Well, its been far to long...
We took the House. We closed the gap in the Senate. There's a feeling of revival in the air, at least politically. I hope it lasts.
The next few months will tell. Things are going to be hard, but we need to fight. I think the Dems will cave, if we keep pushing. Some of them are on our side. More of them will fake it to try to stay in office. The rest need to be constantly exposed as the Progressive spend-thrifts and power-grabbers they are.
Fight! Fight! Fight! Don't give up. Never never never never never never never give up!
Fight!
Now, maybe in a day or two, we can resume our little story of the Dutchmen... :-)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
And now for something battletechy...
Well, the odds on ever actually swapping any battlemech designs on this blog are very small, especially these days, so instead...
***
ban-der-snatch
***
ban-der-snatch
–noun
1.
an imaginary wild animal of fierce disposition.
2.
a person of uncouth or unconventional habits, attitudes, etc., esp. one considered a menace, nuisance, or the like.
***
Mech Bay 23-A
Harlech, Outreach
11AM lcoal time.
William "Dutch" Claggett walked around the feet of the 75-ton battlemech known as a "Bandersnatch" and tried not to gawk. It was slightly different than the "stock" variant, with a new light fusion engine installed instead of the extra-light version. His father had insisted on the modification, and since his company supplied Bander Battlemechs with the engines the machine, number 17 off the custom line, had been so equipped. It had also been built with and endo-steel skeleton to save back some of the weight, but since Father had also insisted on jump jets the design had still sacrificed some of its missile and energy armaments to make room and save weight.
And as always Father had been right. He'd been assigned to Kentares as part of the unit guarding the Duke and his family, and he'd very nearly gotten some of the children out before the ambushing Lyran forces had found them. He'd expected to die then, selling himself dearly, but had instead survived. He'd left a destoyed lance behind him as he'd taken the crippled but still functioning 'mech into the hills. Days later a civilian argo-mech repair center had closed his open torso and replaced the destroyed arm actuators, putting his cannon and laser back into action, but he'd nursed the cippled engine through months of hit-and-run fighting with Lyran forces before the loyalist rebels had finally recaptured the planet.
During that time the Bandersnatch had proven itself over and over, as had his father's wisdom. He'd returned at last, ready to thank him and admit that he'd been right about the engine and the jump jets, only to find he had died in the opening volleys of the Civil War, his dropship destroyed to prevent its cargo of fusion engines from reaching their destination on Talon.
Dutch had been listed as "Missing, Presumed Dead" as well, and his considerable inheritance had been placed in trust. When he'd returned from the dead, it had been waiting for him. Dutch looked around the bay, at the fruits of his inheritance.
In bay one, his Bandersnatch. Next to it, an AGS-2D Argus. Bay 3 contained a BSW-S2 Bushwacker and Bay 4 a PXH-6D Phoenix Hawk. Other than his 'snatch the 'mechs were new. Behind them were three lances of armor, also brand new. Hammer Lance consisted of four Ajax Assault Tanks. Striker Lance, parked across from Hammer, had four Manteuffel-B tanks. And Hunter Lance, on the end of the line, with two pair of spanking new Regulator hover-tanks.
The tanks and 'mechs were all painted alike: A dark charcoal gray with blue gun-metal overtones. Weapons barrels and exposed actuators and such tended to either be bare metal or painted a complementary medium ghost gray. Road wheels on the tanks were ghost gray and black. The only unit markings were a small colored stripe and the unit crest. On the tanks the stripe was a diagonal across the left front quarter. On the 'mechs it was on the left leg, at or below the knee joint. Hammer was red, Striker was blue, Hunter was green and Dutchman (Command) lance was yellow. The unit crest was an image of a tall ship, sails unfurled and full running before the wind on a white-capped sea inside a white circle. This crest appeared on the turrets of the tanks (both sides) and on the 'mech's shoulder armor.
It was The Flying Dutchman, the symbol of The Dutchmen.
Dutch Claggett pondered the symbol, repeated on the shoulder patch of his slate gray uniform, and a small grin appeared on his face. Every member of "The Dutchmen" had one thing in common: All had been declared missing in action and had been presumed dead, only to have returned alive. As Dutch went to meet the officers and men of his newly formed unit and present them with their new equipment he was optimistic. No one here was less than a combat veteran, and they were all lucky.
The future was looking bright indeed...
***
Mech Bay 23-A
Harlech, Outreach
11AM lcoal time.
William "Dutch" Claggett walked around the feet of the 75-ton battlemech known as a "Bandersnatch" and tried not to gawk. It was slightly different than the "stock" variant, with a new light fusion engine installed instead of the extra-light version. His father had insisted on the modification, and since his company supplied Bander Battlemechs with the engines the machine, number 17 off the custom line, had been so equipped. It had also been built with and endo-steel skeleton to save back some of the weight, but since Father had also insisted on jump jets the design had still sacrificed some of its missile and energy armaments to make room and save weight.
And as always Father had been right. He'd been assigned to Kentares as part of the unit guarding the Duke and his family, and he'd very nearly gotten some of the children out before the ambushing Lyran forces had found them. He'd expected to die then, selling himself dearly, but had instead survived. He'd left a destoyed lance behind him as he'd taken the crippled but still functioning 'mech into the hills. Days later a civilian argo-mech repair center had closed his open torso and replaced the destroyed arm actuators, putting his cannon and laser back into action, but he'd nursed the cippled engine through months of hit-and-run fighting with Lyran forces before the loyalist rebels had finally recaptured the planet.
During that time the Bandersnatch had proven itself over and over, as had his father's wisdom. He'd returned at last, ready to thank him and admit that he'd been right about the engine and the jump jets, only to find he had died in the opening volleys of the Civil War, his dropship destroyed to prevent its cargo of fusion engines from reaching their destination on Talon.
Dutch had been listed as "Missing, Presumed Dead" as well, and his considerable inheritance had been placed in trust. When he'd returned from the dead, it had been waiting for him. Dutch looked around the bay, at the fruits of his inheritance.
