen of television interviews; Oprah Winfrey. The interview was pretty good and we got to see some of the insight as to what drove this supremely talented but altogether flawed athlete to do what he did. Bill's article is excellent and will provide some insight not discussed in some of the other reporting on this interview that I have seen.<br />
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The other article is in response to the dialog in Washington regarding Gun Control. Unless you have been living under a rock, we had a tragedy in Newtown Connecticut last year with a mad-man killing over 25 people, mostly children. All of the stakeholders in the discussion, pro-gun rights and pro-gun control, have come out of the woodwork with an expectation that something, anything, must be done to quell this insanity of gun violence our nation sees all too often.<br />
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I hope you all have a wonderful February. Don't forget Valentines day, be sure and get the pre-treatment on the lawns and enjoy Sunday's game. Go Ravens....</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-67911204180791847042013-01-01T14:06:00.000-06:002013-01-01T14:16:53.272-06:00Review: Nate Silver's 538 Blog and "The Signal and the Noise"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nate Silver’s 538 Blog.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16WRD-vlXuvP-0kHWCAdCfiOWu-eGjS8HMP0PBkJbHsyxAmO4SG-yzxZmqXu-Ba_Om_vHjl9IWTg4eP7KFVz08xpCPJLvsZaDRX1EuoTiLbKBaZ2EOKS-d5ZLyMqREiAbufszV0nmxrI/s1600/Nate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16WRD-vlXuvP-0kHWCAdCfiOWu-eGjS8HMP0PBkJbHsyxAmO4SG-yzxZmqXu-Ba_Om_vHjl9IWTg4eP7KFVz08xpCPJLvsZaDRX1EuoTiLbKBaZ2EOKS-d5ZLyMqREiAbufszV0nmxrI/s200/Nate.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate Silver</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f7k4xKYeu4FkRoSi0Kyc6hCEebTrAw5f1EzQAHb1r9SzgnhDXSjzG-9vnbIFdf9RRd9onthdyisPkQ2_ynGD33FWecQ_etx1wx9VI3lyWry3BvRYhs1vj8oJ3ZnYaaMybob1iwGkEmM/s1600/538blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f7k4xKYeu4FkRoSi0Kyc6hCEebTrAw5f1EzQAHb1r9SzgnhDXSjzG-9vnbIFdf9RRd9onthdyisPkQ2_ynGD33FWecQ_etx1wx9VI3lyWry3BvRYhs1vj8oJ3ZnYaaMybob1iwGkEmM/s200/538blog.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the day before the election of Obama and Romney, I predicted amongst
my Facebook friends an Obama win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
justified that prediction based on the work of Nate Silver. At that time, Nate
Silver found Obama polling at 50.9% while Romney was getting 48.2% of promised
votes. By traditional standards, these estimates fall within a 3 to 5 point
margin of error. Some would call that a tie, but Nate Silver was putting the odds
of an Obama victory at 92%.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
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<span class="uficommentbody">A day earlier, CNN called the race even. So did
Politico, Rasmussen, and Gravis Marketing. That may have seemed to many
convincing evidence of a tie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then 9
other polls were also released on that Sunday before the election: Pew found a
3 point Obama lead; Rand found a 3.2 Obama lead, YouGov found a 2 point Obama
lead, and ABC and NBC each found 1 point Obama leads. Not one of the polls
found a Romney lead. The average across all 13 polls gave Obama a 1.1 lead. If
Obama and Romney were perfectly tied—much like Bush v. Gore—one would expect to
find some polls with ties, some with Obama leading, and some with Romney
leading. And the average across all those polls would be very close to a tie.</span><br />
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<span class="uficommentbody">Averaging across polls is what Nate Silver does. In
the sciences and social sciences, the technique is called meta-analysis. It is
a quantitative strategy of making sense of numerous scientific studies examining
a particular hypothesis. In the past, researchers used to conduct qualitative
reviews of the literature when trying to make sense of diverging results. In
such reviews, they would declare some of the studies to be good and some to be
bad, thereby setting the stage to argue away some of those results so that they
might arrive at a tidy, overall conclusion. Meta-analysis emerged as a
quantitative strategy of reducing biases in such reviews and has emerged as a
powerful tool for summarizing complex research literatures.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="uficommentbody">Nate Silver has developed sophisticated models for
predicting elections and has been recognized for having among the most accurate
predictions in 2008 and 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
“called” the election perfectly in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet it is important to recognize that he didn’t actually “call” the
election in the same way that pundits are prone to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is, he didn’t offer a simple,
deterministic sounding claim that Obama would win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, he provided probabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As such, his predictions for every state
recognized that there was a chance that his estimates could be wrong—that the
estimates were probabilistic approximations of the truth with an inherent
degree of error.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nate publishes his predictions on a site called:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fivethirtyeight. 538 is the number of
electoral votes that will be cast this election. It takes 270 of those votes to
win the Presidential Election, and Nate Silver takes the electoral system quite
seriously. He doesn’t just average national polls; he averages the results of
all the state polls as well. He then calculates the probability of a win in
each state and subsequently combines results across states to make overall
predictions of the number of electoral votes each candidate might obtain.
