This Law - A "Two-Time Loser" in the United States Supreme Court - Is STILL Law In Texas

I am blogging about a subject that is not for discussion with young children, and apparently is not for discussion with the past several Texas Legislatures.  I am referring to Chapter 21 Section 21.06 of the Texas Penal Code, more informally known as the Texas Homosexual Conduct Law.   I have hesitated to blog on this particular little subject for sometime now.  By the time I express not only my personal opinion, but my deep-held beliefs in Liberty and personal responsibility, I know there will be a few people who know me that will be very surprised by my comments in this blog.  Some will be favorably impressed; unfortunately, others will not.   I know some people may read this blog and decide they can no longer associate with me.  Maybe some will not be quite so honest, and my only "talk about me" behind my back.  I appreciate the honest "no speakers" very much, even if they never speak to me again.  Honesty is a valuable trait no matter where the apples fall, so to speak.

Anyway, here goes....

I was a police officer in Waco, Texas in 1986.  I really don't remember what time of the year it was, but I was working the night shift.  In the "roll call" meeting that night before starting the 11PM - 7AM  shift the lieutenant in charge of the shift told all of us, "Effective immediately, do not enforce the Homosexual Conduct Law."  Then he added, "If you NEED to, write a "city ticket" for "attempted Public Lewdness - Homosexual Conduct."  I was not told that night, but later found out, that a Georgia state law known as the "Homosexual Conduct" law been struck down by the United States Supreme Court.  So why were all the lowly patrol officers now ordered to use a non-existent law to continue the now-illegal enforcement of "the gay law?" 

I say "non-existent" but actually, according to Texas Law, any "attempt" to commit a criminal offense could result with one being charged with "Attempted  whatever."  Thus there is Attempted Murder, Attempted Robbery, and now there was apparently Attempted Homosexual Conduct.  Not to worry, though.  Since Attempted Public Lewdness - Homosexual Conduct was a Class C Misdemeanor, that meant that all you had to do was receive your "ticket" and go pay your fine at City Court, along with the speeders, red light runners, and so on.  Only one problem (at least in my book):  since the actual criminal law, Homosexual Conduct, had been declared "unconstitutional" by the United States Supreme Court, it followed (so I thought) that "Attempted Homosexual Conduct" would be JUST as unconstitutional.  Really, it mattered not to me anyway.  I had long-since made the decision that this was one law that I would never enforce.

So, what happens when a law is ruled "unconstitutional?"  Normally one of two things happens.  First, the state legislature or the United States Congress, as appropriate, reviews the fallen law and makes amendments to bring it into compliance.  On the other hand, if the law cannot be revamped into some legal rule, it is stricken from "the books" and that is the end of it.  Apparently neither happened in Texas.  The Texas Homosexual Law remained on the books from 1986 to 2003.

So fast forward to 2003, the United States Supreme Court.  Just as we walk in, we hear the Honorable Chief Justice rule "Unconstitutional!" and the gavel falls.  If we had asked someone there WHAT had been ruled unconstitutional, we would have been told, "Why, the TEXAS Homosexual Conduct Law, of course!"  Uh...ummm... just a minute.  I thought that we had done that in '86!  Nope.  It turns out that no one in the Texas Legislature, in the nearly two decades since that night in Waco, had successfully removed the unconstitutional and useless law from Texas law books. In fact, many state representatives and senators had come out in favor of leaving the Homosexual Conduct Law on the books.  It can't be legally enforced, but the politicians curried favor with many constituents by being "for" the little law that couldn't.

Now, fast forward to tonight right here, wherever you may be in the United States (if you are in the States, that is).  It turnes out that tonight, December 17, 2011 the Texas Homosexual Law, in all its Unconstitutionality, is STILL on the books.  Apparently at least thirteen other states have the same laws on the books as well, all unconstitutional and unenforceable.  No I am not "Gay," I am not homosexual, but I am concerned that this law is still in any state law book, much less over ten percent of the states. 

Here is where some of you may disagree with me, and this is your choice.  In fact, that is really the point of this blog.  It is our choice. I know what the Bible says about those awful homosexuals!  Yes I do.  I also know what it says about those awful thieves, haters, killers, drunkards, adulterers, gossips, and liars.  And don't forget about lust, jealousy, idolatry, and those who cause God's little children to stumble.  I refresh your memory on that last one.  It says better they were not born

One Of My Rare Kudos To The People's Republic Of China

In a very compelling, tragic, and yet triumphant news development from China, the police there brought a six-month long criminal investigation to a dramatic conclusion this week by arresting over 600 people suspected of being involved in nationwide human trafficking activities. In the process of nabbing the suspects, the police also rescued nearly 200 children, who were placed in protective care. Locating the parents of many of these children could be a long process; in the meantime the children will reside in orphanages under the care of female police officers.


The Chines criminal investigation was a complex operation – approximately five thousand police officers and investigators were utilized in a very closely coordinated effort. Suspects, who were spread across that nation, were arrested in numerous raids conducted simultaneously throughout China.

The investigation was sparked by a seemingly routine car accident; however, responding officers noticed something amiss. Inquiry (pardon my ignorance of Chinese police interrogation procedure) turned up information of not one, but two separate, national child-trafficking organizations. The ensuing police investigation not only brought about the collapse of both criminal organizations, but ultimately, the arrest of both top bosses, one of whom was a female.

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security emphasized the government’s stance against human trafficking, citing a zero-tolerance policy. All of those suspects convicted of human trafficking will not only face jail time, but financial penalties as well. The government believes that the loss of liberty, as well as of all possessions and wealth associated with profit from criminal activities, will act as a deterrent to those contemplating similar activities.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, Chinese police have rescued more than 18,000 children and at least 35,000 women since the government’s crackdown on human trafficking commenced in 2009. While many of the victims are destined for the national and international sex trade, a significant number were targeted for slave labor in China as well. Around the world, there may be as many as 30 million current victims of human trafficking. I certainly do not agree with many of China’s domestic and foreign policies, but that government’s commitment to doing its part in preventing human trafficking is commendable.

Karate, Laser "I"s, and College Football

Recently (like three days ago) I joined a martial arts "dojo" (Japanese for: a place where one can legally be physically assaulted by someone else who is wearing a "Gi" or "kick your ^*# uniform") so that I could fulfil my dream of learning self-defense, mostly from my wife, who frequently wears a "Gi" or "kick your ^*# uniform" and regularly requests that I serve as a "scarecrow" or dummy (or stupid idiot) while she practices her "cotas" or "methods of kicking my ^*#."

What does this have to do with Football Season?  I will tell you, my friends...by the way, a big hello to everyone, and a special welcome to those reading from such distant points as Latvia, Russia, the United Kingdom, and yes, even China.  And many other places.  I appreciate it so much.  You all have choices but you chose to spend a minute or two here, and for that I am extremely grateful.  And now...back to our story...

When College Football Season started this year, I had in mind two things that I would do to maximize my chances of watching football games when such other attractions as the Food Network and the Cooking Channel were hogging the TV remote.  First, I would program the TV remote so that only...okay, I only THOUGHT about doing that.  Actually what I did was first read the obligatory Dave Campbell's football magazine to gain a better understanding of each of my favorite team's chances of winning the big game (or ANY game, in Marshall's case) so that I would know the "key" games to watch during college football season.  Second, I made a schedule consisting of ONLY the games I wanted to watch, whether college, or the occasional high school game that would be aired during the "Infomercial" prime time (1 AM to 4 AM).  In this way I knew exactly when a "key" game would be televised.

Next, I scheduled all my other activities so that these activities would occur during football "downtime."  Included in the "all my other activities" category are the primary activities of sleeping, and keeping my "office chair" warm by resting my posterior very effectively in the seat cushion.  Secondary activities on my list include breathing, "honey dews," physical activity, reading, more "honey dews," and outdoor activities.  In this way I managed to "get things done around the house" as well as use very little precious TV time.