In bay one, his Bandersnatch. Next to it, an AGS-2D Argus. Bay 3 contained a BSW-S2 Bushwacker and Bay 4 a PXH-6D Phoenix Hawk. Other than his 'snatch the 'mechs were new. Behind them were three lances of armor, also brand new. Hammer Lance consisted of four Ajax Assault Tanks. Striker Lance, parked across from Hammer, had four Manteuffel-B tanks. And Hunter Lance, on the end of the line, with two pair of spanking new Regulator hover-tanks.
The tanks and 'mechs were all painted alike: A dark charcoal gray with blue gun-metal overtones. Weapons barrels and exposed actuators and such tended to either be bare metal or painted a complementary medium ghost gray. Road wheels on the tanks were ghost gray and black. The only unit markings were a small colored stripe and the unit crest. On the tanks the stripe was a diagonal across the left front quarter. On the 'mechs it was on the left leg, at or below the knee joint. Hammer was red, Striker was blue, Hunter was green and Dutchman (Command) lance was yellow. The unit crest was an image of a tall ship, sails unfurled and full running before the wind on a white-capped sea inside a white circle. This crest appeared on the turrets of the tanks (both sides) and on the 'mech's shoulder armor.
It was The Flying Dutchman, the symbol of The Dutchmen.
Dutch Claggett pondered the symbol, repeated on the shoulder patch of his slate gray uniform, and a small grin appeared on his face. Every member of "The Dutchmen" had one thing in common: All had been declared missing in action and had been presumed dead, only to have returned alive. As Dutch went to meet the officers and men of his newly formed unit and present them with their new equipment he was optimistic. No one here was less than a combat veteran, and they were all lucky.
The future was looking bright indeed...
Monday, July 5, 2010
Its time to change the guard, America.
Well, we're here again. Another birthday! America is now 234 years old! That's a LOT of candles! :-)
One of the interesting things about our Republic is its age, actually. I often hear the USA referred to as a "young" country on the world stage. Compared to places like England or any other European country we are young. Compared to someplace like Israel or Iran we are down right neophyte. Those countries are incredibly ancient. I have traveled to Italy and stood in a town hall that was ancient when our Declaration was signed. For that matter, some of the colonies themselves were over 100 years old when the Declaration was signed.
Which is my first point: the USA is fairly young, but our history extends well before that. Politically the roots of our beliefs in Rule of Law and Natural Law extend back to our "mother" country England. We have a long and rich history, much of which pre-dates our Revolution.
Secondly, while our country may be young compared to others our government is not. Our Republic has been operating continuously since 1789. We've peacefully transferred executive authority 45 times, from George Washington to Barack Obama. That 212 year stretch is longer than any other modern government.
Which actually makes the USA one of the oldest countries on earth, not one of the youngest. On the world stage, we are the adults. We are the gray-haired gentlemen, the ones who've been around the block. We've weathered wars, economic hardships and booms, natural disasters. We've done it all. We should be in a place to advise others wisely.
Instead, we're spending like teenagers handed their first credit cards in college. We're blissfully borrowing money from anyone and everyone. We're abdicating our responsibilities to pursue unwise and frivolous ventures. We're ignoring our friends and partying with our enemies. We're turning our backs on who we are and becoming something we used to despise. We're turning our backs on what works and embracing failure.
In times like these, I am reminded of a passage from the Declaration of Independence. Its not the part most people know. Its a little further down, and it should serve as a warning to those in power today:
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to thro off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."
Now, I am not advocating armed insurrection. I think that time may come, if we continue on the path we're on today, but we're not anywhere near that point yet. We are, however, at a place where things need to change. Thankfully we have not yet been stripped of our freedom or our right to vote.
November is coming, friends. Its time. We need to change the guard.
One of the interesting things about our Republic is its age, actually. I often hear the USA referred to as a "young" country on the world stage. Compared to places like England or any other European country we are young. Compared to someplace like Israel or Iran we are down right neophyte. Those countries are incredibly ancient. I have traveled to Italy and stood in a town hall that was ancient when our Declaration was signed. For that matter, some of the colonies themselves were over 100 years old when the Declaration was signed.
Which is my first point: the USA is fairly young, but our history extends well before that. Politically the roots of our beliefs in Rule of Law and Natural Law extend back to our "mother" country England. We have a long and rich history, much of which pre-dates our Revolution.
Secondly, while our country may be young compared to others our government is not. Our Republic has been operating continuously since 1789. We've peacefully transferred executive authority 45 times, from George Washington to Barack Obama. That 212 year stretch is longer than any other modern government.
Which actually makes the USA one of the oldest countries on earth, not one of the youngest. On the world stage, we are the adults. We are the gray-haired gentlemen, the ones who've been around the block. We've weathered wars, economic hardships and booms, natural disasters. We've done it all. We should be in a place to advise others wisely.
Instead, we're spending like teenagers handed their first credit cards in college. We're blissfully borrowing money from anyone and everyone. We're abdicating our responsibilities to pursue unwise and frivolous ventures. We're ignoring our friends and partying with our enemies. We're turning our backs on who we are and becoming something we used to despise. We're turning our backs on what works and embracing failure.
In times like these, I am reminded of a passage from the Declaration of Independence. Its not the part most people know. Its a little further down, and it should serve as a warning to those in power today:
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to thro off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."
Now, I am not advocating armed insurrection. I think that time may come, if we continue on the path we're on today, but we're not anywhere near that point yet. We are, however, at a place where things need to change. Thankfully we have not yet been stripped of our freedom or our right to vote.
November is coming, friends. Its time. We need to change the guard.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Gibbs-slapped by God.
I have enjoyed for several years the TV drama NCIS. Mark Harmon does a wonderful job as hard-boiled ex-marine Special Agent Jethro Gibbs. As anyone who follows the show knows, all of his charges (though primarily Tony) have experienced the infamous "Gibbs slap". When someone needs correction, Gibbs administers a sharp cuff to the back of the head.
Its generally a moment of humor on the show for us the viewer, but for the recipient it is correction delivered in a memorable, stinging and slightly embarrassing package.
The irony of the gesture, of course, is that it is also a sign of endearment. While Gibbs often administers his corrective measure to his team, he does not use it on just anyone. Only those closest to him feel the sting of the slap, and only those he truly cares about.
