Random Thoughts and Memories

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Remembering Nana

  Grandmother Bennett may have been the model for the stereotypical grandmother in the 1950's. She had all the attributes. Her grey hair was in a bun on the back of her head. It was actually quite long, but I never saw that, I only know because my own mother told me so. She always wore a housedress; her stockings were rolled down to her calves and every once and a while you would see that. She wore slippers on her feet. And yes, she always had a big apron on. It went around her neck covering the front of her dress, it had two large pockets on it and went to her knees. In one of those pockets, she kept her change purse. How well I remember her reaching for that, opening it up and carefully removing the correct change. You never saw the contents of that purse just what she extracted from it. Occasionally, when times were good, a few folded dollar bills could be seen poking out. 
 I remember being in her kitchen, that's where all the activity in the house took place, when the Dugan man would pull into the driveway. The Dugan man, in case you are not familiar with him was a door to door salesman that delivered baked goods of all kinds. I thought it was like magic when he appeared. Later on, I learned there was a large D printed on a card. Grandma put that card in the window whenever she wanted him to stop. That was when I usually saw that little purse appear. Maybe she would buy a few cakes or cookies. But one thing she would buy for me was a bag of potato chips! Now that was a treat. It is the earliest place I remember getting potato chips. That would have been about 1958 or so. I was five then. Little did I realize what an extravagance that was for her. Whatever the cost was I'm certain it was expensive in her eyes. You have to remember that ten cents could buy an awful lot back then. Potato's themselves cost about 35 cents for a ten pound bag. So, if you look at buying a few ounces for a dime, it's expensive! In 1958 federal min wage was one dollar an hour! 
 I don't see any of those little purses today. I wonder if anyone uses them. The last vestige of that, at least a reminder of that was when women carried those little purses that held a pack of cigarettes and a little pouch in the front for the lighter. A far cry from grandma's little purse that much is certain. A sign of the changing times I suppose. As far as I know my grandmother never smoked a cigarette or tasted liquor of any kind. No, my grandmother was just like you would see on television shows. Always busy, always involved in some industrious activity. She would stop occasionally and have a cup of tea, to socialize as she called it. That generally lasted all of ten minutes. Today women may carry their I-phone with a case that holds their credit cards.  
 I never saw her when she wasn't fully dressed, her hair up in a bun and engaged in some kind of work. What she did for entertainment I have no clue about, even to this very day. I know she was against card playing, the devils' tools as she called them, and didn't allow them in her house. She did have a small television in her dining room, but I never saw it turned on. As far as I know she didn't have a radio. I never saw her sewing or knitting, nothing like that, although I'm quite sure he knew how to do all of that and more. She passed away at the age of 89 after having taken a fall in her home. She broke her hip and went to the hospital. While there she fell off a gurney hitting her head. From that point on she suffered from dementia and was placed in a home. That was in 1973 and I was in the Navy at that time. I never got to say goodbye, to see her gain. Today is her birthday. She was born the 19th of March in 1884 at Ransater, Sweden. She lies in peace today in Cedar Lawn cemetery, East Hampton, New York. She would be 140 today.  Happy Birthday Nana. 
                                           One of the very few pictures I have of her.  And the only time
                                            I know she left her house. A rare occasion indeed. 
 



Monday, March 18, 2024

my feeling

  Yesterday I posted about not wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle. I was touched by the response of those concerned for my safety and health. I heard the warnings. Yes, it's a risky business and precautions should be taken. Things is, I wouldn't be seen wearing a bicycle helmet any more than be seen wearing a pair of crocs! There are some things I just won't do. I wear a seatbelt in the car because the law says I have to. That is my sole reason for doing so. My body, my choice. That's how I feel about that. I will not be hurting anyone else by not wearing that device, but that slogan doesn't seem to apply in this scenario. I have to question why? Your choice certainly hurts others, in fact, it is fatal, every time! But I won't get started on that this morning.
 I do think we are all becoming a bit paranoid about dying. All the safety precautions, warnings, labels and litigation. The objective appears to be to live as long as possible. In my way of thinking I will live just as long as I am supposed to. Yes, I do believe our days are numbered at birth. That being said I also believe I can change the number, shorten it, should I make a direct attempt to do so. I also believe that should be my choice as well, but that is called crazy. Not when you choose to end someone else's life though, that's a choice. But I wasn't going to talk about that. If I decide to make that choice I'm urged to call the hotline, seek help immediately and others will intervene to prevent that. Shame the same action isn't taken in that other scenario. But, I'm not talking about that.
 I do come a different time, the proverbial old school. At this point in my point life especially, I have no one to impress. I think it just looks silly for an adult riding their cruiser bicycles with a helmet, mirrors sticking out on the side, possibly wearing those racing suits, pedaling two miles an hour. That's what I'm talking about. It's about dignity. Yes, I have that attitude. I will die as a man! I will not wear a bicycle helmets or crocs! And that has nothing to do with common sense, logic or safety. I don't think masculinity is toxic, although I hear that from some, I think it is like everything else, good when applied properly, not so good when abused. It's the way I feel. You have to validate my feelings you know, that's what I'm being told all the time. I can't tell you your feelings are wrong! That means you can't tell me that either. You should be empowering me! LOL  
 I never said other people shouldn't wear a helmet, I said I thought it just looked silly. It does to me. I'm not talking about banning bicycle helmets, I'm talking about choice. Do I have to justify my choice? I don't think I do. Truth is, I don't think I could even if I tried. It does make sense if you are worried about falling off the bicycle and hitting your head. I'm not worried. And if I get hit by a car or something I'm still not worried about that, I expect I would have a host of other problems. If I were worried about any of that, I simply wouldn't ride a bicycle. That makes more sense to me. Know what else just looks silly? Man buns. Yeah, that's just silly looking. Nothing manly about that. At least that is my feeling.  
 

Sunday, March 17, 2024

in the ranks

  I had posted a picture of a coffee mug I used during my time aboard USS Yellowstone AD-41. A memento from the past. I received a few likes and comments which is why we post such things in the first place. We like to call that sharing but it is really for ourselves. It's the 21st century way of telling our stories. People like pictures much better than words. And there is no denying the 21st century is all about speed. The instant society. No longer about the journey, today it is about the destination. Let's get to the point as fast as possible. We'll talk about the journey later, when we have arrived and survived. 
 That coffee mug survived from that time while several others did not. That wasn't my first coffee mug! It made it home with me somehow and sits gathering dust for the most part, a relic. One person did ask if I would write a book about my time in the Navy as she felt so many stories weren't told. I appreciate the asking, its very kind, but all I would have to write is a few stories and anecdotes. When I joined the Navy the advertising slogan was, It's not just a job, it's an adventure." Well, in my case it turned out to be little more than a job, I missed out on the adventure part. I suppose that is the stories and anecdote's part and as I said, far and few between. Mostly just hours spent on watch or working. Nothing too adventurous about any of that.
 I wasn't alone at any time. I served alongside thousands of other men and women. Now it's true that I wasn't always with family or friends, but I was never alone. Homesickness isn't something I ever really felt. I came close to getting seasick once in the north Atlantic Ocean. We were sailing in a hurricane and the seas were angry that day my friends, (a line from an episode of Seinfeld). The rocking of the ship combined with the smells of diesel fuel and oils made me feel a bit queesy. I didn't get sick however, just feeling less than 100%. Real sailors do not get seasick, ever! You don't get homesick either. I have to say I wasn't always happy with the company I had to keep, and they weren't always happy to be with me either. No great lasting bonds were created between myself and anyone I ever served with. They have all just been friends or shipmates, nothing more. Probably due to the lack of adventure.
 I wrote a little bit about this before, what haven't I written about. The adventure I speak about would be valor. I was never engaged in any life-or-death battles, no adventures on the high seas involving any real risk of danger. To attempt to tell any such stories would be akin to stolen valor in my eyes. It just wouldn't be factual. I served on auxiliary ships. My first was a fleet oiler. Our job was to refuel other ships at sea and transport oil and fuels wherever they were needed. My next ship was a Destroyer Tender, its' job is to provide repair services. I served on a second Destroyer Tender before finishing my career aboard an Ammunition ship. Designated an AE we delivered fuel and ammo to the fleet. We were not on the forward lines at any time. Not that any major Naval engagements took place during my time, they didn't, but we would have been in the back anyway, protected from attack. 
 It was just a job that lasted twenty years for me. I have no big story to tell. My story is the tale of thousands of others. Consider the great battles through the ages and how many of those names you remember. We only hear about the heroes. I'm certainly not a hero. I did nothing heroic at any time, just did my job. I am simply one of those that served in anonymity. Grateful for that while serving, but looking back wishing for some adventure. 
 It's far easier to be a hero after the fact, if you know what I mean. Fortune never presented me with a choice. The ancients would say the Gods smiled upon me. I can't argue with that. It's been said "fortune favors the bold" and I'm not very bold. I'm more of a "risk and reward" kind of person. Something I learned as young child. In most situations it isn't worth the risk. Living to fight another day always struck me as good advice. Join the Navy and see the world. I did see the world is mostly water, and I saw a good deal of that! Growing up on Long Island I was already aware of that. Good memories but little else became of that adventure. It was just a job. 
 There are hundreds of quotes about serving in the military. Quotes about honor, duty, vigilance and bravery. Quotes about self-sacrifice and guarding the gates of freedom. There are no quotes about just doing your job. But I know there are thousands of others that I served alongside that did just that. They did their jobs, did as they were told to do without question, without complaint, and with their best efforts. Mostly unrecognized they just "soldiered" on. The length of their commitment varied from a few years to a career. Heroes? No, just in the ranks fulfilling an obligation. I think it is unfair to ask or expect anything more than that. But, that doesn't make for a very good story. 