Having strategically sorted through and prioritized the games I wanted to watch, AND having done, or at least attempted, most of the "honey dews," as well as accomplishing secondary activities, including breathing, I was now set up to use the true tactic that would successfully defeat my spouse's arguments, even overriding her burning desire to see who got "Chopped,"  That true tactic, my friends, is of course...guilt. Yes, GUILT!  The Guilt Application works at least 98% of the time, and in many cases the Spouse does not even realize she has been guilted at all.  My spouse relents, lets me watch another football game, and even "apologizes" by making supper, snacks, and drinks.

So it is Saturday night, 7:00 PM Central Time.  LSU has just  lined up on the field, the ball is kicked and in the air, and the entire Tigers kick-off team is pouncing on the hapless Western Kentucky receiver, when my spouse walks into the room and cheerily announces, "It's time. We have to go."  I say, "Ummm....have to go?  Have to go where?"  "Honey, don't be silly.  It's karate fight night...again."  I, reactivating the Guilt Application, say," But Sweetie, I just spent all day with the honey dews.  Everything is done.!"  I then turn on the poor, lonesome, starving, homeless kitten look (which works hand in hand with the Guilt Tactic) and say, "And I have hardly watched ANY television.  See, I let you watch all those cooking shows even though football (Llewegie University versus Tembuk College - a real thriller of a game) was on.  You go on to fight night, Sweetie, and I will watch the football game.  Or better, why not pop a bunch of popcorn and watch the game with me?  I know the office chair would be too crowded but we could sit on the couch in front of the television!"

At about this point I notice that the Guilt Application is suddenly not effective.  What can it be?!  Is she wearing a leaded warm-up set?  Sweetie says, "YOU SAID YOU WOULD GO WITH ME TO FIGHT NIGHT!"  Here is where the warning bell began sounding somewhere in the deeper recesses of my brain.  I wonder, DID I promise her I would go to fight night with her? Did I PROMISE her I would go to fight night?  What was I THINKING?

My spouse, meanwhile, has deployed a tactic of her own.  This tactic is known as the "I'm A Yellow Belt In Karate Reminder Tactic."  Sweetie has suddenly moved to within arm's length of my face as well as certain more vital areas.  She then takes the "Ready Stance" while at the same time utilizing another tactic, the Laser "I" Tactic, which of course works hand in hand with the I'm A Yellow Belt In Karate Reminder Tactic.  When these two tactics are employed together, the results can be excruciatingly painful and permanent.  These tactics, when combined, are also quite effective in restoring temporarily lost short-term memory.  Sweetie's eyes, still in laser mode, were locked into my own, and she was now employing that very familiar Bruce Lee/Chuck Norris Redesign Your Face stance.  It was at this point that I remembered that I might have jokingly suggested  that I would go with her to fight night at the dojo if there was nothing on TV worth watching.   Now, I can assure you that when your spouse or significant other has employed the "I Have A Yellow Belt In Karate Reminder Tactic"  and the Laser "I" Tactic, your memory of two or three weeks ago is suddenly crystal clear.  That was the case with me.  I suddenly and clearly remembered I had indeed promised her that I would go to fight night with her.

I retrieved my gear bag from the bedroom.  When I returned I heard loud cheering and excited commentary coming from the television.  The announcer said, "That was the classic fade and pass, and the entire Western Kentucky defense fell for it!  What a play!  And now the PAT is up, it's good!  The Tigers are trouncing Western Kentucky.  It is only four minutes into the first quarter and already the score is the Tigers..."  CLICK.  Dead air.  The front door was already open and Sweetie was on the stairway headed out.  Oh, I admit I was tempted to turn the TV back on for just a second, just to hear the score, but that temptation was very short-lived.  For you see, whenever an angry spouse utilizes both the I'm A Yellow Belt In Karate Reminder Tactic and the Laser "I" Tactic, the loser is rarely College Football.

The Texas Tech Roller Coaster Ride, or A Die-Hard Red Raider Fan

I am sorry if I seem a little out of sorts today, but you see, I am a Die-Hard Red Raider Fan.  GUNS UP!!  I first became enthralled with the Raider as a teenager.  I worked at a service station (those antique institutions in which a human attendant approached your car in the driveway and asked "Fill 'er up?  Check under the hood?") on Saturdays during my high school years.  During football season the radio was always tuned to Red Raider football.  I was into rock and roll then, but the radio was on country as per the owner, and as my roots were well grounded in country music, I was able to tolerate country for a few hours.  Actually I like old country and was therefore really annoyed when the music was interrupted by football games. 

On one particular Saturday, business was really slow.  I had done all of the things service station boys did, such as washing off the driveway, cleaning spilled grease, and assorted other oily tasks, and had no alternative but to walk into the office and listen to radio.  Texas Tech was playing the Houston Cougars.  The game turned out to be a real nail-biter with Tech finally coming from behind to win with a field goal.  The Red Raiders were such an exciting, explosive team that after that game I was hooked.  But I learned that being a Red Raider fan could certainly have its ups and downs.  Some of those "downs" happened after some very high "ups."  For instance, the very NEXT Saturday the Red Raiders went to Arkansas and got their behinds handed to them by the Razorbacks to the tune of 49 to 7.  The only positive thing to say was that at least the Red Raiders had killed the skunk.

A Red Raider fan had better learn early  on to get in the roller coaster seat and buckle up.  The highs will be HIGH and the lows will be nearly ninety-degree drops.  The good thing is that there is usually not a flat bottom, but just another 180 bend and then a 5 G-force blast back to the top.  The most recent example of course was the Red Raider's victory over OU on October 21.  The Sooners were then the number one ranked team in College Football.  What a great victory, even though this game too was a nail-biter.  But the Red Raiders were on a high, and with good reason.  They had hung on and knocked off the Sooners against all odds!

But the very NEXT week, the Red Raiders dove straight down the roller coaster, losing to the Iowa State Cyclones 41 - 7.  What a bummer!  The Die-Hard fans hit that curve with Red Raiders...only this curve DID prove to be a little flatter than the last.  The Raiders have now lost three games by at least twenty points.  But they lost Saturday's game against the Oklahoma State University Cowboys BIG TIME.  The final score was 66-6!  This was the worst margin of defeat in the history of the Red Raider football program.  And there is still more bad news.  The Red Raiders still face two good teams, the Missouri Tigers and those remarkable Baylor Bears, under the direction of Robert Griffin III.  The good news is that, depending on WHICH Red Raider team shows up, these final two games could be very exciting.

I have to wonder, at this point, if Coach Tuberville is giving some thought to whether he is sitting in the head-coach chair or the ejection seat.  2011 has certainly been a Tale of Two Seasons for the Red Raiders.  I am sure that no one is more aware of this than Coach Tuberville, except for maybe Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt and some of the Tech alumni.  Could they be getting a little antsy for a return to the Tech glory days under Mike Leach?  On the other hand, Coach Tuberville has great credentials, being the former Auburn head coach.  The two remaining games of the regular season are of great importance, both for Tuberville and the Red Raiders, and for Die-Hard Fans, like me.  The roller coaster is still rolling on the flat track at the moment.  I just hope the real Red Raiders show up at these last games.  I can tell you there is nothing like that sudden 5 G-force, 90 degree curve in the rails that will fire the Red Raiders back to the top, then...who knows what will be waiting at the next bend of the rails!!

So, Die-Hard Red Raiders Fans, suck in your guts, let go of your safety grips...and GUNS UP, RED RAIDERS!