Hence, it is theoretically possible for Silver to conclude that a candidate
could win lose the popular vote but win the Electoral College—a diverging
prediction you’ve never before seen from the pollsters at Gallup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
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<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nate argues that we need to distinguish the signal from the
noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In context of polling, the best
indication of the signal is the average of the polls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each individual poll that diverges from the
average is considered to reflect noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Noise in this instance is sampling error—the error that naturally comes
about as a result of random sampling process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That said, each poll, no matter how noisy, gets added into to the
estimate.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHFwJaK5DWrh7ugKz_Q5ytt6XPdXWjnNPoANnhxzwGlN1R4LuJgW2WcAMjPFE8dXob_Wdh1mwr750Lg1OY2sBynhmnSnC5LdMAen7FmAC6Nac6LJPk_bPgYKJyQz_qPEDNLzpgIKd89w/s1600/TSAN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHFwJaK5DWrh7ugKz_Q5ytt6XPdXWjnNPoANnhxzwGlN1R4LuJgW2WcAMjPFE8dXob_Wdh1mwr750Lg1OY2sBynhmnSnC5LdMAen7FmAC6Nac6LJPk_bPgYKJyQz_qPEDNLzpgIKd89w/s1600/TSAN.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nate Silver’s Book:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Signal
and the Noise.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
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<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Having followed Nate Silver’s blog with great interest during the
election process, I decided to read his book hoping to gain further insights
into the statistical modeling that Silver uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This book, however, is not anything like a technical report or manual on
the science of polling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, there
is (arguably) not even a full chapter devoted to the 538 site, and it certainly
doesn’t detail the statistical model Silver uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, the book takes us on a number of
journeys to explore how individuals often mistake noise for signals to get
predictions wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He starts with the
financial crisis of 2008 to detail how the rating agencies, banking regulators,
mortgage brokers and others made colossal failures of prediction in judging the
housing bubble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here he shows that there
were warnings, but these warning were given insufficient weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the next chapter, he explores worlds of
television punditry and political science to show how often “the experts” get
their calls wrong, borrowing very heavily from the work of the psychologist,
Philip Tetlock. From there, we’re swung into the world of baseball where we
learn about the rivals between the “statheads” and “scouts.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, this is one of two areas where
Nate Silver made money before the development of the 538 blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nate was a stathead who developed a system
for predicting which players in the minors would make it big in the majors and
sold the system for a profit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But before
you assume that this is simply a story of how stats beat scouts, don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would be wrong. Instead, Nate explores the
varied contributions of quantitative and qualitative information to provide a
much more nuanced perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">In his first 3 chapters, Nate explores how various cognitive and
self-presentational biases distract us from making accurate predictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the subsequent 3 chapters, he explores how
difficult it is to formulate predictive models in dynamic systems, arguing that
mistaken assumptions can lead to huge distortions in predictions when the
effects are nonlinear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The topical
templates he utilizes here include weather forecasting, earthquakes, and
economics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silver received a Bachelor’s
degree in economics from the University of Chicago, but had I not known his
educational background, I could easily have imagined leaving each chapter
believing that he had earned advanced degrees in meteorology and geophysics as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only does he distinguish
predictions from forecasts in these chapters, but he makes clear the importance
of confidence intervals in ways that I had not quite fathomed before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Finally, in his last set of chapters Nate starts driving his readers
to leave behind deterministic styles of thinking—trading them in for
probabilistic styles of thinking instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More specifically, he pushes us to think as Bayesians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He provides a simple explanation for how
Bayesian statistics operate and then illustrates how natural this style of
thinking is with a chapter on poker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here again, we find that Nate has considerable experience having earned
hundreds of thousands of dollars playing Texas Hold’em online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you haven’t found a topic yet to
interest you, there is another chapter on computers playing chess and one to be
had on controversies over global warming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<br />
If you liked “Freakonomics,” you are going to love “The Signal and the Noise.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The topical style is somewhat similar, but
there is a key difference:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where Steven
Levitt admits to having no overarching theme, Silver has a clear mission and
makes no bones about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But where you
might have imagined that Nate Silver is merely a stats geek with an interest in
politics, we find that he moves around arenas of scientific inquiry and
philosophy in a very sophisticated manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let me put it this way:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expected
what might be analogous to a Colombo episode—with a math modeling detective
investigating one subject in detail; instead, the book was more akin to a James
Bond movie—jetting across all parts of the world in an effort to provide a
message that might help us stay off the catastrophes of bad predictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is not to say that there are no negatives to the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some chapters don’t seem to contribute as
much to the overall theme as others and drag on a little more than is
necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is also written so
that you can skip the arcane chess moves by Deep Blue and still find the
overall book cohesive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, it
is not crystal clear how we should apply a Bayesian style of statistics
everywhere to provide for better forecasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this respect, the James Bond nature of the book takes a toll:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>its generality leaves us without clear steps
for solving specific problems, and eventually the believability of some parts
of the story gets tested (see Michael Mann’s take on Silver’s parsing of the
global warming debate, </span></span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-e-mann/nate-silver-climate-change_b_1909482.html"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-e-mann/nate-silver-climate-change_b_1909482.html</span></span></a><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">All that said, the overall message that we should remain faithful to
the data is one well worth hearing from Silver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Interestingly, it is a message that I failed to heed when I first posted