Saturday, March 16, 2024

a little longer

  It's something I think about often, who will be the custodian of my memories. I've written plenty of those down in the hopes they remain. Then there are the physical things I've collected over the years. Some of those things are the memories of others, parents, uncles, and siblings. For instance, I have a cigarette lighter given to my uncle as a Christmas gift by my aunt. It's engraved and dated 1949. What memory is locked inside. Recently I came into possession of 35MM slides that belonged to my wife's uncle George. Never married and with no children there was no one to take custody. I have scanned them, and my wife identified the people as best as she could. Many remain a mystery and there is no one further to ask. I feel a responsibility to his memories. And that is true of many of the objects I have around. For many I feel like I am the last connection to the person that owned them. It's a complicated story but my children never had a connection with my parents. My children didn't grow up in my hometown, being military brats. All they know are stories and old pictures.
 Yesterday as I poked around in the attic I ran across a number of those type of things. They are in the attic because I don't display them, just save them. It's the old story of one man's junk. I did begin to look at some of that stuff and feel like it was time to let it go. That was especially in the area of tools. I have quite a number of them that I feel I'll never use again those days being behind me. I don't have a sentimental attachment to them, that's what I tell myself, but still, I might need that one day. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Some other things I have saved thinking they would increase in value, and they have not. My lighted Joe camel advertising sign being one of them. Perhaps it is time to let it go to someone that will display it in their man cave or whatever. Lots of books and magazines up there as well. Just hard to part with old friends like that. 
 I have given it some thought, and I think I know what bothers me about all of that. By sorting through that stuff, deciding and relegating its' fate, I am curating a collection, seems like that is something you do with dead peoples' stuff. It speaks to me of a museum and I'm not that old. I guess that is why people becomes hoarders just keeping it all. The collectors you see on television, like the ones visited by Antique Archeology, are really just high-class hoarders. I could have been one of them given the money to collect and store all that stuff. 
 Maybe it is time for me to curate my stuff, find a home for it other than my attic. I wonder what to do with those things like Uncle Georges' slides. There is no one left that would know who those folks are, no one that would have any particular interest. But I'm thinking there must be some museum or something somewhere that would be happy to get those, and more importantly preserve them. Its' been said a picture is worth a thousand words, but those slides have lost their voice. All that remains would be in the imagination of the viewer. Looking with an objective eye is far different than knowing the story. 
 Now a curate is the person charged with the care of souls in a parish. They are like an apprentice to the Vicar. In a sense the things we leave behind are a portion of our soul. They are certainly clues to who we were or who we wished to be. Can you curate yourself? That is the challenge we all face whether we are aware of it or not. Do we really get to choose what we leave behind? I'm thinking that we don't, not really. It is what others remember that remains. The best we can do is leave reminders. And that is what we curate. I'm thinking I'll leave lots of reminders just to be sure. Yeah, that sounds right. That stuff in the attic; can stay a while longer.    

Friday, March 15, 2024

away from home

 Took a short drive yesterday and the Bradford pear trees are in bloom, along with the Forsythia. The daffodils are always first and send out the invitations to all the other flowers of spring. The temperature was into the 70's, a farmer was fertilizing his fields and there was green everywhere. I hear the perch are running and the riverbank was lined with fishermen. I even heard the sound of a mower off in the distance. The world is waking up again, rubbing its' eyes and yawning.
 The cold hasn't left, this heat wave is just a tease. But I opened the windows yesterday allowing that fresh air to rush into the room. Riding the air currents are the sounds of the outdoors, they come almost as memories having been shuttered for so long. My cat rushes to the window now whenever a car passes by or a bird begins to chirp. He's curious too, what is that? Outside is coming in, coming home.
 The little league parade can't be far off although I've not heard any plans as of yet. Greensboro and the Ridgely alternate hosting that event each year. I'm not certain whose turn it is. The last few years parades have been limited or not held at all. There aren't a lot of events held in Greensboro in the first place. Whoville, during the Christmas season is the big attraction, although the fishing derby for the kids draws a good crowd. I saw where the rodeo is going to return this year, a fundraiser for the firehouse. I'm looking forward to that.
 That's life in a small town and I like it. I'm not one to be involved in many community events and I don't volunteer for anything. Some of that stems from being in the Navy. Navy means, "never again volunteer yourself." I've pretty much taken that to heart. I've lived here for over twenty five years but I'm still an outsider. I have no connections to any prior generations of greensboroites. In my hometown we call that being from away. If you weren't born and raised in the community, you were from away. That's what I am in Greensboro, from away. And I'm a Yankee, which can go either way here in this border state. All depends upon who you are talking to. But I'm not complaining, I like living here, it's still a quiet little town.
  I do think I'm seeing the last of it though as the developers build, the farmers selling their farms and the "commuters" settle in. Some call it growth. It is supposed to be a good thing, but I question that sometimes. Sometimes a "growth" isn't such a great thing and needs to be removed. Sometimes that growth saps the heart of the host. But always it will come back to one thing, who has been here the longest. That is the one thing that settles the argument. In the end the person who can say, my family has been here longer than yours will play that like a trump card. And me, I'm from away. I'll always be from away. And that is a part of small-town America as well, perhaps the best part. I think most of us small town folks would like it to stay that way. 

Thursday, March 14, 2024

the message

  Well, we have the whole tic-tok thing going on. It has passed the house and sent to the Senate. Tic-tok is to be banned from the United States unless they sell that company to someone else.  The fear is it is being used to collect data on the American people and exert influence over our actions. Yes, it's the damn commies once again. Hey McCarthy warned everyone about all of that years ago. Often called the second red scare, it was perceived as an attack on the left. It was the Russians then, now it is the Chinese. Is this the beginning of the third red scare? The first red scare began in the early part of the twentieth century and was concerned with Bolshevism and anarchy. In 1952 Charlie Chaplin was exiled from the United States when he was refused reentry. He was thought to be a commie. That was during the second red scare. Now tic-tok is under the gun.
 This time the narrative is a bit different. Tic-tok isn't going to be banned, not really, if they divest themselves of the communists that is. As long as they don't have to, by law, share whatever information they should obtain through that platform with the communist Chinese. Nothing to prevent them from "sharing" however, either for profit or just because. We are not trying to suppress the freedom of speech, just who can hear it. This being an election year everyone has to get on board with this or risk losing support. No one in America likes the communists! You can't say you support the right of Tic-Tok to operate in the United States and still have any political career. It's a real sticky wicket to be sure. Only way to go is with the ban that isn't a ban, but will ban tic-tok in the United States. Well, until it is sold to someone that doesn't have to share whatever information they gather. We'll be safe then. Yeah, that should secure everything alright.
 The only opposition I'm hearing is from those hollering about freedom of speech. Those folks that believe by banning tic-tok their first amendment rights are being taken away. My question to them is, ever hear of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Linkedin? Are you being banned from posting on any of those platforms? You could argue that you are by the "terms of usage agreement" you sign before using them. So, to my way of thinking that is a mute point. It's more like Tic-tok and it's not fair to take it away from me. Tic-tok is my life! I say, get a life. No one is saying you can't be a communist. You just can't share being a communist with the Chinese government. 
 Now will this ban actually do anything. I have serious doubts about that, although I'm not opposed to banning them completely. Never hurts to send a message. This started during the Trump administration. The state department urging congress to ban tic-tok in the United States. Really it is an effort to hit them where it hurts, in the proverbial pocketbook. We don't want the Chinese profiting off of that platform. Justification has to be provided and the fact that they are communists is enough. It's a concern of National Security! Of course, the border isn't a concern to this administration, can't build a wall like Trump was doing, but we can ban the commies! It's all political posturing. That's all it amounts to in my opinion. 
 Still, I support it. I like the idea of it. Send those communists a message. A message that is a bit more stern that what they have been hearing. Keep it up and we will stop buying Chinese electronic products as well. We're keeping an eye on you and what you are doing. Better knock it off! It's rather like your parents taking away your social media because you have used it in an inappropriate fashion. Back in my day it was no television until your homework was done! We don't want to ban tic-tok, we want you to enjoy it safely and with confidence, but the communists are listening. What's worse they are influencing you trying to turn you into a communists too! This ban is for your own good and the good of the nation. The purpose is simply to send a message. That's the deal. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Transparency