 

My Fiftieth Veteran's Day: A Big Thanks To America's Heroes

As a child, my favorite holidays were of course Christmas, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving.  Oh yeah, my own birthday was a big one, too.  But, I have to confess that there were a couple of holidays that I just did not get as excited about.  Memorial Day, for instance, and Veteran's Day.  I just did not understand why my parents were so excited about going to see a bunch of old soldiers walk down the street in a parade, or listen to these same men, and some of their wives, make boring speeches on the courthouse lawn.  Lots of other people got excited about these same things.  I wonder if their children were as bored then as I was.  I mean no fireworks, no big feasts, and of course, no presents!

In my teen years and even into early adulthood, while I began to understand more about why these days were special, I appreciated these holidays more because I sometimes got out of school for the parade, and because Memorial Day meant that summer vacation was just about here! Soon I would be able to spend the days out on the old dairy land, or at least spend the days just having fun, whether I made it out to the dairy or not.

Yes, I was a somewhat oblivious child as far as the meaning of Veteran's Day, but even back then, back in the Sixties, I was aware of my grandmother being worried all the time.  I did not really understand her pain or fear, I just knew that she sometimes burst into tears for no reason.  When a strange car would come down the little road to her house, I would see her strain to see the car's markings, or what the occupants looked like.  Only later did I realize she was trying to see if there were military men inside the vehicle, for that could mean only one thing.  You see, my uncle, John Snoddy, Jr, was serving at that time in a place with a really strange name: Viet Nam.  Uncle Junior was a Marine...not drafted, but a volunteer to that service.  And my grandmother feared the arrival of that dark green sedan that several of her neighbors had seen.  Uncle Junior was in Viet Nam.  Each day he was there was another day of worry for my grandmother, another gray hair, another wrinkle on her sweet face.

God only knows the pain and fear she and so many other mothers felt during the Viet Nam years.  And I have no clear concept of what my uncle went through, what he experienced, the terror in which he lived every day, and yes, every night.  Uncle Junior of course would not tell a little boy of the horrors and death in Viet Nam, of the sacrifices our men and women made there.  Maybe he did not talk about it to anyone.  I don't know.  All I know is that one day he came back to his mother's house, and my grandmother cried so much, and hugged him, like the Prodigal Son.  Only later have I come to realize the great joy and relief felt by my grandmother, and by so many other parents, when their children returned from a war nobody really wanted in a land no one had even heard of before.  But Uncle Junior and other men and women like him answered the call to service.  Even today, I cannot say what the point and purpose of the Viet Nam War might have served, I can only marvel and be so grateful for those who served there.

With maturity and understanding came the knowledge that not every soldier came home from Viet Nam.  So many parents and wives had to watch that dark sedan drive slowly toward them.  God help them when the car stopped at their driveway.  The officers in the car did not have to say a word, really.  It was obvious.  This mom and dad had lost their soldier.  The handshake from the officers, the letter they bore, just made it official.  Their soldier was gone.  How many people have gone through this shattering experience over the years? The number is not really within comprehension.  But still some brave men and women have answered, and will answer, the call to serve their country while the majority of able-bodied persons choose to remain on the side.

I have seen the pictures on Facebook, the photographs of our parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, that served with honor in two great wars, and in the many smaller conflicts that just never seem to end.  But without the sacrifices those people made, it is safe to say that our country would soon cease to exist as a free nation, a shining shrine of freedom to the rest of the world.  I have talked with another uncle, only briefly, who was damned proud, as he said, to have been called to serve in the Army in World War II.  He, like Uncle Junior, did not talk to a little boy about the things he saw.  Instead, he spoke proudly of the role the United States played in defeating Hitler, and about how proud he was of his generation.  He did tell me a little of the cold he endured in Europe, but he talked more of the sacrifices his family had made at home due to all the rationing and saving that made the war effort possible.  My spouse's grandfather served in Europe also, and literally came within an inch of losing his life when he was shot in the leg, the bullet just missing the artery.

Now, havin seen fifty Veteran's Days come and go, I, having never served in the military, have yet come to realize and understand (as much as one who has not been there CAN understand) what all of our soldiers have gone through.  In some small way I feel their fear, their uncertainty, but also their desire to serve, and their pride in serving this nation.  It is this small portion of understanding that lets me finally grasp the true meaning of Memorial Day, and of today...Veteran's Day.  The men and women of our military have a fierce pride in serving their nation - which of course means YOU and ME - and a fierce and undying loyalty to Flag, and To The Republic, For Which It Stands.  It is with great humbleness and gratitude that I salute today all United States veterans, both old and young, who have served this nation with the knowledge that each day they served could be their last.  It is not too much trouble, as it once was, for me to stop for a moment and honor our Veterans, to stand at the street side as they march in parade, to listen to their speeches, and to just walk up and shake their hands.  Because of them we still have our America, and will, for generations to come.

Hot Air Talks About Paterno

Being a blogger of “Hot Air,” of course there is no way I can remain silent about the firing of Joe Paterno. First of all, let me say that I do not disagree that Penn State had to make some changes. In the face of the Penn State Administration’s failure to go to the police with their suspicion, and all the heartache and pain that has happened more or less as a result of this failure to act, change was needed. What I am particularly outraged about is the way that the national press, scores of prominent and not-so-prominent sportscasters, and many talking heads across the media have attacked Joe Paterno, almost as if HE were the sick man that assaulted all those boys. So I would like to point out that Joe Paterno did not molest any children.  Yes, Paterno did not call the police on the spot, but let’s look at what he DID after learning of Sandusky attacking and raping a young boy in the Penn State locker rooms.

Assistant Coach Mike McQueary interrupted Sandusky in the act of raping a ten-year-old boy. McQueary went to Joe Paterno, and the two men went together to the administration where McQueary repeated his observations. So, obviously now, Joe Paterno, a third-party (or hearsay) witness, had pretty much fulfilled his reporting obligation. Remember that two school officials are now in legal difficulties for their failure to act, including Vice-President Gary Schultz. Pennsylvania state law REQUIRES the ranking official of an institution who is notified of suspected child abuse TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT his suspicions or information directly to Pennsylvania Child Welfare Services. In other words, neither McQueary nor Joe Paterno were required to report what McQueary had seen, because they notified both Athletic Director Tim Curley and College Vice-President Schultz of the child abuse.  On the other hand, Schultz WAS REQUIRED BY LAW to do so IMMEDIATELY, as he was the ranking school official notified of the incident.

A state police official later 1) acknowleded that Joe Paterno was not legally obligated to report the Sandusky attack (for the reasons mentioned above), and 2) stated that Paterno had suffered a “moral lapse” because he did not report the incident to police.  But when one reviews Paterno’s actions and the legal requirements placed on ranking school officials, it suddenly begins to look like a not-so-cut-and-dried indictment against Paterno. But Penn State officials needed to “act, and act quickly” (to quote Mel Brooks) to protect themselves and their jobs in the face of the coming and justified public outrage. Firing the college president and vice-president was appropriate and justified. Firing the athletic director was maybe not so justified, but understandable, as he also was a ranking school official. Firing Joe Paterno, however, was overkill…but perhaps Penn State officials believed that the public clamor (as well as media screaming) could be quelled by the sacrifice of one more high-profile individual. Coach fired, case closed. Perhaps Joe Paterno should have himself gone to the police, and taken McQueary with him. That is something that Joe Paterno will live with the rest of his life, as will McQueary.

Joe Paterno’s great accomplishments and great generosity to the staff and students of Penn State will now be overshadowed by the Sandusky scandal that resulted in Paterno’s downfall. But when one steps back from the clamor and the self-righteous finger-pointing, the light of calm reason that shines on the situation is quite revealing. The truth is that Joe Paterno lost his job, but more importantly, his life-earned reputation and dignity, because the Penn State administrators left standing in the wake of the scandal needed a large, impenetrable shield to hide behind. Unfortunately, that shield was Joe “JoePa” Paterno.