Which brings me to my point. Gibbs is not God, obviously. But in this he shares an important characteristic: he corrects those he loves. God often administers a "Gibbs slap" to his children, sometimes simply to get their attention, other times to drive home a point. It is always, however, administered in love and with a view to correct our behavior and help us to be more like Christ.
We as Christians need to learn to pay attention to these slaps. They are important. Heed their lessons, and not only will we feel them far less often, we will be far better sons to our Heavenly Father. Ignore them, and larger and more unpleasant corrective measures will follow.
Like always, its about the listening. I easily fall into the trap of firing off a prayer to God, usually in the form a of a quick 'thank-you for the day' followed by a laundry list of wants and needs and gripes. Instead, I need to sit, quiet my heart, and dialogue with God. Speak, yes. God wants us to poor out our hearts to Him. He also wants us to listen to his Word and learn to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us.
God also desires and requires my attitude be in adjustment. He told Jeremiah "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear..." We often hear this verse in the context of repentance, but I think it applies to every day. The key is humbling ourselves. I need to daily recognize that God is sovereign, I am not, and put my priorities into the proper order.
That's my goal. I have a lot of things that need to be fixed, but it all starts with that first step. Man, is it a doozy...
*SLAP*
Its generally a moment of humor on the show for us the viewer, but for the recipient it is correction delivered in a memorable, stinging and slightly embarrassing package.
The irony of the gesture, of course, is that it is also a sign of endearment. While Gibbs often administers his corrective measure to his team, he does not use it on just anyone. Only those closest to him feel the sting of the slap, and only those he truly cares about.
Which brings me to my point. Gibbs is not God, obviously. But in this he shares an important characteristic: he corrects those he loves. God often administers a "Gibbs slap" to his children, sometimes simply to get their attention, other times to drive home a point. It is always, however, administered in love and with a view to correct our behavior and help us to be more like Christ.
We as Christians need to learn to pay attention to these slaps. They are important. Heed their lessons, and not only will we feel them far less often, we will be far better sons to our Heavenly Father. Ignore them, and larger and more unpleasant corrective measures will follow.
Like always, its about the listening. I easily fall into the trap of firing off a prayer to God, usually in the form a of a quick 'thank-you for the day' followed by a laundry list of wants and needs and gripes. Instead, I need to sit, quiet my heart, and dialogue with God. Speak, yes. God wants us to poor out our hearts to Him. He also wants us to listen to his Word and learn to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us.
God also desires and requires my attitude be in adjustment. He told Jeremiah "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear..." We often hear this verse in the context of repentance, but I think it applies to every day. The key is humbling ourselves. I need to daily recognize that God is sovereign, I am not, and put my priorities into the proper order.
That's my goal. I have a lot of things that need to be fixed, but it all starts with that first step. Man, is it a doozy...
*SLAP*
Monday, March 29, 2010
Time to ride...
Sometimes life comes at you sideways. I don't know how else to describe it. Nothing follows a logical, linear path. It all seems to be zig-zag, and simultaneous.
This is very hard on someone who craves and cherishes the ordered regularity of taking things one step at a time. One decision to make, see the outcome, make the next...
That's not how things are in reality, though. Instead its more like Han Solo navigating the asteroid field in Star Wars. They're everywhere, they're random, and while they are NOT in fact out to get you they will pulverize you all the same. Nothing personal.
Yeah. Right. Nothing personal.
I'm actually kind of sick of that phrase today. Its business, not personal. Its just the way we do things, nothing personal. This is just a job, not your personal life.
Bovine Scat.
Like most people, I put a lot of effort into my job. I spend a lot of time at my job. I take pride in my work and my accomplishments. They are personal. It is personal. Professional relationships, like any other relationship, are personal.
Which is just to say that it is an imperfect world filled with imperfect people. *sigh* So we move along and do our best.
What's my point? Well, its just this: life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it. That's wisdom from my wife, something she's been trying to make me see for a long time. :-) It is also remembering that God is sovereign, and that I am called to honor him in my circumstances. That pretty much dictates how I should handle the 90%, as well as where (ultimately) the 10% comes from. All I have to do is Praise Him, Thank Him, and carry that attitude of praise and thanksgiving with me into every day, trusting in my Father to carry me through. Fortunately, he has big shoulders for me to ride on.
So today, I ride, snuggled into my Father's arms. Tomorrow he'll put me back down and we'll walk together a ways. And if it gets to hard, his arms are still there.
Thank you , Lord. Thank you, Father.
I needed that.
This is very hard on someone who craves and cherishes the ordered regularity of taking things one step at a time. One decision to make, see the outcome, make the next...
That's not how things are in reality, though. Instead its more like Han Solo navigating the asteroid field in Star Wars. They're everywhere, they're random, and while they are NOT in fact out to get you they will pulverize you all the same. Nothing personal.
Yeah. Right. Nothing personal.
I'm actually kind of sick of that phrase today. Its business, not personal. Its just the way we do things, nothing personal. This is just a job, not your personal life.
Bovine Scat.
Like most people, I put a lot of effort into my job. I spend a lot of time at my job. I take pride in my work and my accomplishments. They are personal. It is personal. Professional relationships, like any other relationship, are personal.
Which is just to say that it is an imperfect world filled with imperfect people. *sigh* So we move along and do our best.
What's my point? Well, its just this: life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it. That's wisdom from my wife, something she's been trying to make me see for a long time. :-) It is also remembering that God is sovereign, and that I am called to honor him in my circumstances. That pretty much dictates how I should handle the 90%, as well as where (ultimately) the 10% comes from. All I have to do is Praise Him, Thank Him, and carry that attitude of praise and thanksgiving with me into every day, trusting in my Father to carry me through. Fortunately, he has big shoulders for me to ride on.
So today, I ride, snuggled into my Father's arms. Tomorrow he'll put me back down and we'll walk together a ways. And if it gets to hard, his arms are still there.
Thank you , Lord. Thank you, Father.
I needed that.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Media woes...
This is going to be a recurring theme, I think. The media is just killing me.
I was stuck in a car today driving, so I listened to talk and news radio. It keeps me awake. I was amazed at some of the things I heard.