   Having discovered my interest in the family tree and the things of the past I now have regrets. I'm certain we all do. All the questions never asked, the stories never heard. We see meme's on social media about all of that. The fact that we even know what a meme is, shows how the times have changed. Do you know that word didn't appear in the dictionary until 1998. If you are my age, 1998 seems like a little while ago. I had already been retired from the Navy for five years in 1998. I hope others are paying attention to those meme's and asking those questions that I never thought to ask. 
  Yes, it is true our parents had lives before us. They were even stupid teenagers just like we were. Strange how most of us don't really think about that. Oh, we hear a few stories from them, mostly to instruct us in what not to do, and maybe a few from the aunts and uncles. I was fortunate to hear some tales from friends my father had when they were young. Tales my dad would rather I didn't hear, but, it was his best friend telling the story so. I would hear his protests saying that isn't what happened, but I knew it had. I was told all of that was long ago and it was a different time and place then, things were different. You could do that stuff back then, but you shouldn't do it now! 
 Having reached the age of "maturity" as the polite way of saying I'm old, I get it. I certainly don't want to tell my kids everything. Some things you just don't need to know. I also understand a good number of those things would bring context. I come from a time when you didn't brag about your mistakes, your stupid choices and bad decisions. You didn't proclaim how you were a survivor or overcame obstacles on your journey. No, the objective was to not let others know about that stuff. My parents' generation was even more closed mouth about all of that than I am, and their parents practically silent. You certainly didn't talk ill of the dead. Your misdeeds were buried with you.
 In the future far more of this will be available to anyone that wants to search for it. In this information age a great deal of our activity is recorded in some fashion. I'm not certain what happens to our social media accounts after our passing. I often get notices about it is someone's birthday when I know they passed years ago. I've read a little about how your account can be closed after your passing by others. I'm thinking that the data isn't permanently deleted in any event. I'm aware that information extracted from social media may or may not be truthful, but at least some of it will be. All I mean is our lives are far more documented than ever before. 
 Transparency is a word we hear a lot these days. Everyone feeling like they should be informed about everything. But transparency requires disclosing everything. I'm not so certain that is a good thing in every case. Heroes are often created by hiding the faults. The one great deed outweighing any and all missteps prior to that. We need heroes. How can you strive for perfection when everything is imperfect? That's when you settle for good enough. You can't use all your mistakes and missteps as a foundation for virtue. Yes. we are all human and make mistakes. That's no reason to tell the world about them. Learn the lesson and move forward. 
 And that's the thing isn't it? If we all were completely transparent with each other our opinions would certainly be different. Those that we admire may not be admirable after all. In my experience the more transparent you become the less popularity you enjoy. Others don't like hearing the whole truth. Consider the heroes of the past that have fallen from favor when the truth of their lives was told. And it doesn't even have to be factual, rumors and innuendo can accomplish the same thing. Best to keep your cards close to the chest. Still, when it comes to others, we all want to know everything, all the juicy details. I would encourage you to ask those questions and listen to the stories. The only thing I would add is, don't ask questions if you don't want to know the answer. Transparency is a fine thing until you can see right through it. 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Not hardly

  In the town where I grew up there were families of fishermen that lived in a certain area of the town. At least it is believed that is where those families initially settled. The area was defined by the Indians (native americans) as the "the springs" in their language Accabonac. But that tribe of Indians were very few by the time the white men settled in the area. Eventually the families living there became known as Bonackers. The area was called bonac by the locals having shortened accabonac. These folks spoke a particular dialect that has been studied, recorded and catalogued. The origins of that dialect are still being debated to this day. For me, it just sounds like home, although I have never made any claim to being a Bonacker. My grandfather on my mothers side was certainly one of those folks, he being a Bennett. The Bennetts are among those core families of Bonackers dating back to the first settlement. 
 That is all history now and, in my estimation, very few Bonackers are still around engaged in the family business. And that, to me, is what defined a true Bonacker. It was those families that made their living off the bay and ocean, year-round, generation after generation. A rough and rowdy lot of hard men living a hard life. A proud people that asked no quarter of anyone and gave none. Those folks that held to the ideals of that tradition were often called, of the finest kind. What others may call the salt of the earth. Ready to help others whenever and wherever they could, honest, hardworking people. 
 It's my belief that I witnessed the last of the real Bonackers, the last of the lot. Books have been written about the demise of those families, about their way of life being destroyed by what some called progress and in the name of conservation. They were forced off the waters by the stark reality of having to provide for their families by other means. A way of life slipping beneath the waves. I was honored to know some of those men and listen to their stories and tales. I heard that dialect spoken, and some say I even had a catch of it myself. Perhaps a phrase or two or a certain inflection, but certainly not a fluent speaker of that dialect. A dialect often corrected while I was in school as not being proper English. 
 Those of you that know me also know I have a Facebook group called B'low the bridge. That stems from that heritage of Bonac. The Bonackers all lived below the bridge. The bridge is a railroad bridge that divides the village from the rest of the town. B'low the bridge is North Main Street, the hook as it was called back in the day. Literally the other side of the tracks as it were. And yes, it wasn't always a good thing to live there. Those living in the village didn't associate with the Bonacker's much, a different social class you know. That wasn't as prevalent when I was growing up, but remember I was near the end of all that. Social barriers were coming down. It was the dawning of the age of Aquarius. 
 I moved away from that area fifty years ago. I'm quite out of touch with the realities of that area today. Only what I read or hear from others. I hear the complaints from the "locals" about the cost of everything, how crowded it has become and the loss of their way of life. I hear the laments about how their children will ever be able to survive there. But what I hear more than anything else is the proclamation of being a Bonacker. Seems to me everyone makes that claim these days if they are in any way associated with the town of East Hampton.
  I can only view that in one way. It is what we call "cultural appropriation" in modern parlance, the dialect of today. The claim has no basis in reality for the vast majority. As I said I make no claim to that heritage, although my grandfather certainly could. Heritage is what you inherit, I inherited zero commercial fisherman skills from him. In fact, I have never done any commercial fishing of any type. I had an ancestor, several in fact, that were whalers as well, but I can't claim to be one. I never lived in Bonac either. I lived in the area called Three Mile Harbor, not the Springs. Springs was like another world to me. One I was familiar with, one I visited often, but I never lived there. And just living there doesn't make you a Bonacker either. 
 I just have to chuckle a bit as I'm reminded of a song. "I was country, when country wasn't cool." Now I was never a Bonacker in my eyes although some may have told you otherwise. But I certainly remember when being a Bonacker wasn't cool in other peoples view. And now, like the song says, now everyone is "tryin' to be what I was then." I laugh when I think to myself that I have lived that long. Long enough for the people that that I associated with, drank a few beers, laughed and shared tall tales have become as legends! So many clamoring to be included in their ranks almost as mythical heroes. Yes, you could say that about the Bonackers I suppose but I know what their response would be. Not Hardly Bub!
 None of this is intended to disparage or offend anyone in any fashion. This is all simply my view, my opinion and my feelings on the subject. I have searched for a word or phrase to describe it, and nothing seems to fit exactly. In my mind there are those that claim to be a Bonacker in much the same way some folks claim to be Indians or Cowboys. There is some vision or image in their minds of what that would be. They may have distant relatives, ancestors that were just that, but they are not. Cultural appropriation comes close, but only if you think being a Bonacker was a culture. Each of us may define what being a Bonacker was, or is, and each one would be correct. Social identity? Only on a local level. Perhaps being a Bonacker is only a spirit and the spirit lives on. Usually, we call that folklore. Have I really lived that long that my parents generation has slipped into the realm of folklore? Well, not hardly Bub.  