A Positive Attitude and A Visit (Someday) to Brunei

Hmmm…what to blog about today? There are so many topics that are just begging for attention, so many interesting and outrageous things going on in the nation and the world. Most of the subjects that are yapping about my heels for attention are what my wife would call “negative” in nature, as indeed she calls my own “nature” as well. I have to admit that maybe I do focus on negative things in many of my blogs. Of course one reason I focus on negative things is that positive things rarely need to be “fixed.” On the other hand, I know that if a person focuses primarily on the negative things in life, the positive things are soon taken for granted.


On the positive side of things, this dry, parched, arid piece of heaven got some much-needed rain last night. No, it was not enough to end the drought, but it certainly was plenty to provide for the needs of lots of birds and animals, and the cacti and mesquite will certainly be a beautiful shade of green for a few days. As for this blog, a positive thing happened when I noticed that one person who honored me very much by visiting my blog had done so from a computer in Brunei!

Now let me note here that I appreciate all my readers equally, but one of the highlights of my blogging experience is seeing where my readers reside. I have made it an ongoing practice to try to learn at least a nutshell bit of knowledge of the states and nations that I know very little about. When I saw that this particular visitor’s location was in Brunei, I was very surprised…and a little ashamed. I confess that I literally had to go to the emap (no globe in the house) and find this tiny nation. As I expected, Brunei is a very exotic (to me, anyway) spot in Southeast Asia. It is a tiny nation of around 400,000 people, and occupies a small portion of the Borneo Island. Brunei is surrounded on three sides by Malaysia, and bordered on the forth side by the South China Sea. This nation is a Muslim nation, and in fact is a sultanate.

Tourists visit Brunei for its beaches, water recreation, and for tours into the remote and pristine rainforests. Probably a very major tourist attraction is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque located in the village of Kampong Ayer. Both are major landmarks in themselves. The Sultan’s Mosque is a magnificent structure that will definitely inspire awe. But the other attraction is the fact that Kampong Ayer is a city (or village) built entirely over water. It is a self-sufficient village with all the facilities and amenities one would expect in any town. The other major attractions are the nations national parks in the rainforests and mountains. I am personally attracted by one of the national parks in which the government has constructed a walkway at the canopy level of the rainforests. I guess I have added Brunei to my “bucket list.”

There are many sights to see around the world, and even though they require travel outside the nation of Texas, I would love to see them one day. I have had some travels myself, venturing as far north as Chicago, as far west as California, and east to North Carolina. These trips are the extent of my international travels. But I would love to see Scotland, England, Latvia, Belise, and so many other places. And now, I have added Brunei to that list. Incidentally I would like to add one more fun tidbit to the Brunei mystique. The complete name of this nation is Negara Brunei Darrussalam, or, in English, The Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace. The history of this small sultanate belies that name, as attested by the numerous wars, the loss of empire, the Japanese Occupation of World War II, and the years as a protectorate of the United Kingdom. But the nation once again regained its independence in 1984. Perhaps Brunei will be at peace for many years to come, as all members of the United Nations recognize it as a sovereign nation. Who knows? Maybe one day I will send you a post card from Kampong Ayer, Negara Brunei Darussalam.

The Heartbreak of AARP

(Before reading - Please understand I have nothing against AARP, and in fact will probably be a member before long)

I turned fifty in July of this year.  I made sure it was a low-profile birthday celebration, mainly by not mentioning the fact to anyone.  But SOMEONE knew my age anyway.  I have no idea who this particular someone could be, but I do know that in only about forty-eight hours I began receiving that dreaded piece of junk mail, yes, THAT one.  Someone must have called the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and clued them in to that just past great milestone in my life - the big 50. 

Mind you, I have nothing against AARP, as I mentioned above.  What really guts me is the fact that I am old enough to be a member.  I guess if I joined AARP now, I would only be an "honorary" retired person as I am not, in fact, retired or old enough (OR RICH ENOUGH...grrrr...) to do so at the moment.  I know several people who have made it to retirement age, and others who made it to retirement wealth.  I am in neither group.  My lovely bride tells me she will not retire at 62 as she loves her work so much.  She also would not retire if she were wealthy enough at this moment to do so...because...she loves her work.  Me...not so much.  I can think of a few things I would be doing at this moment besides sitting at a desk, if I were "retired."  Speaking of the big 50, I think I might start there...as in Hawaii.

But back to the story...
I really do not like the fact that I am "eligible" for membership in AARP.  I like even less the fact that there is nothing I can do about my age.  And the alternative to getting older, of course, is not palatable, either.  Fifty has happened to every one who is fifty plus one day or older.  And, pending an earlier demise, it will happen to everyone who is now reveling in his or her youth.  Yes, my young friend...this will happen to you.  You may use all the Oil of Olay you would like.  It does not matter.  That certain piece of "junk mail" will eventually find you.  And yes, my friend, it IS heartbreaking.  You are now one of "them," one of those ''fuddy duds" that annoyed you so much when you were twenty.

But let me tell you one thing that changes...maybe not the very day you turn fifty, maybe it starts settling in a few years earlier, or  a few months.  That change is your perspective.  You realize that you are not "old."  You are "just" fifty.  You still have a few good years left.  And then it hits you.  Fifty-five is not old at all.  And sixty? Well, that is not the ancient age it once was.  Plus...now you are getting some really good deals from AARP!  Life is not all bad...

A Few Numbers For You

Today, my friends, I would like for you to spend a few minutes with me while I run a few numbers by you for your consideration. Don’t worry – you do not have to take notes, and there is no pop quiz following this blog. Just stay with me, ruminate over the facts and figures you are about to receive, and then join me, if you want, in sitting around and pouting because you did not receive a “bailout” when the banks, auto-makers, and at least one crooked company received theirs. Maybe you could also join me in yelling “It’s MY money and I want it NOW!” Wait, don’t yell that phrase. I believe a major financial firm has it trademarked. But we can yell, “I am a taxpayer! Why doesn’t the government bail ME out NOW?” After all, it is about time for a “taxpayer bailout,” don’t you think?


So here are the numbers I wanted to relate to you. First, let’s talk about what must surely be one of the greatest (most expensive, that is) bailouts in history – the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). In 2008 we (the people) were told that banks were failing across the United States, and that mostly it was because the banks had made bad loans (read loans that were made to people who obviously could not repay these loans). The banks had also lost assets around the world through various bad investments. I realize the picture was much more complicated, but these are the main points. Big Bankers were able to convince BIG Government that the sky would fall and the world would collapse if the Big Banks were not bailed out by Big Government. There is only one problem with this scenario. Big Government has no money. Not to fear, Big Government simply used taxes (OUR MONEY) to bail out the banks. So…in 2008, the Bank Bailout (TARP) was unveiled, at the supposed cost of a mere $300 BILLION DOLLARS!

Not surprisingly, as the money started flowing to the banks, US car makers also realized THEY were on the brink of bankruptcy, as well. Being a much smaller segment of Big Business than were the banks, the car makers were content to ask for ONLY $34 Billion. By the way, remember what they had to go through, what with the Congressional investigations and all? Anyway, long story short the Big Three car makers in fact received their bailouts. Thankfully (I guess!) the $34 billion for the car makers was generously taken from the TARP fund rather than ripped out of the empty holes in our pockets. Congress made the various chief executive officers of the respective car makers more or less jump through several hoops in effort to convince Congress that they would repay the loans. Someone may need to fill me in here, because I have found no information indicating that the banks paid back their loans, or were ever expected to. I hope I AM wrong about that one. At least one car maker paid the loans back in full. Others are continuing to pay so that they can buy back their companies from the government.  I would like to mention here that the Congressional Budget Office in 2010 stated that TARP costs had actually exceeded $700 billion.