on Facebook my own map predicting an Obama win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You see, while I took 95% of my inspiration from Silver in drawing my
own electoral map, mine was not precisely the same as Silver’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silver’s map arguably put Florida in the W
column for Obama—though only by a fraction of a percentage point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was posting for an audience that
included many conservatives, I tried to avoid appearing overconfident and
figured that Silver had to miss at least one state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is exactly the style of thinking that
throws predictions off, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Silver’s predictions beat mine because I made an adjustment given
self-presentational concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 246); color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I not only highly recommend the book, but I’m considering making it
required reading for my graduate students in psychology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you’ll give it a read, or at least
pick a chapter for exploration.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span></div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-70016490901696270732013-01-01T14:02:00.000-06:002013-01-01T14:17:02.012-06:00Welcome to the View Point - January 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, we've done it again. We've used up yet another year. Did you get accomplished in 2012 what you planned on doing? I got a few things done and a few things left undone, but that's typical for me. As we move into a new year and say good bye to 2012, I'm reminded that we have much to be optimistic for in the coming year. With a bit of luck and just a tad of blind optimism, we may actually see Congress get something done in 2013. I know, it's a stretch, but hey, it's January 1. You have to hope BIG don't you?<br />
<br />
Anyway, we have three articles for you this month. Our regular contributor, Bill Holmes, has a great piece on parsing through all the information we get inundated with on a daily basis and trying to figure out what is true and what is not. Contributing author David Pillow writes a great review of one of my new heroes of 2012, Nate Silver. David writes a review on Nate's blog, 538, and also of Silver's great book, The Signal and the Noise. Silver confounded many during the last election cycle with his predictions which were based on (gasp!) math. David's review describes the approach Mr. Silver employs which will make you want to go out and buy the book.<br />
<br />
Finally, I finish up this month with a notion of what is next for all of us. As we welcome in a New Year, what will we do with it? Something for all of us to ponder after we've recovered from the previous nights festivities.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy January's issue and please, like always, give us some feedback, get in the conversation and tell us what you think.<br />
<br />
All the best for the New Year,<br />
<br />
Dennis Sherrard,<br />
Editor. </div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-77180184808888031442013-01-01T14:01:00.000-06:002013-01-01T14:16:56.897-06:00It's True, I Swear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<i><span style="color: #ff420e; font-size: 10pt;">by</span></i><b><span style="color: #ff420e; font-size: 14pt;"> <i>Bill Holmes</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff420e; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5iS2Rgomx2HXxkD2Z3w2XMenMtiIlbt97FYuIHHUY4Ut2N9Y5MbI9kteccPwLwErRtHSpYPMj2znRmb182pxFZpN9XbFMFtTOac3bSCsmrwhnqQrY_b5o5SygZkrAiVhXP_8IoMgVj8/s1600/truefalse.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/AVvXsEij5iS2Rgomx2HXxkD2Z3w2XMenMtiIlbt97FYuIHHUY4Ut2N9Y5MbI9kteccPwLwErRtHSpYPMj2znRmb182pxFZpN9XbFMFtTOac3bSCsmrwhnqQrY_b5o5SygZkrAiVhXP_8IoMgVj8/s1600/truefalse.jpg" /></a></div>
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</v:stroke></v:shapetype><span style="color: black;">This
week I was reminded of something I knew but that you always have to be vigilant
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That something is that you can't
believe everything you hear, read or see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No source is totally accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not newspapers, radio, TV, Internet, movies, books, friends, email or
gossip can be totally trusted nor totally dismissed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to check stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should first give it a brain check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it even make sense?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if it does, find another source or two
to verify or debunk the information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;">Nowadays the biggest source for
both information and misinformation is the Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TV runs a close second with the competition
to be first with the information among the numerous news and fake news outlets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I see a friend on Facebook or email spreading
a myth or falsehood, I'll point it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope to do it tactfully but I'm sure I fail sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm pretty sure I'll continue to do that and
I hope my friends will correct any misinformation I disseminate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;">One of my signals to check a story
is when it contains a bunch of superlative adjectives and adverbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When there are many biggest, most, worst,
least, first, last, lowest, fastest, greatest type words in the story, my radar
lights up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may surprise you, but
some things are just average. They are not the most or least, biggest or
smallest, best or worst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other clues are
when what looks like a huge story comes my way via an email or FB post but
failed to show up in the newspaper or TV news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know the established media is not completely objective and they miss,
delay or suppress some stories but if it's really big and important someone
will report it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check the date of the
original source too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've seen chain
emails that portend to be current cutting edge but contain information that is
years old and has been debunked multiple times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKTcco4FdbxORQ-mRiuZiTOjQIVedse5Q65thWoj1JAISk9vD2ay7n8YXfJbtatU5chgrwUIszYtEm7ZClgl2K3P-dLVd0e1ke9UzeI6jx-18IZ3T0dcCkj3ECmgaumaRX6BBeveIEKY/s1600/beachboys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKTcco4FdbxORQ-mRiuZiTOjQIVedse5Q65thWoj1JAISk9vD2ay7n8YXfJbtatU5chgrwUIszYtEm7ZClgl2K3P-dLVd0e1ke9UzeI6jx-18IZ3T0dcCkj3ECmgaumaRX6BBeveIEKY/s1600/beachboys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKTcco4FdbxORQ-mRiuZiTOjQIVedse5Q65thWoj1JAISk9vD2ay7n8YXfJbtatU5chgrwUIszYtEm7ZClgl2K3P-dLVd0e1ke9UzeI6jx-18IZ3T0dcCkj3ECmgaumaRX6BBeveIEKY/s200/beachboys.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black;">Why am I bringing this up now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is because I just read a book that I found
was mostly a fabrication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the
holidays I've been reading biographies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I've read about Willie Mays, Jay Leno, Paul Shaffer, Ed McMahon and
Brian Wilson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baseball, late night TV
and music are three of my favorite subjects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Willie was and still is my favorite baseball player, Ed McMahon was the
sidekick of the best ever late night TV host (Johnny Carson), Jay Leno
inherited the the Tonight Show from Johnny (a terrible mistake), Paul Shaffer
is band leader and sidekick for David Letterman on The Late Show and Brian
Wilson was the founder and creative force of the Beach Boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His were the songs of my youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you see, I had a good reason to read all those
books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the exception of the Mays