As you may know, a very disturbed man named Mr. Stack dove his small airplane into the public building which housed the IRS in Austin, TX on Thursday Feb. 18th. He burned his house and car first to prevent anyone in the government from seizing it, and left a 38 paragraph 'suicide note' or manifesto, or rant, or whatever, behind.
The guy was obviously a nut and a terrorist. I heard some of what he wrote on talk radio, but as happens on the road I lost the signal. While searching for a replacement I stumbled into a talk radio show from the opposite political viewpoint. I decided to listen for a bit, to see if some of the claims from the previous host were valid.
Wow. According to this host, the pilot was a "radical right-wing tea-bagger." This was obvious from what he wrote, apparently. Except that the exerpts I heard from his post were far shorter and more incomplete than what I had heard already that morning.
More offensive to me, however, was the host's persistent statements that the man was affiliated with the Tea Party Movement. I was also offended (as I am always offended) by the use of the derogatory term "tea-bagger", a usage that is designed to belittle and insult. I find the Left so fast to use such labels.... But I digress.
The worst, though, was the continued linkage to anyone who takes a Conservative view. According to this man, anyone who is Conservative is already nearly at a point of doing the same thing. We're all crazy people, on the edge of violent outburst. Conservatives are dangerous, and when we go over the edge we crash planes into buildings or other such things.
And yet...
And yet, examine Mr. Stack's rant. He is far more Liberal than Conservative. He embraces Communist ideals. He rants against the IRS, but mainly for Leftist reasons. He rants against corporations and President Bush and tax cuts. He was, if anything, a Liberal Progressive with serious Communist leanings.
But he's portrayed by a mainstream media host (CNN radio) as 'radical right wing'.
Meanwhile, the woman who shot her peers at UAH, a woman who is an avowed and open Liberal Obama supporter is never once examined in light of her political views. A woman who pulled a gun and shot six others for no good reason who happens to be a rabid liberal is just "crazy" and is not linked to anything.
Unless, of course, they manage to find a way to link HER to the Tea Party Movement as well. Or Conservatives in general. Then, of course, they'll make the linkage...
And finally my favorite. Bill Mahar (sp?) on Larry King, complaining about the Democrats. He complained that the Dems were backing down on the KSM trial. And he revealed far more of his view than I think he intended.
He said, on the record, that people "want strong leadership", that Americans are "to dumb to know the issues" and that we simply want someone who sticks to a position. We don't care what, we just have an "animal instinct" to follow strength.
Yeah. You keep telling yourselves that my Liberal friends. It will make our job easier in November.
I was stuck in a car today driving, so I listened to talk and news radio. It keeps me awake. I was amazed at some of the things I heard.
As you may know, a very disturbed man named Mr. Stack dove his small airplane into the public building which housed the IRS in Austin, TX on Thursday Feb. 18th. He burned his house and car first to prevent anyone in the government from seizing it, and left a 38 paragraph 'suicide note' or manifesto, or rant, or whatever, behind.
The guy was obviously a nut and a terrorist. I heard some of what he wrote on talk radio, but as happens on the road I lost the signal. While searching for a replacement I stumbled into a talk radio show from the opposite political viewpoint. I decided to listen for a bit, to see if some of the claims from the previous host were valid.
Wow. According to this host, the pilot was a "radical right-wing tea-bagger." This was obvious from what he wrote, apparently. Except that the exerpts I heard from his post were far shorter and more incomplete than what I had heard already that morning.
More offensive to me, however, was the host's persistent statements that the man was affiliated with the Tea Party Movement. I was also offended (as I am always offended) by the use of the derogatory term "tea-bagger", a usage that is designed to belittle and insult. I find the Left so fast to use such labels.... But I digress.
The worst, though, was the continued linkage to anyone who takes a Conservative view. According to this man, anyone who is Conservative is already nearly at a point of doing the same thing. We're all crazy people, on the edge of violent outburst. Conservatives are dangerous, and when we go over the edge we crash planes into buildings or other such things.
And yet...
And yet, examine Mr. Stack's rant. He is far more Liberal than Conservative. He embraces Communist ideals. He rants against the IRS, but mainly for Leftist reasons. He rants against corporations and President Bush and tax cuts. He was, if anything, a Liberal Progressive with serious Communist leanings.
But he's portrayed by a mainstream media host (CNN radio) as 'radical right wing'.
Meanwhile, the woman who shot her peers at UAH, a woman who is an avowed and open Liberal Obama supporter is never once examined in light of her political views. A woman who pulled a gun and shot six others for no good reason who happens to be a rabid liberal is just "crazy" and is not linked to anything.
Unless, of course, they manage to find a way to link HER to the Tea Party Movement as well. Or Conservatives in general. Then, of course, they'll make the linkage...
And finally my favorite. Bill Mahar (sp?) on Larry King, complaining about the Democrats. He complained that the Dems were backing down on the KSM trial. And he revealed far more of his view than I think he intended.
He said, on the record, that people "want strong leadership", that Americans are "to dumb to know the issues" and that we simply want someone who sticks to a position. We don't care what, we just have an "animal instinct" to follow strength.
Yeah. You keep telling yourselves that my Liberal friends. It will make our job easier in November.
Driving with idiots...
Well, I'm back safe and sound! No thanks to some of the folks I shared the road with.
First, I want to bid a hearty good night to Mr. Avenger. I don't know why you latched onto my tail just outside Paducah, KY or why you felt the need to follow within 5 feet of the back bumper of my rental car for nearly two hours. I do know it was very disconcerting, and I was SO happy when you suddenly peeled off and latched onto that passing semi. So happy, in fact, that I immediately peeled off an exit myself and purchased a McDonalds Diet Coke to toast your safe journey!
Second, the bobbing twins. Two white cars. One, a 2009 Impala. The other, a late model Acura. The Impala was going exactly 70mph (cruise control is awesome, eh?) while the Acura was moving at a whopping 71mph.
The pass started just south of Nashville, TN. If it hadn't been for the State Trooper that slowed everyone down to 60mph about 20 miles later they would have completed the pass before the State Line, I'm sure. AS it was, they actually completed the pass 2 miles into Alabama.
Other than that, it was just your normal collection of people driving with distractions or to much fatigue, doing some very stupid and dangerous things.