Monday, March 11, 2024

making do

 Was thinking about when I was a child and how my parents shaped my attitudes and thoughts. I was remembering when we had pancakes for supper. That was always a treat because dad did the cooking. It was something different and as a kid I was convinced there was something better about those pancakes because of that. The truth was we had pancakes for supper because there was little else to eat. Feeding four kids wasn't easy. Still, we all thought it was great thing. It was special. Dad also cooked the scallops, smooched the clams, and made fritters. All of those items were also "cheap" ways to feed us. That seafood was readily available. It was beef and pork that were the more expensive items on the menu. Had to buy them at the store. Thing is, we never knew about that, we just believed it was a treat, something special to be enjoyed. 
 I didn't always agree with everything my parents said or thought but had to concede the reasoning behind their thinking was right. You did pay more for a name brand and that they weren't always worth it. Nothing wrong with getting your clothes at Brills store. Brills was a local clothing store. What we didn't know was that Brills sold mostly factory seconds. Those clothing items that hadn't passed inspector #32 for some reason. The stitching may be off a bit, or a pocket misaligned, but those clothes were still serviceable, and cheaper. The closest department store to where I lived was 25 miles away. I grew accustomed to using the mom and pop stores. The "expensive" stores were uptown and for the rich people. Their kids wore the latest fashions. But as I was told often enough, a fool and their money soon part company. 
 We were a DIY family before anyone thought of calling it that. We just called it, making do. You bought used, repaired what you had, or built it yourself if at all possible. I made push carts out of 2x4's and milk crates using the wheels off my sisters' baby carriages. We made slingshots and kites. Made tree forts out of whatever materials we could find and generally entertained ourselves. We fixed everything except the television set and the tv man came only after we had determined it wasn't just a tube. Tested lots of tubes before calling that guy. Call a plumber? Why would you want to do that? An electrician? There are only three wires to be concerned about, easy enough to figure out. 
 Now education was a fine thing, but it wasn't the best thing. There are a lot of educated damn fools in the world. If that education didn't help you fix something, make you some money in some fashion, it wasn't worth much at all. Talking about stuff isn't getting anything done. You have to do it to understand it. 
 That is what I was told. Understanding how something worked was the key. If you don't know how it works, keep your hands out of it. If you can't build the house don't try and tell me how to do it. That's the problem with those educated folks, they don't really know how things work at all. Yeah, looks good on paper but that doesn't mean it will work. Well, that's why people go to college in the first place. They don't want to actually work for a living, they just want to tell others what to do. Sit behind a desk somewhere and be a big wheel. Well, let me tell you something, wheels roll through excrement and dogs urinate on them! Not exactly the way I heard that, but the analogy is the same.  
 What I was taught was to be self-sufficient and confident in my thinking. I'm not intimidated by wealth or education. Expect nothing and you won't be disappointed. You get pretty much what you put out there. What goes around, comes around. If you are waiting for others to give you permission, you will have a long wait. I don't need your permission! All I need to be concerned with are the consequences. It's all risk and reward. If I figure it is worth the risk, I'll go for it, if not, I don't. Not a very difficult philosophy to understand. 
 It's true that "no man is an island, entire of itself" as John Donne points out in his famous poem. We are all a part of the whole and as such have obligations to that whole. That doesn't mean we should be dependent upon that, however. All it means is that the obligation exists. You know it isn't so much what we are taught, but what we adopt that makes us who we are. The willingness to adapt is crucial to survival. You might say, making do. Sometimes we see more by the absence of something than we do when it is before our very eyes.  

Sunday, March 10, 2024

contextual

  The terms we use change over time. My grandmother said she had an ice box, although she did have a refrigerator. It was just that she had an ice box for many years and that is what she called that. I sometimes would call it an ice box as well. That's because you tend to repeat what you hear others saying, learning the language you might say. Colloquial is another word for that, learning a dialect. We say dial the phone, but we haven't dialed one since the 1960's. Kleenex means a tissue. They replaced handkerchiefs more or less. A handkerchief is usually just decorative today. In fact, most people would be grossed out if you blew your nose into that thing and shoved it in your pocket. I mentioned turning the channel on television. Remember when you had to physically turn a dial to do that. Having looked inside the television to see what happens it was a baffling thing. Just a bunch of plates that spun inside each other. Today we switch channels remotely by pushing a button. I have no idea what is happening inside that tv. But we still say, turn the channel. 
 I started writing this and discovered it is harder to think of these things that I thought it would be. The terms and phrases are so ingrained that it is hard to see them differently. Other terms creep in and we adopt them. If I say to you, do you have a landline, you know what I'm asking. If I said that to you twenty years ago you most likely would wonder, what the heck is he talking about? Other things like a shoehorn could be confusing to some. You're next in the queue. Everyone knows what that is today. Wasn't long ago when the majority wouldn't have had any idea about that, we were just on hold or standing in line. Debit cards? And if something was online your Mom probably hung it there. The wash had to be hung out. Zap it. We know what needs to be done. Have you tried rebooting it? I'm old enough to remember when we wore galoshes! And my grandmother called them rubbers. Yeah, they definitely serve a different purpose today. It's all about context.
 That's becoming a big problem today, understanding the context. We have people from all walks of life, all social classes intermingling exchanging ideas and their thoughts. The problems begin when we don't understand each other contextually. It's quite a difficult thing to accomplish on social media especially. I'm responding to what is happening around me, in my environment and you are responding in yours. I'm trying to figure out what you mean while you are thinking, what the heck. 
 Separating sarcasm, rhetoric and genuine feelings can be hard. The terms we use relate to the current situation except not all of us are aware of that. It's what we used to call being "cool." Being cool is understanding the current language. It's a sort of code talk, to confuse the old people. At least it used to be, today it is called something else, "woke" being one example. Us old people might still say Mary Jane and the other old people will know what we are talking about. Now the "woke" people are concerned with racial discrimination and social justice. Like the hippies once were only insisting everyone else agree and join in. The hippies just made their own communes, they dropped out and tuned in. Yes, they were cool. Woke isn't cool.
 The context of time. That's the issue and has always been the issue. What really happened? It all depends upon who you ask. More importantly, what did it mean? How to describe an action. What channel do you watch? Before televisions that certainly meant something entirely different. Today people make judgements based on that. Someone being Gay has certainly changed in meaning. Today it takes five letters plus to describe that. What does it mean? The social changes we advocate for, and implement will; surprise, surprise, change society. Will it lead to the downfall of that society? History suggests it will. 

Saturday, March 9, 2024

a disgrace

  I didn't watch the state of the union address. I admit to not having watched many of those political theatrics. That's the way I see it anyway, it isn't about the state of the union in any honest straightforward way, it is about getting reelected or simply bragging about how great a job you have done. I'll be the judge of that. It's a real shame that the pomp and circumstance, the formal and dignified speech from our commander in chief has devolved into a spectacle. It isn't the best view to inspire confidence in our government. It isn't just the president but the lack of decorum on the part of the representatives that has caused this. 
 I see the whole thing as a lack of order in the classroom. That comes from both sides of the aisle. Everyone knows I support the Republican party and in general terms support their policies and ideologies. Still, I thought Greene wearing her MAGA hat in violation of house rules was just a childish and disrespectful action. No order in the classroom! It didn't make any great statement in my eyes. Just seems so immature to me. Those shouting out during the speech falls under the same category in my book. It does nothing but make you look foolish! Regardless of your personal feelings toward the president he is the president! As such, the president should be given respect. It really is as I was taught in the service. You don't have to respect the man, you have to respect the (uniform) office. There is plenty of time for rebuttal later on. 
 I have to add that the president responding to such is also immature in my eyes. I'd much rather he just paused, allow the room to quiet down and continue with whatever prepared speech he had on the teleprompter. I want to see an image of someone who is unflappable in his statements. Engaging in any argument with your detractors shows your vulnerability. It's beneath the office. If you wish to project power and authority, you can't get upset when someone disagrees with you. The best course of action is to simply dismiss them as inconsequential. You are dismissed! People hate that when it happens. As the "speaker" as the authority in the room at that moment you have that power, whether you are the president of the United States or simply giving a lecture. By responding you are surrendering your power.
 I view all of that as a reflection of the lack of civility in general in our society today. It's a topic I have written about several times as it is something I notice. The concept of polite company. It is what I was taught in the 1950's and throughout the sixties. I guess all of that is old fashioned, out of date and no longer applicable. 
 Keeping a civil tongue in your head was once an admonishment. Today I've read "studies" proclaiming the use of profane language is a sign of intelligence! Perhaps, but it certainly isn't a sign of respect. Strangely, the very people proclaiming such, saying it is also the exercise of free speech, have passed laws against saying anything hateful! I can use all the profane language I choose, it's on the radio, television, social media and in the movies and all perfectly acceptable as long as I don't "hate" you. And all of that tells me the state of the union. It isn't good! The country is more divided now than it has been since the civil war. A total lack of respect for each other and others' opinions. Just shout them down! It's a disgrace.    