and Shaffer books, the others are 10 or 20 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's a reason for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I frequently shop at a place called Half
Price Books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's mostly a used book
store that sells a few new books plus used magazines, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes and
vinyl records.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, it is a
great place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mays biography is
“authorized” but not co-written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
other three are supposedly autobiographies but have co-writers too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P5_46R_owUs3mGB3wmivQMoAimqQExOH_soN0w071F8F3pHgCH1HbCIzSPLtkLQtcJaAOCSJCBXFgIlwBAwoAeXeJSORygzX7ryQ1t4uuiR-MlwUKEEYlvou4js2XWdseyYWCbUtfWM/s1600/Willie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P5_46R_owUs3mGB3wmivQMoAimqQExOH_soN0w071F8F3pHgCH1HbCIzSPLtkLQtcJaAOCSJCBXFgIlwBAwoAeXeJSORygzX7ryQ1t4uuiR-MlwUKEEYlvou4js2XWdseyYWCbUtfWM/s1600/Willie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P5_46R_owUs3mGB3wmivQMoAimqQExOH_soN0w071F8F3pHgCH1HbCIzSPLtkLQtcJaAOCSJCBXFgIlwBAwoAeXeJSORygzX7ryQ1t4uuiR-MlwUKEEYlvou4js2XWdseyYWCbUtfWM/s400/Willie.jpg" width="302" /></a><span style="color: black;">I've
read several articles and books about Willie Mays and Johnny Carson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also was around when they were still plying
their trade so I have some first hand knowledge of their greatness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew up in the 60's in Florida so of course
I know about Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I'm not busy I usually watch Letterman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never was a Jay Leno fan and his
autobiography confirmed why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, he's
not funny or interesting.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black;">Based on my experience and
knowledge I think the Willie, Ed, Paul and Jay books are relatively true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm sure some incidents are embellished and
some suppressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you write a book or
a blog, you get to express your viewpoint, emphasize the positive, and reduce
the negative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversely, the Brian
Wilson book appears to be a complete fabrication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too bad, I would like to know the story of
one of our true musical geniuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
who came to prominence when I was a teen surfer in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone I hung out with was a Beach Boys
fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had the surfer bangs (now
impossible for me), surf boards, baggy shorts and absolutely no woodies (the
cars, not the ones in our pants).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Here's the deal. I read all 390
pages of “<i>Wouldn't It Be Nice, My Own Story</i>” by Brian Wilson with Todd
Gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have read and heard a million
stories about the Beach Boys over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I've seen them perform live over a half dozen times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read stuff about them as it was
happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, years later I found this
book at a used book store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After sitting
on my shelf for a few months, it percolated to the top of the stack this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">It's a tough book to read for those
that remember the fun music of the Beach Boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From 1962 until 1966 there was no bigger musical group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between '62 and '65 they produced 10 albums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Brian Wilson burned out and went
nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drugs, sex and rock & roll
took over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, here's the review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">The book <i>“Wouldn't It Be Nice”</i>
was published in 1991.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was pawned off
as an autobiography by Brian Wilson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first half is a review of his life and the Beach Boys from the early '60s
through the early '70s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian is an
amazing musical force who produced a whole new sound that some of us grew up
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also had a tough childhood with
an impossible father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second half of
the book became a tribute to his psychologist, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Landy"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dr. Eugene Landy</span></a><span style="color: black;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew Brian was a
mess and I knew about Dr. Landy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
read the book, I wondered about several things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wondered why nobody called a lawyer when it seemed appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered why Dr. Landy gave up his license
to practice rather than fight the charges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The book said it was because Brian was too fragile to testify on Landy's
behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered why everyone who was
related or close to Brian hated Dr. Landy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why they chose to go to court to extricate Landy from Brian's life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, it was an alleged autobiography by
Brian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I finished reading it, Brian
was cured and Dr. Landry was a saint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Carl Wilson (his brother), Mike Love (his cousin) and Al Jardine
(original Beach Boy) were demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
ex-wife and children were either glossed over, ignored or also in the enemy
camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next time the litigation got
going, Landy again acquiesced and disappeared.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;">It seems Dr. Landy might have been
a charlatan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">I don't often question books like I
do newspapers, TV or Internet stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time I did because the book was so one-sided and didn't jibe with
my memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also thought that the
recent 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary reunion of the Beach Boys could not possibly
have happened if the book was true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was just too much bad blood among the Beach Boy members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I finished reading the book, I did some
research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that the book was
a PR publication by Dr. Landy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book
was copyrighted by Brains and Genius, a company owned by Landy and Wilson, not
by the purported author, Brian Wilson.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;">One statement I found in my
research:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Landy's depiction in glowing terms in the
second half of Wilson's autobiography Wouldn't
It Be Nice: My Own Story, published that year, would, were it a legitimate
autobiography, indicate Wilson's approval of his methods; in an unrelated court
case, however, Wilson testified that he had never even read the final draft of
the manuscript, much less written any of it.</em></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL8MklNHGQQeVbAF5Dv6tSNMR_lRuP8m_Ci1bStzBWk_Tiqlw6KqR27pIxRuA78szc6gPB3jRWTQIuVzNJw52A6fqtERTKVcN2jXxt8bTgSLqAv2E9VkB9F70MvNdU14Erf1QsvUHR_k/s1600/Brian+Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL8MklNHGQQeVbAF5Dv6tSNMR_lRuP8m_Ci1bStzBWk_Tiqlw6KqR27pIxRuA78szc6gPB3jRWTQIuVzNJw52A6fqtERTKVcN2jXxt8bTgSLqAv2E9VkB9F70MvNdU14Erf1QsvUHR_k/s320/Brian+Wilson.jpg" width="226" /></a><span style="color: black;">While reading, I did wonder how a