Thankfully, God protected me as he has done so many times and the trip ended successfully with my rented 2010 Dodge Charger safely in the Enterprise lot and me safely home.
Business travel is SO much fun! Next time, I think I'll fly....
First, I want to bid a hearty good night to Mr. Avenger. I don't know why you latched onto my tail just outside Paducah, KY or why you felt the need to follow within 5 feet of the back bumper of my rental car for nearly two hours. I do know it was very disconcerting, and I was SO happy when you suddenly peeled off and latched onto that passing semi. So happy, in fact, that I immediately peeled off an exit myself and purchased a McDonalds Diet Coke to toast your safe journey!
Second, the bobbing twins. Two white cars. One, a 2009 Impala. The other, a late model Acura. The Impala was going exactly 70mph (cruise control is awesome, eh?) while the Acura was moving at a whopping 71mph.
The pass started just south of Nashville, TN. If it hadn't been for the State Trooper that slowed everyone down to 60mph about 20 miles later they would have completed the pass before the State Line, I'm sure. AS it was, they actually completed the pass 2 miles into Alabama.
Other than that, it was just your normal collection of people driving with distractions or to much fatigue, doing some very stupid and dangerous things.
Thankfully, God protected me as he has done so many times and the trip ended successfully with my rented 2010 Dodge Charger safely in the Enterprise lot and me safely home.
Business travel is SO much fun! Next time, I think I'll fly....
Monday, February 8, 2010
Attention to Detail
Well, its been a while. This thing has a way of creeping away from me...
It seems that for the last few days, maybe weeks, God has been beating me over the head with this idea of "Attention to Detail." In my job, I have been reminding my team that its the small stuff that makes-or-breaks our efficiency. Most people get the 'big' things right most or all of the time. Its when you drill down to the little things, the nit-picky things, the small items and not-so-important details, that we often pass or fail the test.
Ironically, those little details reveal far more about our attitudes and character than we wish to let on. People skip details for many reasons. They're apathetic and don't care. They're to busy with something else and their priorities are not in proper alignment. They don't have the right knowledge base to correctly do the little things. They're lazy or tired or bored and just want to be done with it.
In my line of work, those attitudes shine through. You come to value that employee that consistently takes the time and exerts the effort to get most (no one gets them all) of those details right. On the flip-side, it can be extremely frustrating when someone consistently does not do so, and again this usually stems from a character flaw or attitude problem.
I was recently reminded of the example of New York City. The new Mayor was the Honorable Rudy Juliani, who is now known to virtually everyone but at that time was not well known outside of New York. The City itself was a real mess, with a very serious crime issue - and a serious attitude problem. New Yorkers looked to their new mayor for his promised solution to clean up the mess. Would he double the homicide cops? Focus on Vice? Put more patrolmen on the beat?
Mayor Juliani surprised them. He did indeed send more cops into the streets with a directive: bust the petty crimes. Specifically, he went after jay-walkers. Liter bugs. People who urinated in public.
There was an outcry! He was wasting time on little things when there were big things to fix! How dare he?!?! But then, people began to notice something. The attitude started to shift. As the people in authority began to show that the little things meant something and started enforcing the small things, the common people's attitudes changed. It was suddenly important. It meant something. And things changed. People stayed inside the cross-walks. They began to obey traffic directions and crossling lights. They started using trash bins and public rest-rooms. The traffic snarls became less hectic. Cops found people had better attitudes in general.
And then, people started really resenting criminals. They started getting angry and outraged when crimes happened. And just as they had become willing to be involved in cleaning up the trash, they became willing to be involved in cleaning up the crime.
People started talking to cops, they started intervening on occasion to stop crimes by simply being there and witnessing, and they actively helped police find and put away real criminals with big crimes.
The big problems started to be solved, but only after the little things were put aright.
This rumination led me back to the words of Jesus: "He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much." and the correllary, "He who is unfaithful in little will be unfaithful in much."
Attention to detail. I'll bet you never really thought about it as a Teaching of Christ before, eh?
But there it is. And it strikes me that our lives are no different. Its the little things. So many times we get the big things right, and don't even try with the little things. But the little things are the things that reveal our attitude. Our heart is in the details.
And God, more than anything, desires our hearts.
So, pay attention to the details. Give God your heart. I fail miserably, but my prayer today and going forward is that, in the end, my attention - and heart - will be in the details as well.
It seems that for the last few days, maybe weeks, God has been beating me over the head with this idea of "Attention to Detail." In my job, I have been reminding my team that its the small stuff that makes-or-breaks our efficiency. Most people get the 'big' things right most or all of the time. Its when you drill down to the little things, the nit-picky things, the small items and not-so-important details, that we often pass or fail the test.
Ironically, those little details reveal far more about our attitudes and character than we wish to let on. People skip details for many reasons. They're apathetic and don't care. They're to busy with something else and their priorities are not in proper alignment. They don't have the right knowledge base to correctly do the little things. They're lazy or tired or bored and just want to be done with it.
In my line of work, those attitudes shine through. You come to value that employee that consistently takes the time and exerts the effort to get most (no one gets them all) of those details right. On the flip-side, it can be extremely frustrating when someone consistently does not do so, and again this usually stems from a character flaw or attitude problem.
I was recently reminded of the example of New York City. The new Mayor was the Honorable Rudy Juliani, who is now known to virtually everyone but at that time was not well known outside of New York. The City itself was a real mess, with a very serious crime issue - and a serious attitude problem. New Yorkers looked to their new mayor for his promised solution to clean up the mess. Would he double the homicide cops? Focus on Vice? Put more patrolmen on the beat?
Mayor Juliani surprised them. He did indeed send more cops into the streets with a directive: bust the petty crimes. Specifically, he went after jay-walkers. Liter bugs. People who urinated in public.
There was an outcry! He was wasting time on little things when there were big things to fix! How dare he?!?! But then, people began to notice something. The attitude started to shift. As the people in authority began to show that the little things meant something and started enforcing the small things, the common people's attitudes changed. It was suddenly important. It meant something. And things changed. People stayed inside the cross-walks. They began to obey traffic directions and crossling lights. They started using trash bins and public rest-rooms. The traffic snarls became less hectic. Cops found people had better attitudes in general.