Friday, March 8, 2024

industry and information

  After writing yesterday's blog I began thinking about all the new things I have experienced over the years. I even made a post about being Amana Radar Range old. I do remember when we got our first microwave oven. It wasn't in 1967, the first year it was sold at a cost of four hundred and ninety five dollars that much I'm certain of. It was probably 1969 or so when Dad brought home that monstrosity. I remember it had a temperature probe with it and a cookbook. It was going to replace the oven and the stove. I don't believe it got used very much at all. But, it was the latest thing. It may have been the same year I got a transistor radio for my birthday. I remember it being in a black leather case, 9 transistors as I recall. 
 I remember when Mom got Mr. Coffee. Now that was quite the invention. No more instant coffee. Tasters' Choice freeze dried coffee is the one I remember the most, I think it replaced Sanka. Mr. Coffee changed all that, it was back to Maxwell house because that was good to the last drop. Mr. Coffee was advertised by Joltin' Joe Dimaggio! I recall our first color television too. Quasar, works in a drawer! What an amazing thing that was. I'm old enough to remember when "color television" was advertised as an amenity at motels, along with the magic fingers bed. Modern living at its' finest. Yes, I remember when shows were advertised as being in living color. The Quasar televisions were developed in 1967 according to what I have read but I'm certain we didn't get one until the early 1970's. It was quite an extravagance! 
 I've seen the rise of the credit card. At first it was just Diners club and American Express. Only the wealthy people had those things. I worked at the gas station and had to fill out those little slips of paper, place them in the machine with the card and slide it across. Then get the signature of the card holder. Today everyone has credit cards or debit cards. It's unusual for someone not to have those. As unusual as not having an e-mail address! And yes, I well remember the days before personal computers. The first ones I ever saw had green screens with white lettering. You had to use DOS. It was an amazing thing to type something on the command line and have that thing respond. I've been here since floppy disc's, cd's and sd cards. I've seen personal computers go from having just a tiny little memory to tetrabytes. 
 It amazes me when I think about all of that stuff. I'm amazed how we all absorb new technology, new devices so quickly that we forget when we didn't have that. I'm certain there are many more things I could mention that were new since 1953 that I've forgotten about. I do remember buying a "word processors" for my kids when they were in school. It replaced a typewriter. Quite the modern convenance it had a built-in dictionary and used a closed in ribbon cartridge. Just snap a new cartridge in place when the ink ran out. A big improvement over threading that old ribbon through. And I thought the IBM selectric typewriter was fast! That new device processed your words! All of that is gone now, replaced by the personal computer attached to a printer. We have come a long way since setting type was the only method of printing a document. Guttenberg? Hah, HP produced the first ink jet printers in 1976. 
 I guess it is all a sign of aging when the newest inventions become nostalgia. It happens at an ever increasing speed. Einstein and his theory of relativity may have to be revised. Did this all begin with the industrial revolution? I remember the teachers making a big deal out of that in history class. I was taught it began in about 1840, really taking off after that. The industrial revolution was changing the way man lives! Generally thought of as a good thing, it is progress after all. All the labor saving devices, the speed of production and advances in medicine and machines! Guttenberg lived during the 1400's and his method of printing wasn't replaced until 1976. Since 1976 ink jet has been replaced by laser jet and development continues. Setting type is something nostalgic, a quaint pastime seen in historical recreations. So would turning the crank on a telephone to notify the operator you want to make a call. No, I'm not that old but do remember having to tell the operator what number I wanted and to ask for the long distance operator. I remember asking for, time and charges. 
 I've read where today we live in the "information" age. That has replaced the industrial revolution. Well, the industrial revolution had a good run anyway, a lot of advances were made. It's uncertain what the purpose of the information age is. I mean what are we supposed to do with all this information? Maybe it could spark a new industrial revolution, made things better than they are. Is that what Artificial Intelligence is going to do? A sort of Spock like entity that operates solely without emotional attachment. AI always makes the best possible choice for the majority of the people. The needs of the many outweighing the needs of the one! That certainly would create a lot of unrest with certain demographics! An age of information. "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon (1916 - 2001) American Political Scientist, Economist and Psychologist  I just read where some astronomers say the Age of Aquarius began in 2012. I remember when the fifth dimension said it was dawning in 1969. Is that this information age?  

Thursday, March 7, 2024

livin' in the kitchin'

  I was just thinking about when we did our living in the kitchen. Years ago, the kitchen was always the largest room in the house and the center of activity. Those homes had dining rooms, you know, where you ate dinner. Some homes had sitting rooms, rooms were you simply sat and read a book or had a conversation. Today most people call that space the living room or family room, with family room being the latest moniker. Bedrooms were usually smaller spaces and may or may not have a closet depending upon the age of the home. My grandmothers house had no closets, just wardrobes and a dresser. Our homes have changed with the way we live our lives. Front porches have become the rear deck, private and isolated from the world. 
 My mother's kitchen was the largest room in our house. Yes, the kitchen belonged to Mom. That was her domain and she ruled from there. She cooked our meals in there, obviously, but it is where she ironed the clothes and did her sewing as well. We did our homework at the kitchen table after dinner every night. Mom would be washing the dishes and watching what we were doing. In the kitchen we helped snap the beans, shuck the corn and open the clams or cleaned the fish. We helped with the baking, mostly by licking the beaters, we turned the crank on the grinder and listened to the stories mom told. We colored in our coloring books at that table and made book covers from paper bags. 
 My grandmother's kitchen was much the same with a few exceptions. She had a wood burning/coal stove for cooking. It sat in the far corner of the room and beside it was a box of kindling and some wood. The coal scuttle sat close by, filled with coal at all times. When it became low, I was sent to the coal box to refill that. Her sink was a stand-alone porcelain monstrosity with a curtain around its' base. On the opposite wall was the sole cabinet. Dishes and cups and saucers were on shelves in the top portion and the bottom portion had drawers in it for the tablecloths and silverware. Her refrigerator was an old green thing with the motor sitting on the top. But that was her domain, she ruled the roost from that command center! 
 Those are my memories of my childhood. I do believe it was a much better time in America when we all lived in the kitchen. Families were definitely closer and shared more than what I see today. How many conversations took place in those kitchens is immeasurable. As we helped in the kitchen we were learning. We talked about most everything, some of it gossip and some instruction. We heard the stories of our parents and how things were better back then. But I think what was being learned was responsibility. We learned to be industrious. My grandmother and mother were always busy doing something constructive. It was rare indeed to find either one just doing nothing. There was always something that needed doing. I learned quickly to never say, I'm bored. That would be met with a list of chores that needed doing! 
 Now, neither at my house or my grandmother's house did we have a front porch. That was simply because we didn't live in town, on regular streets. We just sat in the front yard or back yard depending. If we were just sitting, we would be out front. Lighting the barbecue and eating at the picnic table was done out back. We didn't get a lot of visitors, mostly the aunts or uncles would show up occasionally. Our neighborhood only contained five other homes. Only one of those other homes had children. Yes, on my dirt road it was quiet. Most activity was centered around the kitchen or emanated from there. That is where plans were made.
 I think at first it was radio that drew the family into the sitting room. Everyone sitting around quietly listening to their show. That was followed by television. Today we have family rooms that rival movie theaters, in fact, some have home theaters! Add in all the social media platforms to provide additional entertainment and the kitchen grows smaller. Todays' kitchens may have an island and there is no separation from the dining area or family room. The kitchen is no longer a place where people gather. It is simply a utilitarian space. Food preparation consists of unwrapping or thawing. Homework is done on a computer. No one makes book covers out of paper bags anymore and you aren't allowed to lick the beaters! Today its' unlikely you would find Mom in the kitchen at all. She is probably at work. 
 It's ironic if you think about it. We don't do much living in the living room; the family room is for watching television and the deck is for grilling. Not much happening in the kitchen these days. But it's my feeling that is where life begins and where it should be lived most of the time. I can see ancient man huddled around the fire cooking some meat on a stick, in their kitchen, talking about the hunt and survival. An awful lot can be learned in the kitchen, it is the best classroom of all.   