stoned Brian could remember some of the facts in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wondered how some of the
doctor/patient stuff could be published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think all the Wilson stuff published was revealed in supposedly
private sessions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I don't doubt that Landy helped
Brian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the money he charged and full
control, most anybody could have helped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brian was a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needed
intervention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Landy charged $35,000 a
month plus expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;">So the point is be cautious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is lots of flotsam and jetsam out
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe what you want but maybe
verify first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's tempting to pick up
stray Internet stuff to support your position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's even more important to verify stuff you agree with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anybody with a keyboard and an Internet
connection can post stuff as “fact”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of it might even be true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">BTW, I'm still a Willie Mays and
Brian Wilson fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are far from perfect, but so am I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both rose to the pinnacle of their
chosen field at a time I was an impressionable youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Be careful, be vigilant and try not
to spread false info.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know
where the BS will come from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every word
in this blog post is accurate and absolutely true, I swear.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: #ff420e; font-size: 10pt;">wjh<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-39943081713555331322013-01-01T13:26:00.001-06:002013-01-01T14:16:41.763-06:00What's Next?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By Dennis Sherrard<br />
<br />
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Each year most of us celebrate the coming of a New Year with a counting down the seconds on New Year's Eve of the passing of the old year and welcoming the beginning of the new one. Usually, much too much champagne or other good cheer is indulged and we spend the next day sleeping off the effects of the celebration. After the effects of the previous evening have passed, we often spend a little time on reflection of the last year, thinking about the good and bad events that we have experienced. Usually, it is a mixed bag of memories, and if we were fortunate enough not to lose a loved one, we all consider ourselves pretty fortunate. <br />
<br />
A new year is often welcomed with plans and resolutions to do many things. One might want to lose some weight, quit smoking, lead a more balanced life, learn to do something new, and so on. We make lists, talk to each other about our plans with great optimism and determination and hope. Hope. That's the key word in this welcoming of the new year in my view. Hope is that quality that helps us believe that our future will be better than the past we've left behind As an example, we hope for more money in our wallets. We hope for a cure for the illness we or a loved one has. We hope in general for better things. This is one of the qualities that in my view makes humanity so great. Hope is the salve for despair and cynicism. Hope is that spark that drives a single mother to work, go to school and take care of her child for she hopes that the work she puts in will lead to a better life. Hope drives us all. Hope is a good and vital thing for all of us walking around on this little insignificant planet. <br />
<br />
Hope requires action however. One cannot hope simply that things improve. Hope must lead to taking in hand the work necessary to achieve the aspiration. I think about this every year when I have yet again failed to achieve one of my New Year's Resolutions. Usually, it is about weight for me. I start off very good, very determined and achieve success. Then, I fall off the wagon and wind up back where i started. I get depressed about this, but for some strange reason I still believe I can get where I need to be. I have hope. I need more action. I am now in the unfortunate position of resolving to have more action. So, we'll see where that goes. Tune in next year this time.<br />
<br />
This article however is about the longer view. The title of the post is "What's Next?", which suggests that we are now ready to move-on from the recent and perhaps distant past into new frontiers. What's next for me is the question of; What will we do to leave our kids and grand kids with a foundation for achievement like we saw in the 20th Century? Let's take a minute to talk about what happened in the 20th Century. It was a period of time where arguably, more advancement in the accumulation of knowledge and accomplishment in deed was achieved than any other point in our recorded history. <br />
<br />
Think for a few minutes what occurred during the last century. Here are my top twenty in no particular order of importance:<br />
<br />
1. The development of the technology to put someone on the moon and bring them home again.<br />
2. The identification and development of antibiotics that has helped millions survive bacterial infections.<br />
3. The development of vaccines that have almost completely eradicated diseases such as polio.<br />
4. The invention of radar, a technology used by everyone who sits in an airplane to go to work, visit a relative or take a vacation.<br />
5. The end of legal racial segregation in America.<br />
6. The development of the integrated circuit, and before that, the transistor.<br />
7. The splitting of the atom which has brought both wonderful and terrible things.<br />
8. The development of the electron microscope, which has opened a world to us that was once too small to see.<br />
9. The development of hybrid crops that resists disease, feeding millions of people who would have otherwise likely starved.<br />
10. The achievement of super-sonic flight, which set the stage for new technologies that allow for us to explore our solar system and break free of the earth's gravity. (see number 1)<br />
11. The democratization of autocratic nations and the defeat of fascism.<br />
12. The end of colonialism in Africa and the end of Apartheid in South Africa.<br />
13. The passage of the right to vote for women in America and many other countries across the world.<br />
14. The development of technology to create energy from the sun and wind at a commercial scale.<br />
15. The creation of a social safety net for our elderly and disabled in America.<br />
16. The development of molecular biology that allows for cloning, stem cell research and other advancements to treat or eradicate disease.<br />
17. The advancement into quantum mechanics, that domain of the invisible, which is getting us ever closer to understanding how we became to be both personally and in the Universe at large. I think the coolest thing to be brought from this is the fact that all of us, everything ever made at any point in time is comprised of the same basic elements as every star in every galaxy. We are all stardust.<br />
18. The recognition that the idea of discrimination based on race or sex or sexual orientation or disability is an archaic idea that will eventually go the way of the dinosaur.<br />
19. The development of the Internet which has democratized the distribution of information. It is mind-boggling to believe that since about 2005, we are effectively doubling the amount of stored knowledge and information than was produced from the earliest days of recorded history to the present.<br />
20. The development and mass-production of plastics and synthetic fibers that have revolutionized how we build, store, wear and care for ourselves.<br />
<br />