And then, people started really resenting criminals. They started getting angry and outraged when crimes happened. And just as they had become willing to be involved in cleaning up the trash, they became willing to be involved in cleaning up the crime.
People started talking to cops, they started intervening on occasion to stop crimes by simply being there and witnessing, and they actively helped police find and put away real criminals with big crimes.
The big problems started to be solved, but only after the little things were put aright.
This rumination led me back to the words of Jesus: "He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much." and the correllary, "He who is unfaithful in little will be unfaithful in much."
Attention to detail. I'll bet you never really thought about it as a Teaching of Christ before, eh?
But there it is. And it strikes me that our lives are no different. Its the little things. So many times we get the big things right, and don't even try with the little things. But the little things are the things that reveal our attitude. Our heart is in the details.
And God, more than anything, desires our hearts.
So, pay attention to the details. Give God your heart. I fail miserably, but my prayer today and going forward is that, in the end, my attention - and heart - will be in the details as well.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Theory vs Fact
Does anyone else feel like you're caught in a giant social experiment gone horribly wrong?
I'm not going to rant and rave or be to long-winded, but I wanted to make this observation: Socialism is a great theory. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.
Facts are pesky things. Do some research. The Plymouth colony experimented with Communism. Bradford, dismayed by the lack of progress and the looming starvation from a very poor harvest, noted that no one wanted to work to take care of his neighbors. So, they scrapped the plan and gave everyone a plot and made them responsible for their own welfare.
The next harvest they had this little thing we like to call Thanksgiving, because their farming paid off.
They learned a lesson: People don't work for others. Humans do not operate under the 'enlightened self-interest' that the Socialist / Marxist model requires. The only self-interest that motivates us is to work hard for ourselves, in a system that lets us keep the fruits of our labors.
Obama was asked point-blank during the campaign whether he was going to let people keep those fruits or take them away, and his response was that he felt it was "better for everyone if we spread the wealth around."
The problem with that is simple. If I can't keep what I work for, why work?
There is a Russian saying, from the days of Communism: "As long as they pretend to pay us, we will pretend to work." How far are we from that here?
And what are you and I going to do about it?
I'm not going to rant and rave or be to long-winded, but I wanted to make this observation: Socialism is a great theory. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.
Facts are pesky things. Do some research. The Plymouth colony experimented with Communism. Bradford, dismayed by the lack of progress and the looming starvation from a very poor harvest, noted that no one wanted to work to take care of his neighbors. So, they scrapped the plan and gave everyone a plot and made them responsible for their own welfare.
The next harvest they had this little thing we like to call Thanksgiving, because their farming paid off.
They learned a lesson: People don't work for others. Humans do not operate under the 'enlightened self-interest' that the Socialist / Marxist model requires. The only self-interest that motivates us is to work hard for ourselves, in a system that lets us keep the fruits of our labors.
Obama was asked point-blank during the campaign whether he was going to let people keep those fruits or take them away, and his response was that he felt it was "better for everyone if we spread the wealth around."
The problem with that is simple. If I can't keep what I work for, why work?
There is a Russian saying, from the days of Communism: "As long as they pretend to pay us, we will pretend to work." How far are we from that here?
And what are you and I going to do about it?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Dishwashers are evil...
I have come to the conclusion that the dishwasher, while an ingenious and inventive time-saving device, is evil.
Yes, evil.
Why?
I'm so glad you asked! :)
A week or so ago my daughter gave up on ours. You see, it has a bad habit of taking the food and stuff that comes in on the plates and turning it into a fine grit which it deposits on the glasses and cups in the upper rack. Most of these are plastic cups used every day, and it has become common for Mother to go to the cabinet and toss several with grit in them back into the sink to be re-washed before finding a clean cup to use.
This tossing was usually accompanied by a call for the daughter to remove herself from her current work and repair to the kitchen where the task of scrubbing the now dried on and barnacle-like grit off of the offending cups.
Now, my daughter is a great daughter but she does not like scraping barnacles any more than you or I would, so this duty was not relished by any means. It had also led to a general dislike of doing dishes, as the only remedy was to rinse glasses thoroughly and if that didn't work to go ahead and scrub them out completely when the wash cycle was done. Since they generally came out dirtier than when they went in this led to grumbling and then one day to an idea: Why not just wash the things by hand to begin with?
So a wire dish rack was purchased and the hand-washing began. Almost immediately a couple of breakthrough discoveries were made. First, dishes washed immediately after use are far easier to clean. The second was that dishes washed and rinsed with hot water dry very quickly in open air when properly racked.
Suddenly dishes, while still not the favorite thing to do, aren't quite so bad...
Enter Dad. Dad, expecting a counter full of dirty dishes from the day and possibly the day before's culinary enterprise. Dad, who is no more a fan of doing dishes than anyone else, braced for the onslaught of dirty china. Dad...
...seeing clean counters and dishes washed, dried and put away in cabinets.
And so it has remained far more often than before.
Hence my conclusion: Dishwashers (the machines) are evil.
Yes, evil.
Why?
I'm so glad you asked! :)
A week or so ago my daughter gave up on ours. You see, it has a bad habit of taking the food and stuff that comes in on the plates and turning it into a fine grit which it deposits on the glasses and cups in the upper rack. Most of these are plastic cups used every day, and it has become common for Mother to go to the cabinet and toss several with grit in them back into the sink to be re-washed before finding a clean cup to use.
This tossing was usually accompanied by a call for the daughter to remove herself from her current work and repair to the kitchen where the task of scrubbing the now dried on and barnacle-like grit off of the offending cups.
Now, my daughter is a great daughter but she does not like scraping barnacles any more than you or I would, so this duty was not relished by any means. It had also led to a general dislike of doing dishes, as the only remedy was to rinse glasses thoroughly and if that didn't work to go ahead and scrub them out completely when the wash cycle was done. Since they generally came out dirtier than when they went in this led to grumbling and then one day to an idea: Why not just wash the things by hand to begin with?
So a wire dish rack was purchased and the hand-washing began. Almost immediately a couple of breakthrough discoveries were made. First, dishes washed immediately after use are far easier to clean. The second was that dishes washed and rinsed with hot water dry very quickly in open air when properly racked.