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

changing your opinion

  I often look for answers on goggle. It is a great card catalogue, no doubt about that. Just typing in your question rather than using the Dewey decimal system simplifies things greatly. Any topic, any time and lots of references to check out. You do have to pay close attention however, the dates on the articles, the publisher of the article, and what bias may be involved has to be considered. A truly diverse array of answers and explanations will be offered. You can pick and choice your citation to support your opinion. There are experts galore. It can be difficult to determine what answer is correct. 
 I have never attended a college or university. I've certainly been to a lot of schools over the years. During my time in the service many technical and occupational schools were offered. Many of the schools I attended were centered on engineering, but I did take some associated with human resources, human behavior and that sort of thing. Learning to be a leader they called that. I learned that I'm not a very good leader. I seem to have a lack of patience for the ignorant people. Effective communication is what that was called. Apparently asking people if they are stupid, isn't an effective method. 
 One thing I did learn is that the correct answers are the taught you by the instructors. That is the answer. If you can simply recall the answers provided, you will do great in the course. That works when the answers are a matter of opinion. Opinions such as, what was the root cause of the civil war, or questions on morals, ethics and the law. Those answers will differ depending upon who is teaching the course. That's the purpose of the Supreme Court, to give the definitive opinion on a particular subject. An opinion on the legality of proposed or existing legislation. Sometimes the court will change their opinion. So again, it depends upon who is teaching the course. 
 The problem, if it is a problem, today is having too many instructors. In the days of the card catalogue your choices were limited depending upon the size of the library available to you. The library board determined what books were to be included in the collection available to the public. How that determination was actually made I don't know but someone had to decide. The problem with google is having an almost unlimited amount of material to choose from. Which opinion is valid? Are all opinions valid? Well, in my opinion they aren't. That was part of the communication problem I encountered in some classes. What are you, stupid. 
 I've discovered while writing these blogs of mine that I have an interest in philosophy. Came as a bit of a surprise to me. Really it is what we used to called, jawing. That's when you just talk about stuff and there is no real answer, no correct response per se. It's just about how you feel about things in general. That was the surprise, I was philosophizing all along and didn't know it. So where those old men I used to listen to and chuckle about. They did have some amusing philosophies about life. I can't see going to school for that though. Is anyone hiring a philosopher? I'll just sit here; you can ask me about anything, and I'll think about it.
 A related field of study is psychology. That is supposed to be the study of the mind and human behavior. It's a sort of "recognized" opinion as far as I can tell. It's a bit different from philosophy in that you do have to have a medical degree to practice that. That degree gives weight to your opinion. Similar to the Supreme Court in that someone has to give their opinion and have it count for something. The thing is, who's opinion is the valid opinion? Those opinions change over time and the "book" gets revised. What was once a mental disorder is now perfectly fine and normal. 
 It can't be both simultaneously so which opinion is right? It all depends doesn't it? Which book are you reading and which instructor are you listening to. In my googling I have discovered I can find a philosopher and psychologist to agree with my opinion every time. All I have to do is keep searching the card catalogue. Yesterday I found Piaget's theory of cognitive development. He doesn't agree with Freud or some of the other head doctors. Who is right? Depends upon what school you went to, and what the instructors told you. I agree with Piaget, although I had never heard of him before. I already knew his theory. I didn't call it a theory of cognitive development though, I just said, growing up. 
 Yeah, your opinion usually does change over time. Today we pay others to do that for us, we call those people therapists. Their job is to change your opinion on something. They will give you a new philosophy on life. Well, that's the pitch anyway. Feeling like you don't fit in, feeling like others just don't understand you or feeling a little sad, hire yourself a therapist. They will change your opinion.    

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Enforcing morality

  Morality and religion. Many people just don't seem to understand a simple fact, morality and religion are not the same thing. Morality is only concerned with what a society perceives to be right or wrong. Morals has nothing to do with the practice of a religion unless that religion incorporates those standards within the religion. It's the reason we can view Islam as an ideology rather than a religion. The religion is determining the moral values of the governed. That is not the case in Christian nations, at least not officially. And that is the cause of some misunderstandings. I can be moral without being a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim or anything else. Morality is just about what is right and what is wrong.
 What is the balance between the two? The law. It's as simple as that. The law doesn't make anything moral or immoral, that is the function of religious belief. Our laws are called collectively The United States Statutes at Large. They are published in the order of their passage and are codified every six years in the United States Code. Those laws delineate what is right and wrong, the moral standard of the nation. The United States established no religious standard. 
 Morals and morality are different for everyone. We do tend to adopt the moral standards established by our parents, at least according to Freud. Piaget thought that morals developed over time, in stages from childhood to adulthood deciding for yourself what is right and wrong regardless of what your parents or others may say. B.F. Skinner emphasized external forces that shape your morals. He thought if you received praised for being right you would just continue doing what is right. For me, kind of the same thing as Freud was talking about. 
 How ever morals are established the question is, should you be penalized for your moral beliefs? All religions certainly believe you will. There may be various avenues to escape that punishment, to atone for that, but forgiveness is a moral virtue as well, so that justifies that. Well, most of the time it can anyway, blasphemy will not be forgiven! That's what Jesus said. Our laws are established, in part, so that you are not punished for moral infractions. Remember when we had "blue" laws? Mostly associated with Sunday's, restrictions on business were imposed. Later rescinded because they were discriminatory and harmful to those that didn't have a moral belief that Sunday should be a day of rest as the Bible says. Adultery is a criminal offense in 16 states. Very rarely prosecuted but illegal. In Maryland it carries a ten dollar fine and a misdemeanor charge. Morality and the law. 
 I do get annoyed with those that insist that morality has to be linked to a religious belief. Anyone that knows me knows I feel homosexual behavior is wrong. It's a moral judgement on my part and I do not need to seek justification for that, no citation required. It isn't anything I want to defend in a court of law. Now you may certainly disagree with that, disagree with my moral belief, but that doesn't mean I should change my belief. I don't expect you to change yours either. In short you can't tell me that I'm wrong because some religious text says this or that. 
 The key thing there being, I would have to believe the text. Not only would I have to believe the text, but I would have to believe your interpretation of that text. There is no Supreme Court for morality!  That is what the Supreme Court does with laws. The court issues its' interpretation of the text (The United States Statutes at Large), states their opinion on the legality of that law, and leaves it to congress to make the final decision. Yes, the president can veto that as well. What text do you use to establish moral behavior? It's my feeling that we each write our own, editing and modifying it as we go along. I agree with that guy Piaget, although I admit to not having read his entire text. I'll have to do that sometime. 
 Morality is enforced solely by the individual! Laws punish everything else or allow the immoral. That depends upon your view of things. Currently the prevalent view appears to be, there should be no law regulating morality. The only purpose law should have is to prevent injury to others or allow me to do what I want. Additionally, the law should compel me to accept that without question. We have "criminalized" hate these days. And hate occurs when I simply disagree with you. Well because it is wrong to hate someone, a valid moral argument. The Supreme Court doesn't think so based on six cases. The Court says hate speech is protected speech. Trying to sort all that out is a very difficult thing. Here is an article I read about that. Sounds rather like a "religious" defense for an illegal action. 

Monday, March 4, 2024

the cost

  I had made a posting about affordable housing which sparked some discussion and some push back. As usual I believe that was because I didn't write an entire article explaining my thoughts. I do forget that my remarks often do not contain any context or visual clues. You know those things that you pick up on when having a discussion with someone face to face. You can't hear anything but what is written. I had posted this: why do we build affordable housing? Well, we wouldn't want those people living next door would we. And that statement went misunderstood, and assumptions were made. It was assumed I was against affordable housing. That is most certainly not the case. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity and the ability to purchase housing anywhere they want. That isn't the case with what we call affordable housing. With that option you do not have a choice, this is where it is! 
 The concept really took off after the civil war. We called it share cropping then. A "home" was provided in exchange for a degree of work. That happened when Johnson rescinded the granting of forty acres to freed black families. They needed a place to live. An affordable alternative was provided. Then many of those freed blacks moved north to escape Jim Crow and reconstruction. They could work in the factories in the north. They needed housing and the "projects" were born. Immigrants from Europe were flooding the country as well, landing in the big cities needing housing. That continues to this day only they are simply crossing the border illegally and being given that housing at taxpayers expense. But the "projects turned into the slums and ghettos. A place for those people you didn't want next door to you! But as time moved on those places became desirable locations for the more affluent citizens, a process called gentrification took place. The affordable housing projects were relocated! 
 The thing to remember and realize is that affordable housing, in that context, is never for the benefit of those needing that housing. No, it is simply a way to house the workforce required for the affluent to increase their business. You have to have workers, as unpleasant and expensive as that may be. And for those seeking that affordable housing there is very little choice. They are over the proverbial barrel. What used to be the working poor has now become the working middle class. They are forced to take whatever they can get! Sure, you will hear a different story about that from those doing the building. They are choosing desirable locations; a portion will be kept aside solely for parks or other recreational activities. Shopping will close at hand, public transportation and even medical care readily available. It'll be a regular paradise. Well, until it isn't anymore. And those projects always decline, they never prosper. How many slums have you heard about that became desirable places for people to move to? None is the answer. If that place became desirable the projects were torn down, those folks relocated, and housing built far more suitable. What we call gentrification. 
 These housing projects are really nothing more than socialism. You are given housing, at an affordable rate, but you are also subject to the control of the landlord. Doesn't make any difference if it is an individual or the government. And the government is the worse of those choices if you have to live in affordable housing. Think rules and regulations. Is there any feeling of "ownership?" No, there is not and only the morality of the tenant controls how much care is taken. Rules and regulations exist but what is the penalty for infractions? Not much, and there is usually resentment and anger from those living in those conditions. It's a socialist dream! You are under control! You have no other choice.
  I have no solution to this problem. I certainly wish I did. When I left my hometown and joined the Navy that was happening on a small scale there. The rents were rising, fueled by the wealthy folks that wanted to live in the Hamptons. Farmland was sold to build upon. It wasn't the local people building, no sir, those folks the working class of the town couldn't afford any of that. It became quickly obvious to me. If you couldn't get a home or property through your family in some fashion, you most likely weren't getting any. It was "affordable" housing for you. That housing wasn't in the village, it wasn't in town, it was down hook and beyond. Today that land and property sells in the millions, and the locals, those working people need affordable housing. After all, someone has to do the work! And yes, the "migrants" have migrated there as well. But don't worry, the government will take care of you! We are offering affordable housing to help you out. Don't concern yourself with the real cost, it's affordable.  