All of these achievements and many, many more occurred during the short 100 years that was our 20th Century. We've come a long-long way from those days of plowing behind a horse, weaving our own cloth, not understanding what makes us sick, etc. The question now is, what happens tomorrow? What will we do that will set the stage and the foundation for our children to accomplish what we can only dream about now, and in some cases not even imagine? There are many petty things that occupy our time that do nothing to move us forward. We need to think more about our legacy and what will we do that will instill the hope in those who follow that they too will make the 21st Century as incredible as the 20th. Tomorrow is promised for no one, so we need to work today with the Hope that tomorrow does indeed come, and our kids will be served well by our efforts.<br />
<br />
What's Next?<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy New Year,<br />
Dennis<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-56210410097690801432012-12-02T10:06:00.001-06:002012-12-02T10:06:56.683-06:00Welcome to the View Point - December 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, we've almost most finished with 2012. I suppose the old maxim about time flying as one gets older is true, because I really don't know where all the time went. Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, your favorite football teams and candidates won their respective contests, and you ate just enough that you didn't have to get into those "stretchy-pants".<br />
<br />
December is upon us and the promise of another holiday break with Christmas and time to be with our families, fighting for parking spaces in the shopping malls, falling off the roof while trying string Christmas lights, etc. etc. Personally, my favorite time of December is the day after Christmas, where I can usually just relax and not worry about all the things I should have gotten done but didn't. <br />
<br />
Our issue this month has a wonderful and touching article from our regular contributor, Bill Holmes. The article is about remembering his Mom who would have been 100 years old this year. <br />
<br />
The second article is a movie review on Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln", starring Daniel Day Lewis in a fantastic portrayal of our greatest president (at least I think so). <br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy this months issue of the View Point and wish you all a safe and happy holiday and Merry Christmas.<br />
<br />
regards,<br />
Dennis Sherrard<br />
Editor</div>
Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241093297857596156.post-8978861440117148172012-12-02T10:06:00.000-06:002012-12-02T10:06:33.368-06:00Remembering Mom & November '63<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">by</span></i><i><span style="color: #ff950e; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="color: black;">Bill Holmes</span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">November 22, 2012 was Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also the 49<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those two events don't go together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being that I'm a little over 49 years old, I remember it very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happened down the road in Dallas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He last spoke even closer in Fort Worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anniversary doesn't seem like the right word to remember that kind of event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anniversary to me usually means a more joyous event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your parent's 50th wedding anniversary, the anniversary of a school graduation or any other happy milestone event.<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype></span><v:shape alt="Image_0" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 147pt; margin-left: -0.45pt; margin-top: 1.1pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 180pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\sherrardd\Desktop\Image_0" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have many memories of the day JFK was killed and the following few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a sad and tragic time in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I'll save the details for next year which will be the 50<sup>th</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>year since that event occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I'm lucky, I'll still be around and cognizant and able to write my thoughts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a big fan of Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for the mass quantities of food, there are no expectations other than getting together with friends and family to enjoy the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn't seem appropriate to remember<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or discuss that day 49 years ago on a day we celebrate and are thankful for all we have and enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends, as it should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No negative vibes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The other event occurring around this time of year is the 100<sup>th</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anniversary of my Mother's birth, November 25, 1912.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously that was a much more important event in my life (pre-life) although I was oblivious of it at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom was born at home, none of that hospital nonsense needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Home was a duplex in Winchester, Massachusetts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote a </span><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">blog</span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">in</span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">August</span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">about</span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> 100 </span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">years</span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></a><a href="http://billyjim47.blogspot.com/2012/08/100-years-ago.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">ago</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was more generic, this one is about my Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides Mom and Dad being born, 1912 was the year the Titanic sunk, the Olympic games in Stockholm and apparently when we discovered Antarctica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><v:shape alt="Image_1" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 590pt; margin-left: 100.3pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 385pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\sherrardd\Desktop\Image_1" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="square"></w:wrap></v:shape></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you knew my Mom, you loved my Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a gentle, proper, kind, caring, cultured and giving person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like anyone born in 1912, she had some beliefs and ideas that probably wouldn't be considered modern or progressive now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and I butted heads many times, but I always knew she loved me unconditionally and was on my side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always loved her unconditionally too but was too young and too stupid to always show or articulate that love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often disappointed my Mom and I regret that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She certainly didn't deserve a sometimes ungrateful son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking back, it wouldn't have been that hard to have reduced those disappointments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've always been thankful that my two sons got to know their Nana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got to see her oldest grandson become a very successful adult and husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the apple of her eye from the day he was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my youngest son came along, twenty years later, it