Another number I would like to put on your plate this evening is the federally guaranteed loan that the Obama administration made to an innovative high tech and forward thinking company known as Solyndra. This company, a producer of solar cells, received a federal loan (OUR MONEY, AGAIN!!) to underwrite their production of these solar cells. Unfortunately Solyndra had to file for bankruptcy. Not only that, but the FBI commenced a criminal investigation and confiscated the records and property of this company pending the outcome of the investigation. I don’t know about you, but I wonder why the financial status of Solyndra did not preclude them from receiving a loan of any kind. But this was not just any loan, no, this loan was in the amount of $535 million. What, only half a BILLION! We should not worry about that one at all! After all, it is not even a drop in the bucket of the federal bailout machine.

These numbers are examples of the way the current Administration is being "responsible" with your money (taxes).  I hope you can see that we cannot continue as a nation in this out-of-control and endless spending, which of course is followed by ever increasing taxes and fees.  No matter who serves as President, no matter who is in Congress, we as American people must regain the reins of fiscal control while there is still an America to save.

Presidents, UFO's, and Mysteries That Remain Unsolved

The good thing about cable vision (do we call it that anymore?) is that with two hundred and something channels with nothing on, there are still usually one or two shows that one might actually want to watch.  If the one who might want to watch that one show has special interests, such as a desire to learn about some of the more obscure aspects of American history, a selection of the History Channel, History Channel 2, History HD, etc., means the odds are good that at least one history show of interest is on.  Tonight I was not disappointed.

As I surfed the upper reaches of Tele Land I ran across a very interesting title flashed across the "info" screen.  The particular program was about our Presidents who were seriously interested in the scientific investigations of UFO's.  It turns out that our chief executives, from Truman to Bush II, have had at least passing interests in discovering the "truth" about flying saucers.  Unfortunately none of these Presidents have had their curiosity satisfied.  Apparently there are some secrets even the President is not privy to.  Surprisingly one of the most aggressive Presidents in this regard was William Clinton.  While he made a joke about it publicly, Mr. Clinton did indeed seek to obtain answers using all his power.  In the end even he was denied access to deeply classified information.  For reasons unknown he never toured Area 51.  So, the mystery of UFO's and the secrets contained in America's most closely guarded vaults were never revealed to our top brass.

In West Texas, there is another place of magic and mystery that has never been explained.  In an isolated spot on Highway 90 between Marfa and Alpine, people have gathered for years to watch strange phenomena that have come to be known as the Marfa Lights.  While obviously the Marfa Lights are phenomena specific to the triangle formed by Marfa, Alpine, and Presidio, and therefore are not UFO's in the commonly accepted meaning, they are certainly just as mysterious.  I have witnessed the Marfa Lights on two separate occasions myself, and to skeptics who say that they are optical illusions caused by car headlights on the Presidio Highway, I would like say A) when you explain to me how these lights dance around the top of radio towers, divide from one to many and back to one, and perform a thousand other antics, and B) explain how Native Americans, Mexicans, and American settlers saw these same "illusions" in the two centuries before automobiles began traveling through the area, I will join you in your skepticism.  Actually, I hope they are never "scientifically explained" because I think our lives are enhanced by the little mysteries here and there that go unsolved through the years.

The Marfa Lights and UFO's are not the only objects of intrigue.  In Texas alone, there are so many mysterious things that our science cannot explain.  Just outside the hill country town of Rockdale, in Milam County, there is a rock wall, now mostly buried, that was obviously built by humans.  Equally obvious is the fact that it demonstrates technology and planning beyond that level reached by the local "Indians."  The wall is believed to be about twenty feet tall at its highest point, and is several feet wide.  This wall is not mentioned in Native American lore in the area, nor in any known accounts of the Spanish explorers of Texas.  The wall created quite a stir when it was "discovered" prior to the turn of the twentieth century by local ranchers.  It was examined by archaeologists and anthropologists during that time, but no explanation was offered.  This find was not to be heralded by later professors to their students, presumably because everyone "knew" that no one was building rock walls in North America prior to the Spanish colonization efforts in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. 

UFO secrets pursued by the Presidents, natural but inexplicable lights in Marfa, mysterious rock walls constructed in the hills of Central Texas; who knows how many more mysteries like these exist in our great nation, and across the globe.  I, for one, hope that some of these mysteries remain just that, mysterious.  UFO's may some day be proved to be just a figment of the human imagination; the Marfa lights, some weird distortion of light across the mountains; and the rock wall, just a practical joke by some traveling band of early Americans with nothing better to do.  Maybe, but I hope not.  Life is, in my humble opinion, enhanced and made so much more interesting when we have a few mysteries to ponder.

Republicans AND Democrats Killed The "Jobs Bill"

The “Jobs Bill” (referred to hereinafter as the Jobs Bill) failed in the Senate last week. Republicans voted against it. “Of course they did!” you might be saying. But several Democrats voted against this bill as well. Just some idiot defectors? Well, I don’t know about “defectors,” but some prominent Democrats were against this measure. Both Senator Harry Reid and Senator Joseph Lieberman voted AGAINST the Jobs Bill. This, I am sure, was a blast to Obama’s ego. Here is what Senator Lieberman had to say:



“If a vote was called on the American Jobs Act as it is now ... I would vote against it,” said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, who voted to proceed with debate Tuesday. “The bottom line here is that I don’t believe the potential in this act for creating jobs justifies adding another $500 billion to our almost $15 trillion national debt.”


I think this quote from Senator Lieberman says it all. Okay, almost all, anyway. There was one more little detail about the Jobs Bill. It turns out very little of the contents of this bill dealt with “creating jobs” (which the government cannot do anyway – except by taking more tax money and “redistributing it”), but instead attempted to bring some changes to the federal tax code. Here is where both Democrats and Republicans found some common ground against Mr. Obama. You see, one way this bill would “create” jobs would be by raising the tax rate for individuals who make more than $200,000 ($250,000 for couples) each year. Oops…er, um…several DEMOCRATS realized THEY were going to get hit by this little proviso. They, along with most of the Republican senators, knew that many individuals and couples fall into the “greater than $200,000 but less than $1,000,000” income range largely because these persons own small businesses, are in upper management, or serve as (ehem…) politicians.

(Free factoid: At least 80% of the jobs in the United States were created by Small Business)

Now, there are many people who are yelling that the “Republicans” killed the Jobs Bill. And of course, the bill would have survived if fewer Republicans had voted against it. But, it also would have survived if a few more Democrats had voted FOR it, as well. You have to admit, if Senator Harry Reid could not vote for this bill, there must have been something TERRIBLY wrong with it. And there was. This bill would have added many billions of dollars to our already unmanageable debt (See Senator Lieberman above). Even Senator Reid is feeling the heat as “the 99%” are getting fed up with the national debt. Granted, a small but loud portion of “the 99%” are busy occupying this place or that, but there is no real focus to their anger. And believe me, I feel the anger right there with them. But the majority of the 99% are just working folks like you and me, who literally don’t have time to “occupy” much of anything except their jobs. And the last thing they want is more taxes, especially the at least $500 BILLION the Jobs Bill proposed to ask (I mean force) the American people to pay.

A Semi-Skeptic Who Wants To Believe

Today, we (the people of the United States) find ourselves in a predicament.  The predicament is that less than twenty-four hours ago we learned that various federal agencies, including the alphabet soup under the jurisdiction of the US Justice Department, had arrested two Muslims extremists and foiled a terrorist plot that was more intriguing than any Hollywood movie.  We were told that the two extremists, both with ties to Iran (one rumoured to be a member of the Iranian secret police, the other a naturalized citizen of the United States), had attempted to secure the assassination of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, and the Israeli Ambassador as well, with the help of the Zeta Drug Cartel of Mexico.  On top of that, some type of bombing plan was thwarted as well.  Praise and accolades are due the men and women of our various federal agencies that stopped this horrible plot in its tracks.  Except that in the back of my mind, I wonder if we are being told the truth about this incident.  I want so badly to believe the employees of the Justice Department in regards to this great victory over terrorism.  Why can't I accept this information without a nagging feeling of suspicion in my gut?