Sunday, March 3, 2024

It's wrong

  Went into Baltimore yesterday, well on the outskirts anyway, for a birthday party. I saw a MDOT bus. MDOT stands Maryland Department of Transportation. Its public transportation funded through state taxes. This bus was painted like a rainbow and had emblazoned on it, support LGBTQ+ communities. First off, I don't think any of my tax dollars should be used to promote that! I didn't see any with Jesus painted on them saying support Jesus! 
 Later in the day I was talking about that and saying how I wouldn't ride on that bus, I'd rather walk first. I do not support the LGBTQ+ agenda. This was of course met with indignation and anger. I was asked why I didn't support that. I stated simply I oppose it on moral grounds. I went on to explain that it didn't have anything to do with hate, nothing to do with wishing anyone harm or in any way interfering with their life. I explained how I don't like Lima beans either, and will not support them! For me not a hard concept to understand at all.
 The conversation changed rapidly, and I just let that drop. I am still a bit confused though. If I don't support something I am being told I'm wrong for that. But I'm hearing that from someone that doesn't support what I'm saying. Shouldn't they be wrong for that? I mean what's the difference? We all pick and choose what we will support or not. If you are supporting something I disagree with I still won't support that. If asked, I will tell you I don't support that. Heck, I'll tell you even if you don't ask. 
 It's important to understand I didn't say I wanted the bus repainted; or that I wanted the bus disabled or destroyed in any way. I didn't say others shouldn't ride on that bus. I said simply, I wouldn't ride on that bus, preferring to walk rather than support that cause. Well, because it isn't a cause in my eyes, it's simply a moral choice on the part of the individuals involved. I firmly believe it is wrong and no one will ever change my mind about that. 
 I just don't get it. I hear this mostly from all the people calling for boycotts of every product that doesn't align with what they like or support. Those people organize marches and rallies, buy advertisements on social media and generally make a big fuss. Why? Because they don't support something, like child labor or animal abuse. All of that is just fine, noble and empowering. Yet, when I say I don't support LGTBQ+ activities I'm the bad guy, I'm a terrible person, probably a Nazi or a MAGA guy! I'm homophobic as well. 
 Now I hear that is just about love. Yeah, I know and that isn't what I'm not in support of. I fully support loving thy neighbor as thyself. But that doesn't include having intimate relationships with that neighbor. And let's be clear about that, that is the real issue here. That is what others don't support, including myself. I have male friends that I love same as I love female friends. I'm not sleeping with all of them! It's a moral choice and one I share with those people that I love. What you are doing in the privacy of your home is your business! I do not believe it needs to be advertised on a bus to elicit my approval. All that does is irritate me. Call me whatever you like but I have this funny little quirk. If I care about you, I will tell you the truth. Also, do not ask me a question unless you want my honest answer. Only my wife can do that. The dress looks beautiful, and the evening meal is fit for a king. 
 I do not support putting anchovies on pizza, or pineapple for that matter, although I do enjoy fresh pineapple. It isn't about hating something it is about making a choice. You can make your choice but have no right to insist I support that choice. I don't care how many others say, I support LGBTQ+. I don't care how many others jump off a bridge. I'm not doing either one! Not about hate, about choice. Strangely when others make a choice to kill an unborn child no one is saying that is hate, it's a choice. But that is also a moral choice, isn't it? I don't support that either. I will continue to say that it is wrong no matter how many laws are passed, or protests held. I don't care what name you wish to apply to any of that, I don't support that. 
 I am somewhat amused by all the letters. I'm old enough to remember when those folks where just called queer. It simply meant that they were different from others. And yes, they are, comprising about 7% of the population in the latest polling. Of course, you have to factor in the "it's the in thing" the latest fad as it were. Yes, some of that is solely from cultural influence and "supporting" that. Just another cry for attention and it's working! Then it was very bad to say they were queer, very bad. So, we had to delineate their preferences. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals, and the queers! But that wasn't enough either so a + was added in case you wanted to have sexual relations with someone or something else. And I'm expected to support all of that. No, I don't. None of those actions are my choice and I don't believe anyone else should make that choice either. Still, they are those that want the anchovies and pineapple on their pizza. They are wrong. 

Saturday, March 2, 2024

misunderstood

  It's a bit of a quandary. If the post is too long people won't read it. If the post is too short, it often goes misunderstood. At least that is how I feel about that most of the time. Now I understand the struggle of an author. I'll make no claims to being one of those any more than I'll claim to be an artist. The truth is I don't claim to be much of anything other than what I am. But what am I? Well, the truth is I'm pretty much what others think I am regardless of my personal feelings about that. It is something that may be hard to accept at times, but it is a simple truth. 
 It's a question we were all asked when we were younger. What do you want to be when you grow up? I never had an answer for that one. I can't remember ever wanting to be anything in particular at any time in my life. I've never felt like I had any special talent or purpose. I'm just a small cog in a very big machine. I had no choice when I was created and no choice when it comes to an end. I'm of the opinion that suicide isn't a choice. But that is one of those statements that may go misunderstood. It would probably still be misunderstood if I wrote an entire volume on that. As I said, I'm no author.
 Social media is no platform for conversation, for the exchange of ideas. That is something I have discovered, and I find it a bit disappointing. At first, I thought it would a great thing to be in contact with all of those folks I have known in the past. I'm not talking about just my close friends but classmates and acquaintances as well. And at first it was. But it didn't take long to discover why we weren't closer friends all those years ago. It was and remains a world of "cliques." Those values and characteristics that formed those friendships then, form the friendship now. The dismissal and rebuttal of others is certainly a lot easier on social media than it ever was in person. It's the reason for those Facebook "groups."
 I belonged to one group years back. Turned out not to be the group I thought it was. So, I left that group and started a group of my own. I'm the sole administrator of that group. I don't spend much time administrating, however. I have noticed a number of groups that now require you to answer a series of questions, provide references and a background check before the administrator will allow your comments. I don't have any rules at all. I leave that up to the person leaving the comment. If I decide to, I will just block that person. I haven't blocked many, and it wasn't so much about what they said, but the way they said it. Discuss not cuss! 
 Still, I enjoy logging on and reading what others have to say. I like making my little postings and sharing my thoughts on current events. I read what others have to say even when the post is a little longer and doesn't have a picture. I'll leave my honest comment or reaction. I figure that is why people post those things in the first place. It is nice to get those "likes" or read something positive about whatever it is you have posted. I'm not surprised when others disagree with me or say something negative. It's called independent thought in my world. You are allowed to do that, even though I will most likely attempt to convince you of the error of your ways. We can disagree and just go on about our days and lives same as always.
 I wonder what I'll be when I grow up. I wonder how I'll know when I'm grown up. What does that even mean? Does that mean your occupation? Is that what you are? If that is the case, I've been a mechanic, a sailor, an upholsterer, a retail clerk, a truck driver and an industrial maintenance man. Those are some of the things I've done to make a living. So, what was I? Do I have to put a name on that. I'm retired now so I'm not any of those things, so what am I? Is retired being grown up? My wife certainly wouldn't agree with that assessment. Maybe I'll be an author when I grow up. But first I have to get people to buy what I'm selling. So far, my product isn't catching on. 
 Ah, it's the same old story. It's just the wrong time and place. Of course, in all fairness to myself, I haven't offered any of what I write for sale either. Really have little interest in that part of the whole thing. Is growing up deciding what you want to do to make money? Yes, I guess it is. And I guess that is the problem, if there is a problem. I've just never been that fixated on making money. I like money, I want money and I will work to get money, but money has never been the goal. 
 I don't know what the goal is. No problem though, I'll just keep playing the game. It isn't about who wins or loses. That's what I've always been told. When I was a kid, my mom had a little figurine on the shelf by the fireplace. It was a hobo, complete with his little sack on a stick over his shoulder. He held a sign that read, "money isn't everything, but it sure beats whatever is in second place" I connected with that hobo on some level. I understood exactly what he was saying.    