was obvious that there was room for at least two apples in Nana's life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The younger son was in elementary school when Nana died but he was still devastated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older son was devastated too since he had 30 years of her love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both loved their Nana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mom lived until 2002 and was a few months shy of 90 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is absolutely amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know people live to be 90 but not many who went through what she did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had metastasized melanoma and lymphoma at a time in the late 1940's when people didn't survive any cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went through experimental surgery, her choice, to save her leg when I was an infant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted to be a two legged Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, they didn't have computerized prosthetic limbs 60 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had radiation therapy before the medical profession knew how to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That caused radiation burns and who knows what other damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her leg was saved and obviously she survived the procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next 60 years she lived with the limitations, pain and a severely scarred<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>body from that and other surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn't complain about that, she was thankful to be alive and have two legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pushed herself to the limit and refused to yield to a damaged leg and body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That caused problems but she powered through them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because she was in almost constant pain she ate aspirin like candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That eventually led to an ulcer and major hemorrhage when she was in her 70's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only change was that she lost some weight because they removed 2/3rds of her stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were other challenges along the way too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she had about 10 major operations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then her eyes started to go but either the doctors screwed up or she just couldn't heal any more so she got to be half blind for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No complaints at least about her health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she could move and get out of bed, she was ready to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Way before the grand kids came along I got to be the apple of her eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I consider myself a Florida guy, but I was born in New Jersey and lived there for six years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to kindergarten there but luckily spent the rest of my scholastic career and formative years in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason I bring up the New Jersey connections is that after Mom recovered from her first cancer, she used to take me to New York City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We'd ride the bus from Kearny/North Arlington, probably a bus stop on the Belleville Turnpike into New York City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe into the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a lovely place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember standing on the bus seat and looking out the window, not the least bit safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember being curious about every thing we saw on the way to the big city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember the stink from the pig farms when we rode through<span style="color: #333333;"> Secaucus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After some other buses and/or subways or very rarely a taxi, we'd be at the Museum of Natural History (my favorite) or the Guggenheim or the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or some other great place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would also often stop by Macy's or Gimbels or Saks and on a few occasions FAO Schwarz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All those places were magical to a four or five year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were also huge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In later years I realized that those places were normal size (OK, a little bigger than normal) and I was small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I'm big now, but not tiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also always had at least lunch and sometimes an early supper in an adult restaurant in NYC before the bus ride home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taught by my Mom how to behave in public and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was understood that as long as I acted appropriately, I could do adult things and go to adult places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't remember her ever having to correct my behavior on those trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably because I wanted to go to those places with her and I knew the rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those trips to NYC have stuck with me my whole life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still love to go to museums and nice restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I appreciate those finer things in life even though I can mostly only look from afar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've been lucky to have lived or spent time in NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, DFW and other places that have great museums and other attractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a couple of weeks ago I was at the Kimbell Museum (one of the great places) in Fort Worth with a dear friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both enjoyed the exhibition and each other's company but my overwhelming feeling was that I missed my Mom and wished she could share this with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew why I was enjoying the museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was because my Mom<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>exposed me to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fine art at a very early age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the great regrets of my life is that Mom never got to came to visit us here in DFW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn't her fault, that's another story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would have absolutely loved the museum district in Fort Worth, I think the Kimbell would have been her favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would have had to also go to Dallas Museum of Art and Sixth Floor Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes, lunch at the Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus would have been on the agenda too.