Suddenly dishes, while still not the favorite thing to do, aren't quite so bad...
Enter Dad. Dad, expecting a counter full of dirty dishes from the day and possibly the day before's culinary enterprise. Dad, who is no more a fan of doing dishes than anyone else, braced for the onslaught of dirty china. Dad...
...seeing clean counters and dishes washed, dried and put away in cabinets.
And so it has remained far more often than before.
Hence my conclusion: Dishwashers (the machines) are evil.
Monday, January 11, 2010
"Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve." --Benjamin Franklin
So, 11 days into 2010! How many of you have broken those resolutions? :-)
I see that hand. Thank you. Yes, I see that hand. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Yes, sir, you in the back...
Actually, its never to late to resolve to do the right thing. Whether its lose weight, clean the garage, spend time in the Word each day, or drink water instead of coffee those resolutions are never to late in coming.
One thing that is important to remember, though, is that we are imperfect humans. We sin, and we're essentially untrustworty and unreliable. So, what can we do? Paul lamented about it in Romans. "I do what I don't want to do, and I don't do what I want to do! ... Oh, wreched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death?"
If Paul struggled with it, then it seems a given that we must as well.
So, don't dispare! Pick yourself up. So you missed a day of walking. So you ate a bon-bon. God is gracious! He forgives! Repent of your sin, turn and return to your resolution! Performing the resolution isn't about 100% perfection, its about picking yourself back up and sticking to it after you fail! Figure out why you failed and plan to avoid that mistake again.
And whatever happens, keep going!
*heads off to practice what he's preaching*
So, 11 days into 2010! How many of you have broken those resolutions? :-)
I see that hand. Thank you. Yes, I see that hand. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Yes, sir, you in the back...
Actually, its never to late to resolve to do the right thing. Whether its lose weight, clean the garage, spend time in the Word each day, or drink water instead of coffee those resolutions are never to late in coming.
One thing that is important to remember, though, is that we are imperfect humans. We sin, and we're essentially untrustworty and unreliable. So, what can we do? Paul lamented about it in Romans. "I do what I don't want to do, and I don't do what I want to do! ... Oh, wreched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death?"
If Paul struggled with it, then it seems a given that we must as well.
So, don't dispare! Pick yourself up. So you missed a day of walking. So you ate a bon-bon. God is gracious! He forgives! Repent of your sin, turn and return to your resolution! Performing the resolution isn't about 100% perfection, its about picking yourself back up and sticking to it after you fail! Figure out why you failed and plan to avoid that mistake again.
And whatever happens, keep going!
*heads off to practice what he's preaching*
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A word from our Founders...
Wisdom we should heed, I think...
"The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt, are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Spencer Roane, 1821
"The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt, are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Spencer Roane, 1821
Monday, January 4, 2010
Buried Treasure
I had the most unusual, random thought on my way home from work and it led me to something I wanted to share.
Have you seen the movie "Sweet Home Alabama."? Its a cute movie which, despite some inevitable Hollywood pollution does have a solid central theme - love is a choice. My wife and I saw it first when we lived in Georgia. We've also been to the re-enactment field where they filmed the Civil War re-enacters for the movie (its actually near Atlanta, GA) which was kind of a strange feeling. Creepy deja-vue...
ANYWAY, we've seen the movie several times, both before and since we moved here to Alabama. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, it was on TV again and we had it on while we worked in the bedroom, just kind of watching it but not really paying attention when suddenly a small detail jerked my attention up short.
The dog is named "Bryant".
The dog belongs to Jake Perry, the male lead and husband of Melanie "Felony" Smuter Perry, who goes by Melanie Carmichael in her reinvented life in New York City. Jake is apparently your stereotypical Southern Hick - Red-necked, pickup truck, beer in the fridge and worships Alabama Football. Bryant is a typical Southern bloodhound. Bryant is a fun character in the movie. He fetches a bone from the water by jumping in and apparently walking across the bottom (not swimming) to it.
At a tender moment in the movie, we also find out that the couple had another dog before Melanie left (after a tragic miscarriage) which died after she went away.
That first hound was named "Bear".
I have heard these names over and over, but when we were watching the movie the other day it hit me like a thunderbolt.
Bear
Bryant
Bear Bryant
D'OH!
How did I miss that? It was so obvious! Right there, and yet I missed it. I shouted it out. My wife stared (we are both transplants, and we have both learned who Bear Bryant was, of course!) and then we howled!
Wow.
But then the random thought march continued. If there were hidden treasures in something as pedestrian and ultimately valueless as a movie, how much more must there be hidden treasure in God's Word?
I have complained about reading passages over and over. I know others who have done so. But I believe with fervor now that there must be more there to find. Even in the most well-worn passage or verse God has hidden treasure for us.
All we have to do is be willing to dig for it.
Have you seen the movie "Sweet Home Alabama."? Its a cute movie which, despite some inevitable Hollywood pollution does have a solid central theme - love is a choice. My wife and I saw it first when we lived in Georgia. We've also been to the re-enactment field where they filmed the Civil War re-enacters for the movie (its actually near Atlanta, GA) which was kind of a strange feeling. Creepy deja-vue...
ANYWAY, we've seen the movie several times, both before and since we moved here to Alabama. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, it was on TV again and we had it on while we worked in the bedroom, just kind of watching it but not really paying attention when suddenly a small detail jerked my attention up short.
The dog is named "Bryant".
The dog belongs to Jake Perry, the male lead and husband of Melanie "Felony" Smuter Perry, who goes by Melanie Carmichael in her reinvented life in New York City. Jake is apparently your stereotypical Southern Hick - Red-necked, pickup truck, beer in the fridge and worships Alabama Football. Bryant is a typical Southern bloodhound. Bryant is a fun character in the movie. He fetches a bone from the water by jumping in and apparently walking across the bottom (not swimming) to it.
At a tender moment in the movie, we also find out that the couple had another dog before Melanie left (after a tragic miscarriage) which died after she went away.
That first hound was named "Bear".
I have heard these names over and over, but when we were watching the movie the other day it hit me like a thunderbolt.