On the very same day that we learned about the thwarted terrorist plot, we find that the United States Congress is up in arms because the very same United States Justice Department has been caught in several lies about the now infamous Operation Fast and Furious, the gun-running sting in Mexico that went awry.  The top person caught in these lies is in fact the top person in the Justice Department, Attorney General Eric Holder.  He clearly told the Senate investigation panel that he had no knowledge of the facts etc, etc, etc, but then memos were located that indicate Mr. Holder was fully aware of Operation Fast and Furious, and aware that that operation had mushroomed out of control.  In fact, and unfortunately, the very guns that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tax, and Firearms (BATF), along with cooperating members of the DEA, had "smuggled" into Mexico as part of Operation Fast and Furious, had been "lost" after getting into the hands of known Mexican drug cartel members.  Even MORE unfortunate, the lost guns turned up in crimes, including the murder of an unarmed United States federal agent in Mexico, and the attempted murder of his partner.  The investigation into this disaster continues.  Equally tragic, Mexican police officers and other Mexican officials have also been killed by these "bait" weapons.

The investigation into Operation Fast and Furious continues, as does the investigation into the plans of the two terrorists mentioned in the opening paragraph.  And my point is that on the one hand, we (the People) are called upon to believe that the two terrorists embarked on the assassination and bombing attempts with the full knowledge and aid of the Iranian government.  After all, the Justice Department told us so.  At the same time, we are called upon to believe that the Attorney General and those high up in the Justice Department WERE NOT aware of Operation Fast and Furious and the fact that guns were lost to the drug cartels and were now being used to kill Mexican and American law enforcement officials.  The Justice Department told us so.  Unfortunately, I do not believe we can believe anything the Justice Department has told us about the Iranian-sponsored terrorist plot.  This really bothers me, because I want to think our government is as honest with us as is possible in light national security concerns.

You ask why I do not simply accept the word of the Justice Department that the terrorist plot was thwarted?  First, because as I have already demonstrated, getting the truth from the Justice Department is not easy.  You might even say it takes "an Act of Congress" to get at the facts. 

Second, I would like to point out that the terrorists have been successfully completing their "plots" for decades, and have NEVER involved the Mexican drug cartels.  But we learned yesterday that the Iranian plotters were not able to carryout more or less "routine" assassinations, but now have to turn to the Zetas for their help. 

Third, I would also like to point out that the United States has been growling at Iran for some time now.  Maybe there are justifiable reasons.  In fact, I think the BIG justifiable reason would be that Iran is just a year or two away from coming up with a viable nuclear weapon.  We are all aware of the very unstable personality of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nut-case ruler of Iran.  I think that our own president could make a case for a legal declaration of war against Iran based on self-defense of the entire "rest of the world."  Even the Russian and the Chinese governments do not want a maniac like Ahmadinejad to have his finger on one of those terrible little red buttons.  So there really is no need for dishonesty in regards to Iran.

I am deeply concerned that we as a nation cannot trust the word of our government officials.  We cannot trust their word when they say they are not involved in some crime.  Neither can we trust the word of the government when they tell us that thus and such is plotting against the United States.  In fact, it is pretty damned hard to believe anything that comes to us from "official sources."  Maybe Attorney General Holder is not lying to Congress.  And maybe our government would not make up an incident to provoke a war with Iran.  Unfortunately, I find myself to be a reluctant semi-skeptic who wants to believe.
 

Drones, Missiles - And the United States Constitution

A few days ago in the Middle Eastern nation of Yemen, two American citizens and several Yemeni natives were killed after a CIA drone located their vehicle. A military jet then fired a missile at the vehicle, killing everyone inside. Now, of course I read, watch, and listen to the news, and of course I know that these people were all presumed (by the United States government – this time in the form of the CIA) to be terrorists and sworn enemies of the United States. In fact the two Americans killed in the attack had already participated in acts of terror (we are told). As we sometimes say in my ancestral home, these people “prob'ly needed killin’.” Of course this is not the first drone-led attack on terrorists; in fact, many times drones are armed, negating the need for a human-piloted military aircraft altogether. Drone attacks, as well as the occasional firing of a missile or two from Navy ships, have gone on at least since 9/11, the official beginning of the War On Terror. Oh yes, even Bill Clinton ordered a couple of them fired. Lately, though, I have to admit that I have been concerned and dismayed at these incidents.


I am not soft on “terror,” as I can hear it being shouted across the Internet. I am just beginning to understand the implications of these so-called precision strikes. And now, two American citizens, suspected terrorists or not, were intentionally killed without any sort of “due process.” Again I can hear people shouting, “Oh, you are just concerned now because AMERICANS are being killed!” Well, no…I was concerned already, but even more so where American civil rights are concerned. But there are others who hold the view that the two Americans were in a FOREIGN NATION and were obviously (again, per the CIA) engaged in planning terrorist activities. There are at least ten editorials that I know of that are calling people who feel the way I do “misguided” and defending Federal Government actions as “legitimate.” The Dallas Morning News and the Kansas Star contain two such editorials. These editorials laud the Government’s actions since an apparently severe blow has once again been dealt to Al-Qaeda. Here is one sample:



A drone attack last week killed two high-ranking Americans inside al-Qaida. While the killings have prompted some concerns among civil rights advocates here, it should be noted that there was virtually no protest on Middle Eastern streets.

The fact that this attack didn't raise eyebrows in the Muslim world is an encouraging sign that popular support for al-Qaida's doctrine of violence is fading. A rocket launched from a drone destroyed a vehicle carrying Anwar al-Awlaki, who inspired the 2009 Fort Hood attack and the "underwear bomber," and Samir Khan, who was a vital English language recruiter and published the al-Qaida magazine Inspire. Both were American citizens, but both were also sworn enemies of the United States.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/05/3188291/commentary-a-legitimate-strike.html#ixzz1ZvpJju9n

(In case you missed it, note that the writer of the above editorial believes it is "okay" to kill others as long as the people in the concerned nation "didn't raise an eyebrow.")

By the way, it is even difficult to get the details down for certain. One account I have seen stated that the drone led a US military jet to the “target” while the account above says the drone itself fired the missile. I suppose it does not really matter, and each account is certainly possible with today’s military technology.

Why am I concerned, you may ask? Good, I am glad you asked that question. One reason I am concerned is that two US citizens, as much as we disliked them, were tried by missile and condemned, with no chance of appeal. Now, I will grant that standard criminal prosecution was not appropriate. A military tribunal should have tried the two, but even that measure is out of the question at this time. Not that I am defending terrorists! I just believe our Constitution is still in effect, even after 9/11. Some may say that the two Americans were not in America, and therefore were not “covered” by the Constitution. To that, I will say that the American Government (again, in the form of the CIA) was acting against two AMERICANS.  Last time I checked, our rights were inalienable, remember? 

Another reason I am concerned about this incident is that it is another instance in which the United States acted in a way that could be construed as an act of war against another sovereign nation.  Yemen is a small nation, but it is still a sovereign nation.  I know little about Yemen except what I read, see, and hear on the news; that being that Yemen is a hot bed of terrorist activity. Plus, Yemen is a largely lawless, “tribal-“type land where the legitimate government is only nominally in control. Yet who are we, as a nation, I mean, to take it upon ourselves to violate another nation’s sovereignty? I only ask this because I know for a fact that I would be outraged beyond all description, if, say, Cuba fired a missile into the United States to take out a “terrorist” target. Even if the targeted person were justifiably killed, I would demand that war be declared against Cuba. The same with England, Israel, or any other nation. Our nation is sovereign, but so are the other nations. Of course we know that Yemen will not declare war on the United States in this case. But I have to wonder if these two men would have been killed if they had been spotted driving down a country road in England? What about strolling along outside the Kremlin? I doubt it! Russia, with what was left of its old military machine, would have retaliated immediately.