</span><v:shape alt="Image_2" id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 188pt; margin-left: -0.95pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 249.95pt; z-index: 3;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <v:imagedata o:href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\sherrardd\Desktop\Image_2" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="square"></w:wrap></span></v:shape></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I will be forever grateful to my Mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She encouraged my curiosity and more importantly good manners and behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can take a kid anywhere if they behave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's not a common practice now days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking kids everywhere is common, it's the good behavior that is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After moving from the metropolitan New York City area to Florida our cultural outings were greatly reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That and as the little five year old grew into a little ten year old and then a little teenager there wasn't as much Mom time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hit the museums, historical places and points of interest when we were on vacation but it wasn't the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom kept up her cultural muscles by going to the symphony, ballet and touring plays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mom also instilled in me my love of reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a stay at home mom until I was about 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was very young she read to me every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She's the one who taught me how to read and write which I knew how to do before kindergarten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She taught me all the other proper behavior, manners and etiquette that was so important to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I thought many of those things were old fashion and unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact many of those practices were from the nineteenth century, taught to my Mom by my Grandmother (born in the 1880's).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Grandmother was also<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a very gentle, proper, kind, caring, cultured and giving person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had many great times with her too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She raised me when I was an infant and Mom was sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I'm not saying all that training took.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of my good behavior was limited to times I had to be well behaved but at least I knew the rules when I needed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mom had another important job in my youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept my Dad from killing me on several occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would intervene when the punishment didn't fit the crime or better yet, keep my screwups<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was also my cheerleader and supporter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was in charge of giving me encouragement and Dad was in charge of the criticism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She taught me to appreciate quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was better to have a few good quality items than several cheap things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of good outfits were better than a closet full of inferior clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A solidly built piece of furniture was better than a house full of particle board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I have much of the furniture that my parents bought in the 1940's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My oldest son has several of those pieces too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My modern flat screen TV is sitting on a small chest that was in my Mother's house when she was a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have the desk and chair Mom bought me when I was about 10 or 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second part of buying quality was to take care of your stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now buying quality things is easy when you have a lot of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom had to squeeze her weekly household money until it squealed in order to buy nice things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a master at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She always had a stash somewhere that Dad didn't know about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even until the very end she squirreled away a few bucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">During the last few weeks before her death, she was barely able to speak and was too weak and unsteady to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was almost deaf and also lacked the patience to figure out what Mom was trying to communicate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wound up being the only one who could understand more than a simple yes or no or hand gesture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day in the hospital she motioned me to her bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put my ear to her mouth, read he lips and eventually figured out what she was saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me to look in the pocket off her white quilted coat that was at home in the closet and to keep what I found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I found was a pill container that had a couple of hundred dollars rolled up in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was her mad money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She must have known she was near the end and didn't want that money going with the coat when we cleaned out the closets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Even in the end, Mom was thinking of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her whole life she was giving her time or money to the church or some cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was embarrassed and apologetic whenever she was in the hospital or sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn't like putting other people out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She reasoned that family and friends were spending their valuable time visiting and taking care of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was much more comfortable doing that for others.</span><v:shape alt="Image_3" id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 439pt; margin-left: 195.3pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 300pt; z-index: 4;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <v:imagedata o:href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\sherrardd\Desktop\Image_3" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SHERRA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="square"></w:wrap></span></v:shape></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRE0oppk5sQQmGyWnPNM2iZrXauNHusZpYs3qTCFhmmNaQ9F8tMJjxgH6sjDFHYoyGN1mv5v1F5zAZObzsgIfu-LCD-m3VF6IPVQNAh1q1jrkyGjRBZVqzAtNDReZr41pCj2K8m4kNB4/s1600/titanic.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRE0oppk5sQQmGyWnPNM2iZrXauNHusZpYs3qTCFhmmNaQ9F8tMJjxgH6sjDFHYoyGN1mv5v1F5zAZObzsgIfu-LCD-m3VF6IPVQNAh1q1jrkyGjRBZVqzAtNDReZr41pCj2K8m4kNB4/s320/titanic.PNG" tea="true" width="217" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Yes, like most people born in 1912, Mom was a little old fashioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was also overflowing with love for her family and fellow humans. There's nothing wrong with being a gentle, proper, kind, caring, cultured and giving person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She was a wonderful Mom, Nana, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, in-law and friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I regret that she didn't get to be a wonderful great-Nana also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She missed that by almost exactly two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think of her almost every day and I miss her every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If there is a heaven she is surely there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a healthy body, endless museums to visit, Broadway shows and symphonies to attend, plants and flowers to tend to, shopping at the finest stores, attending an afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and a secret hiding place in a cloud for her mad money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also has a perfect view of her beloved grandsons and those great-grandsons she never met.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Happy 100<sup>th</sup> Birthday Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff950e; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">wjh<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13026431743674170557noreply@blogger.com0