Bear
Bryant
Bear Bryant
D'OH!
How did I miss that? It was so obvious! Right there, and yet I missed it. I shouted it out. My wife stared (we are both transplants, and we have both learned who Bear Bryant was, of course!) and then we howled!
Wow.
But then the random thought march continued. If there were hidden treasures in something as pedestrian and ultimately valueless as a movie, how much more must there be hidden treasure in God's Word?
I have complained about reading passages over and over. I know others who have done so. But I believe with fervor now that there must be more there to find. Even in the most well-worn passage or verse God has hidden treasure for us.
All we have to do is be willing to dig for it.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Adding Insult to Injury
As any of you who have ever read "American Rifleman", "American Hunter", or "1st Freedom", (all NRA publications) know they have a section called "Armed Citizen". This section recounts stories in a short format of citizens who have used their personal firearms to protect themselves and/or others from criminals.
As you may also know, some of these stories read like entries from "The Darwin Awards". Others are just humorous. Most, however, are simply encouraging and uplifting stories of people facing down criminals with courage and personal weapons.
On occasion, though, you have to feel sorry for the criminals...
*exert from "1st Freedom", Vol 10, number 6, pg 24*
"When a man armed with a gun allegedly kicked in Derrick Murray's back door and shouted that hew as a police officer, Murray wasn't buying it for a second. "[The suspect and his accomplices outside] were talking in street slang." Murray explained. Police say Murray quickly retrieved a semi-automatic rifle and shot the intruder, causing him to flee. But the story doesn't stop there. The intruder ran outside, where he was run over by his own getaway car. The panicked driver then backed up, running over him a second time. The suspect will face charges pending his release from the hospital. His two accomplices are being sought. (WFIE 14 News, Evansville, IN 3-16-09)
Now, with friends like that, who needs enemies?
As you may also know, some of these stories read like entries from "The Darwin Awards". Others are just humorous. Most, however, are simply encouraging and uplifting stories of people facing down criminals with courage and personal weapons.
On occasion, though, you have to feel sorry for the criminals...
*exert from "1st Freedom", Vol 10, number 6, pg 24*
"When a man armed with a gun allegedly kicked in Derrick Murray's back door and shouted that hew as a police officer, Murray wasn't buying it for a second. "[The suspect and his accomplices outside] were talking in street slang." Murray explained. Police say Murray quickly retrieved a semi-automatic rifle and shot the intruder, causing him to flee. But the story doesn't stop there. The intruder ran outside, where he was run over by his own getaway car. The panicked driver then backed up, running over him a second time. The suspect will face charges pending his release from the hospital. His two accomplices are being sought. (WFIE 14 News, Evansville, IN 3-16-09)
Now, with friends like that, who needs enemies?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Crabby
Happy New Year, everyone! I have no idea how many people might read this, probably at least one. I know my wife reads it once in a while... :-)
Have you ever had "one of those days"? We had a nice 1st of the year. Relaxing. Watched football. Played a game with the family.
But today I woke up with a nice sinus issue. This happens to me occasionally, when I sleep in later than I should or my schedule breaks. My head stuffs up and the pressure creates one of those headaches that you just cannot live with. It saps your energy, kills the appetite, and generally makes live miserable.
Then, to make matters worse, the King Crab legs we were going to finally feast on (they've been in the freezer for a while, waiting to be used) have gone bad. They were stored to long, waiting, and now cannot be trusted.
I had no idea until they were gone just how much I had been looking forward to eating them. It was a mistake to purchase them at all, I know now. We had no real way to use them, but I wanted them. So we got them. We held onto them, and now they're unusable and wasted anyway.
And so my day closes as it began: broken. But as I reflect, I have to give God praise. Here I sit, complaining that my Alaskan King Crab legs were stored to long and are bad, so we'll have to substitute some other delicious and nutrious, wholesome food for them in our meal tonight. I am crying that I only was able to get about 70% of the laundry done in my automated machines while I nursed a headache and stuffed up head with effective and safe pharmaceuticals. Here I am disappointed that I cannot watch my favorite college football team in a bowl game (they didn't make it this year) on my cable TV in my warm living room on my comfy couch where I relax and nurse a hot mug of tea.
I have so much to be thankful for. If it takes a headache and spoiled dinner to remind me of that, then maybe that's another thing to be thankful for.
Dear Lord, thank you for this day! Thank you for this family you've given me and the many blessings you have bestowed on me! Lord, I don't want to complain. Help me to see that it is all yours, that I am your steward, and that Joy comes from contentment.
Thank you!
Have you ever had "one of those days"? We had a nice 1st of the year. Relaxing. Watched football. Played a game with the family.
But today I woke up with a nice sinus issue. This happens to me occasionally, when I sleep in later than I should or my schedule breaks. My head stuffs up and the pressure creates one of those headaches that you just cannot live with. It saps your energy, kills the appetite, and generally makes live miserable.
Then, to make matters worse, the King Crab legs we were going to finally feast on (they've been in the freezer for a while, waiting to be used) have gone bad. They were stored to long, waiting, and now cannot be trusted.
I had no idea until they were gone just how much I had been looking forward to eating them. It was a mistake to purchase them at all, I know now. We had no real way to use them, but I wanted them. So we got them. We held onto them, and now they're unusable and wasted anyway.
And so my day closes as it began: broken. But as I reflect, I have to give God praise. Here I sit, complaining that my Alaskan King Crab legs were stored to long and are bad, so we'll have to substitute some other delicious and nutrious, wholesome food for them in our meal tonight. I am crying that I only was able to get about 70% of the laundry done in my automated machines while I nursed a headache and stuffed up head with effective and safe pharmaceuticals. Here I am disappointed that I cannot watch my favorite college football team in a bowl game (they didn't make it this year) on my cable TV in my warm living room on my comfy couch where I relax and nurse a hot mug of tea.
I have so much to be thankful for. If it takes a headache and spoiled dinner to remind me of that, then maybe that's another thing to be thankful for.
Dear Lord, thank you for this day! Thank you for this family you've given me and the many blessings you have bestowed on me! Lord, I don't want to complain. Help me to see that it is all yours, that I am your steward, and that Joy comes from contentment.
Thank you!
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