Additionally, I wonder what sort of image OUR nation is presenting to the world. I mean, I get it, we must be perceived as being “tough on Terror.” But at this point I am starting to think there may well be two kinds of terror. The first kind of terror is that which most of the world has known for quite some time, and to which we, the US, were exposed with the 9/11 attacks. But the second kind of terror may be a new and growing apprehension in which people around the world begin to wonder if they are safe from US, the United States. Many citizens of nations such as Afghanistan and, yes, even Yemen, know that they live day by day beside extremists who are no doubt plotting death and mayhem around the world. They must only hope that they are not standing too close to any suspected terrorists should a missile be fired from a CIA drone or a US military jet. They can only pray that the person piloting the drone can differentiate between law-abiding citizens and the intended target.

Finally, I have to wonder how long it will be until US drones are turned against United States citizens on UNITED STATES SOIL! That is certainly not as outlandish and impossible as it may sound. The CIA, as a “secret” agency, could easily carryout clandestine operations in the United States. But it won’t, you say? Just read about the CIA-NYPD connection, then see if you still feel the same. The thought that lingers in my mind is that the terrorists are winning the War On Terror. I say this because we, the American People, have been conditioned now to accept these “small” violations of international law in the name of “National Security.” And even more distressing, we have allowed our liberty here at home to erode as we give away more and more of our rights in return for “security,” US Government-style.

The End of An Era...I Mean A Long Road Trip!

Child B is now safely in Midland. That is a very comforting thought, but it was so much better to see her live and in person rather than just reading the text. So about 8:00 PM or so Child A and Child B popped in at the same time. What a family reunion! Child B was in possession of a seashell she had liberated from the sands of Surfside Beach, but more than that, she had a collection of memories that will last her a lifetime.


This past Wednesday, Child B rode from the Houston area back to Central Texas, to the ancestral home of both parents. She spent the part of the day with her grandmother and part of the day with her uncle, the Woodsman and Naturalist. I am sure between the Woodsman and Child B, many deeper layers of thought were exposed to the light of pragmatic rumination. This is something at which both Child B and the Woodsman are quite adept. But after a short afternoon of pragmatic ruminating, Child B was treated by Uncle Number 2 (on THIS side of the family) to lunch at a local restaurant owned and operated by another cousin. My, isn’t this story full of uncles and cousins. I almost wonder if there weren’t a couple of really cold winters in the late fifties…

It turns out that while Child B, in the company of Uncle Number 2, ran into two classmates of mine, Nancy and Clark Burns, the proud owners of Sawdust and Splinters. They all happened into The Feed Mill at about the same time. The Feed Mill, of course, is the restaurant owned and operated by my cousin (yes, cousin!) Ricky Snoddy, and his wife, Tana. Of course chicken fried steak was on the menu for the meal. I will have to get down there and try one myself, being a chicken fried steak connoisseur of some renown. That is a subject for another blog. Anyway, Child B and Clark Burns were soon involved in discussing motorcycles and riding, and EXTENDED rides. Thanks, Clark!! To be fair, I am sure Child B would have come up with plans for another extended ride on her own.

Child B spent the remainder of her time with her cousins, and cousin-SO Melanie. I, not being the hovering parent, was only mildly panic…I mean, concerned, when Child B announced that she and Cousin and Cousin’s SO would make a quick trip to Austin Saturday night. I was more concerned about a) the city of Austin, and b) Child B’s physical condition AFTER the trip to Austin, as she intended to ride non-stop from Austin back to Midland. And really, I did not “hover” the entire time until Child B texted (is that a word now?) to me that she had made it through Eden. I was so happy to learn she was done with Highway 71, which can be unforgiving to tired drivers, especially those traveling on two wheels.

Then, it happened…

There was no communication with Child B for several hours. Mind you I, as the father, was not panicking at all. Not all…really…not much…outwardly, anyway…ok, MAYBE if you REALLY knew me, you could see some very minor indication of worry. But nothing out of hand, really…

I have pointed out many times that I am NOT a hovering, worrying, over-anxious father. And I believe I proved it, hands down, last night…until I realized Child B should have been home HOURS ago…

Then the phone rang! But alas, not Child B. It was Uncle Woodsman, asking if Child B was home yet. That was all I could stand… I mean, I calmly dialed Child B’s number. No, I was calmer than that. I texted (is that still a word?) Child B. She had been in the San Angelo area around 3 PM. She must have had time to reach Midland by 8 PM. Then the text! Child B was indeed at her apartment, waiting on Child A to bring her pickup to her (that is a separate story). Soon Child B AND Child A were both in our living room. What a relief to see them standing there in real life. And Child B’s road trip, the Great Road Trip of ’11, was at end!

Yes, SO and I were so happy to see Child B back in one peace, AND also to have Child A there, too! It was a great and happy ending to what must have been a great and happy adventure for Child B. AND, she produced that seashell, liberated from the sands of Surfside Beach. It felt great to hold a fresh seashell again, but so much better to get hugs from Child B.

Epilogue

I appreciate everyone who has followed these blogs, and who waited eagerly with me for news of Child B’s safe progress through her road trip. I know all of you who are parents have gone through this experience before. How much more the anxiety must be for parents of children who are in the armed forces, especially those deployed in harm’s way. That is why I thank all of you for allowing me to indulge in just a little worry…I mean, concern, while Child B was traveling. All of us parents have gone or will go through this many times. And, as I pointed out in a previous blog, OUR parents still worry about US. That is just what parents do, I suppose. But anyway, I say a big THANKS to all my Facebook friends. It is amazing how much we can support each other, even when that support is through electronic means, such as Facebook and blogs.

Thanks, everyone!

Child A and Child B - A Tale of Two Children (And A Non-Helicopter Father)

This afternoon at work I got word from Child B that she was safely in Central Texas and on the way to visit with relatives there.  So the gale warnings for Houston can come down now.  I just hope Child B realizes there is still a burn ban in effect for Coryell County.  Luckily, I think the risk of fire will be cut short for Gatesville, as Child B and her cousin will be headed for Austin later on.  I am sure two or three (or several) exuberant young people will not even be noticed in the climes of our state capitol.  Grandma will also be glad to see Child B.  Neither Child A nor Child B frequent that area, so the visits are always very special.

Speaking of Child A, I happened to pass him as I was traveling back from work this evening.  As he was headed into a local eatery, I decided to join him.  Although both he and Child B both reside within a couple of miles of us, we seem to run into Child B more often than Child A.  I decided to take the opportunity to partake the evening meal with Child A.  As we sat at dinner, we talked briefly about Child B's travels, and also about Child A caring for Child B's cat during this little vacation.  We also discussed certain relatives briefly, but then moved on to more mundane topics, such as the coming collapse of America as we know it, and the very real possibility that North America might one day be a colony of China or India.  Child A is not concerned so much with who is president and that sort of thing.  Instead, he takes more of a global approach to understanding the events of our times.  That is, until supper was over and it was time for him to pursue more immediate challenges...his computer games.  So, having reached the end of our conversation and the last bites of our meal, I took Child A to his residence, where we said good bye and parted ways.

I am very proud of both Child A and Child B.  They are two very different people, yet very accomplished in their own ways, and, to paraphrase a famous singer, they are doing life "their way."  A parent can attempt to raise children exactly the same, to treat them exactly the same, but that does not really happen.  Parents are usually "better parents" after having gained some experience with the first child.  I was always afraid Child A would break, but he never did.  I think then I was somewhat less "uptight" with Child B, even though Child B was determined to give me a heart attack before I reached age twenty-nine.  But in spite of my "best efforts" both Child A and Child B grew up as polite, fun-loving, smart, articulate, daring, persistent, and so many more things.  Perhaps I would leave out some descriptor no matter how inclusive my list. But I will say that above all, both Child A and Child B have an optimistic and eager outlook on life.  And they STILL think their parents are "cool!"  Life is good!  And Child B will be back...I almost said "back with us."  What I meant was Child B will soon be back to West Texas, but she will be back in her life, as a grown up who has probably grown up a little more during her foray across Texas.