Friday, March 1, 2024

staying busy

  As I sat down at my desk this morning the old adage about a cluttered desk came to mind. There are several versions of that and all of them bad. But I've always countered that with if a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind what does an empty desk mean. I'll leave it at that. Yes, my desk is a cluttered mess most of the time. When bored I will clean it off. For me that's like wiping the chalkboard. Sometimes the old impressions remain, although faintly, and sometimes they disappear altogether. It makes room for fresh thoughts and ideas. 
 Yesterday I had done a bit of housekeeping emptying the drawers in my desk. They had become cluttered with all sorts of things. They looked like the junk drawer that can be found in almost every kitchen in America. Made a few interesting finds as well. The older I get the more that seems to happen. I hadn't really forgotten about those things, but my interest was renewed in seeing them again. They were just waiting for me to get to them. It's why I don't throw many things away. You just never know when they might spark an interest once again. Not trash, treasure.
 So, on my desktop this morning, a real desktop not a computer screen, you have to make a distinction with that these days, I have two vacuum tubes and a Tops baseball card featuring Roy White from the 1968 season. Roy was one of my favorite players, the dependable Yankee as he was often called. I did check the value of that card and found it is worth about 99 cents! It has definitely gone up in value since I purchased it. Not sure what I will do with it though, just tuck it away again I suppose. But those vacuum tubes I have a plan for. I think they are a bit of a curiosity to those that don't remember them. I admit to not knowing a lot about them myself, I'm not an electronics man. I just like the look of them.
 I did a little reading on the particular tubes I have and found they were made for a very specific purpose. They had something to do with a scanner for slides and photographs. The explanation was beyond my understanding of electronic devices. But I did read where every vacuum tube has a filament, like a light bulb, that generates heat to facilitate the operation of that tube. That's the glow you see when they are warming up. My idea is to power up that filament and just have it glowing. I figure to mount those tubes in some fashion to make an interesting display. That is, of course, if they still work. If not, maybe I can light them up with a small led bulb. It's a project. 
 Vacuum tubes were first made in 1904 according to Google sources. The first one was a diode. Diodes are fascinating things because they only allow the flow of electrons in one direction. I read where it was a diode that allowed the invention of radio and television. But in 1947 the first transistor was developed.  They would replace all those vacuum tubes with one major exception. The cathode ray tube, known to us as a picture tube. They pretty much died about 15 years ago, replaced by LED's (light emitting diodes), plasma screens and an OLED (organic light emitting diode) I'll have to read up on that. Are they grown on a farm? 
 These are the things that I do now that I'm retired. My desk is usually a mess filled with ideas and projects. I'm not trying to invent anything, no experiments or anything like that. Just little projects to amuse myself and hopefully entertain others in the future. We will be remembered by the things we leave behind. We call that a legacy. A legacy is simply what you inherit. I'm thinking my descendants may inherit some of this stuff and wonder, what the heck is this? Just who was that guy? And why did he make whatever this is supposed to be. I figure I won't be remembered for any great accomplishments, no heroics or accolades. My plan is to be remembered by ephemera and by what I call knick-knacks. You know that stuff sitting on your shelves or tucked into a corner somewhere that you save just because you like it. Just stuff that amuses or reminds you of something or someone. I plan to clutter up their houses! It's a sign of a busy mind.   

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Influence

  I spend a great deal of time on Facebook, far more than I should but call it a guilty pleasure. I was here when everyone was farming. Then the farms all closed down and the political storms arrived. Users were being blocked and people were being placed in "jail." I was incarcerated on several occasions but eventually paroled. I don't hear much about any of that anymore. The truth is, I don't hear much from anyone anymore. I still post my morning greetings and receive those in return. That is one thing I take pleasure in, a sort of check in. There are a few that will enter into a bit of discussion every now and again. Those are getting fewer. I'm not certain as to why that is, but I have to consider that it may be me. I don't see a lot of back and forth between others however so maybe it is just a general thing. This social media stuff is still in the experimental phase. Facebook is twenty years old now, just a generation. The generation that began using it has aged and interests changed. Facebook is for old people, that's what I've been told. It is useful for selling things though, as evidenced by all the advertisements. 
 Now we have to start being aware of artificial intelligence. As if there weren't enough fakes and phonies on Facebook, a computer may create more. Although I think you would have to say replicate more so than create. Hey, is that you? I may never know for certain. Being somewhat a skeptic most of the time I'm not easily taken in. I find it an annoyance at times, this inability to just believe what I read or see with my own eyes. I seldom click on any link provided. It isn't so much that I don't trust the person sending it, as the link itself may be the problem. I don't know how to verify a link is 100% safe and secure to send to anyone and I'm sure many others of my generation don't know either. I'm not certain I want to expend the energy to find out, most links I would send are just an amusement anyway, so why risk it. That's what annoys me. Facebook started out as a way to compare photographs of students at Harvard. What was the initial intent? 
 Facebook is still an amusement to me. I do enjoy the meme's and stories. I like seeing the photographs of distant and interesting places in the world. I enjoy posting my attempts at humor and enlightenment. Something strangely satisfying about posting a picture of your cake just out of the oven. It's nice to brag about the grandchildren and their accomplishments. I like hearing about those I knew years ago or simply went to school with. It's fun to "see" how they have changed or remained the same. The perceptions of our youth are certainly different than the perceptions of today. I enjoy a lively discussion but sadly that doesn't happen often. People tend to act differently when protected by distance. Facebook is a bold new world! 
 I'd say Facebook is in its' second generation now. The first one imploded during the Trump years. The big division occurred. For a while Facebook became somewhat of a police state. Free speech was being stifled and those decisions were influenced by big money. The rise of the influencers! There are those that are paid to be social media influencers. In the past we called them salesmen. Yes, there job is to get you to buy a product. There is little difference between selling a physical product and an idea. All it takes is the proper influence. All you have to do is convince someone of what they need. Today it is more about convincing others I can give you what you want. It's a subtle distinction. Works best when you don't allow other salesmen to pitch their products. 
 The thing is it has always been that way. You buy a product or donate to my campaign with an expectation of a return. It is something you want. Doesn't matter if it is a bicycle or world peace. What influences your decision? Everyone is doing it is the most popular reasoning. The only thing standing in the way of most decisions are your moral values and the law. When you can be convinced that the moral choice is the immoral choice, everyone is doing it, all that needs to change is the law. The second generation of Facebook will play a role in that. It's an influencer. I just don't think it will have as much influence as it enjoyed the first time around. 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Sometimes

  I was called awful yesterday. I didn't know it until I got up this morning and began checking my Facebook page. I was just sipping that first cup of my morning coffee and there it was. In fairness to the commentator, I was told I could be awful so I'm taking that as I'm not awful all the time. I try to find the positive in things as much as I can. Mostly I'm just not easily offended although I will enter a defensive mode rather quickly. What was in the old days called a quick wit, or being a smart ass, depending. I own all of that. I won't use an old cliche and say it doesn't matter, it does matter, but it doesn't change who I am. I don't want to be called awful but sometimes I am, to some apparently. It really didn't come as a surprise.
 That tends to happen when someone doesn't agree with my opinion. I make no claims on being expert on any subject or topic and so everything I offer is my opinion. I often will not provide any "citations" to enforce my opinion. I'm not writing a thesis or taking a final exam on anything. Much of what I have learned is based solely on experience and observation. It becomes much easier when you are detached from whatever topic you are discussing. That was called objectivity at one time, nowadays terms like racist, misogynist, hatred and ignorance may take the place of that. Usually accompanied by some name calling. Again, none of that comes as a surprise. It's human nature. It's why we are still fighting wars after thousands of years and many of those wars are over the same thing. 
 I just don't think it is awful to tell the truth of things. It may be awful to hear, offend your sensibilities a bit, or hurt your feelings, but the truth isn't awful. Yes, I know, it is my truth. Everyone has their own truth. I feel the same away about that when you call me awful or ignorant. That's your truth, not mine. Still the obligation remains, to tell the truth as I see it. The offering of my opinion is a gift, you can either accept it or not. I admit it is better when you politely decline that offer rather than throw it back at me. Either way, it doesn't change the truth as I see it. 
 There are times when you need to be made uncomfortable to facilitate change. That's the simple fact of the matter. In my experience the things that make me uncomfortable are the things I am most likely to change, like rolling over in bed. Sometimes there are things I can do and sometimes there isn't anything I can do at all. It's a fallacy that you can change everything, no you can't. There are universal truths that will remain regardless. 
 I think it is a good thing when I make others uncomfortable with a truth. It may be my truth or yours, that isn't important. What is important it that I made you think about whatever it is I'm offering my opinion on. The weight of that opinion is determined solely by you! It's satisfying when that weight causes a shift. The objective is to effect a positive change. Remember I'm telling you what I think so that change should be what I want. That's the positive. Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. 
 It's quite easy to get others upset, that takes no thought at all. It's far more difficult to get others to examine their truth. Most will simply dismiss an opposing opinion outright! They may begin to provide "citations" to reenforce their idea. Those citations may be a higher education, statistical evidence, polls and the opinions of highly respected individuals. Could be I am just too old to understand! That is one of my favorites. Well because you can only gain so much experience, see so much, and learn so much, there's a limit on that! I'm just too old. Sometimes, I'm awful.