As for the non-helicopter father, he will breathe a sigh of relief when Child B arrives, but he will also be proud, as would any parent, that Child B is an independent and self-confident person who is prepared to journey solo into this world of ours, as is Child A.  Not only that, but the non-helicopter father will be a little more at ease the next time Child A, or Child B, should embark on a world tour of Texas.

Vacation Interrupted - But Not For Long!

Coverage of Child B’s vacation trip was thrown two curves over the past couple of days, but (at this moment) Child B is safe in the care of relatives. The question is, are they safe with HER? I guess we will know soon enough.


The lapse in coverage was caused by trouble on two fronts: First, Child B became ill during the first weekend of her vacation; Second, Father of Child B was suddenly called away on a trip from Texas to a foreign land to assist his brother in returning to Texas. The foreign land, by the way, was Phoenix, Arizona. So while Child B recovered from her disease in the tropics of Galveston Island, I was driving as swiftly as possible, eastbound on IH 10, while Phoenix disappeared in the rear view mirror. I had not seen my “little” brother for more than a few minutes in a couple of years. Needless to say (I will anyway!) we had defined most of the illnesses of our great nation AND designed programs to “address” the same by the time we were again East of the Pecos.

This exercise in world-deliverance was interrupted at one point by a surprise call from Child B. I said my greetings into the phone and was answered by a voice that was somewhat a cross between Linda Blair’s devil voice in The Exorcist and the old…I mean “mature” lady that operates the washateria in Midland. You know this lady…she is the one reminding you that your washing machine has been stopped now for over two minutes, and “there ARE OTHER customers, you know!”

So Child B explained that she had awakened Saturday feeling severely ill. Her uncle, Fester…I mean Greg, had been kind enough to set her up in a nice hotel in Galveston with a sea view. She spent Saturday in recovery mode, fuming that a portion of her vacation had to be yielded to sick time. I think maybe due to exhaustion, but then again, I am possibly a helicopter father.

The stay at near seaside must have re-invigorated Child B, for come Sunday she was off on more adventure. She stopped by the Aquarium at Galveston, letting her love for fish and the ocean lead her where it might. Where it led her, in fact, was try on a “squid hat.” This is the culmination of many a child’s tour of the Aquarium, I am certain. Kids, whether 2 or 92, LOVE to wear squid hats!

So I am sure she had a wonderful time, having cast off her illness from Saturday, and hopefully cast off the squid hat as well! Just kidding. You can wear the squid hat if you want, my Schild. Meanwhile, the helicopter father was too busy to hover while pondering Child B’s latest antics. Unfortunately for me, my spouse spent Sunday graduating from white belt to yellow belt in Karate. I spent the rest of the day Sunday NOT making my spouse upset about anything. Just a minute…What’s that? Yes, Dear. Sorry folks, it is now the end of today’s blog. Honey dews are waiting, says Chuckette Norris!

The Great Vacation OR A Father's Nightmare (cont.)

Child B made it safely to our relatives’ abode in Houston yesterday. I must compliment myself on the grand way I held it all together and did not worry at all, even though my daughter had traveled across Texas, camped out all alone in a primitive state park, then traveled the rest of the way across Texas. Yes, I am not one of those hovering fathers, one of those “helicopter parents.” No sireee!


Anyway, Child B spent some time with those distant relatives, distant only by miles, not by heart. Then she went on some adventure, apparently going to the big city itself. There, during the night, Child B went to some entertainment establishment wherein the music featured is apparently of a genre strange to her elderly parents. This music is maybe “metalicca” or maybe some other form of heavy metal. But the people dance in a fashion known as “headbanging,” thus the participants are known as “headbangers.” I, even at my advanced age of 50, have heard of headbangers, but I never realized that one could actually get hurt while participating. But what do I know? It is apparently a fun and wholesome activity for the younger set.

Child B is very adept at making friends in any situation, so it was not a big surprise to learn that she met two guys who became her buddies for the evening. I, of course, not being the hovering father, was not concerned in the least. Of course, my lack of concern was enhanced by the fact that I learned of these events much later. But, Child B is a big girl now, and the parents have to simply sit back and know that they have finished the job of raising the child. Now Child B must flit about in the world using all the things her parents taught her, or ignoring all the things her parents taught her and learning it all for herself. I think there is a little of both in all people as they leave the nest.

So, as a merely CONCERNED parent, and not a HOVERING FATHER, I cautioned Child B about the usual things that parents caution their children about, including the fact that she should be careful with people she meets because one never knows whom one may encounter. She was thinking of good time friends, while I of course pictured Jack the Ripper and Ted Bundy! But she survived the night, as most people do. So today I am sure she will see more of the seacoast and probably look up her friend, another girl from Greenwood. I really FEEL for Houston knowing that this pair is turned loose on that gem of Texas. Today a gleaming, modern metropolis; tonight, a FEMA cleanup area! Just kidding. But if you live in Houston, tonight would be the perfect time to visit West Texas.


Tomorrow…more from Child B’s adventures.

Road Trip

Road Trip!  But not for me.

Today I have decided to leave the world of history, politics, crime, etc. behind and blog about something a lot more important and relevant to me at the moment: A road trip.  Not my road trip, mind you, but that of my daughter, Child B.  Perhaps Child B is a bit of misnomer since she is well beyond the age of majority in Texas.  But to a parent, a child is a child no matter HOW OLD the child is.  My mother, for instance, still worries about my health, my happiness, and yes, even when I go on a road trip...and I am FIFTY!  So I am starting to believe that parents maybe never stop worrying about their children.  But, back to my story.

Child B purchased a motorcycle some years ago (the worry about Child B riding a motorcycle could fill a blog itself) and took a motorcycle safety course.  I am very happy she chose to do so; however, along with learning to ride safely, Child B also acquired the desire to...well...to ride.  She rode the little Suzuki around town at first, gradually increasing the length and distance of her rides.  Then came the day she announced she was riding the "bike" to Del Rio.  To say that I worried about Child B on this first "long trip" is not inaccurate, but you should not think that it implies that I was not ALREADY worried about her on the motorcycle.  But, I did not want to be a helicopter parent, so I bravely pretended that I was only "concerned" about her safety, not actually "worried."

As time passed, Child B became a very safe motorcycle operator (at least in my visual presence) and was not involved in traffic accidents or even the minor mishaps that befall many novice motorcyclists.  At the same time Child B's father become slightly more at ease and way more resigned to the fact that Child B was a true free spirit and motorcycle girl.  It was around this time that I somehow gained the fortitude to recognize that Child B would operate her motorcycle in as safe a manner as she was capable of doing, and that she would be on the lookout for "the other guy."  It was out of my hands. So most of the time I am not OVERLY concerned about her day to day safety.

My little shell of false security was destroyed last week when Child B announced her upcoming road trip.  But to my credit, I did not try to talk her out of doing it.  Instead, I just gave her the safety lecture.  Oh, maybe the father's lecture too, I forget.  But I remembered a time, years earlier, when a young man announced to his parents that he was taking a road trip.  Of course I drove a car, but the principle was the same.  I am sure my parents worried from the time I announced my plans to the late night arrival home that kept them on the edge of their respective seats.  I made it back safely.  And in reality, the vast majority of these kind of adventures have a happy ending.  So, Child B is now safely with loved ones in Houston.

Actually I am happy that Child B, as well as Child A, has the courage and self-confidence to embark on such an adventure.  The seacoast is beautiful any time of year, and the distant relatives are always happy to see Child B, a rare enough occurrence.  I am happy that Child B saw all the sights along the way, maybe stopping at an out of the way little store or some highway vista in the Hill Country.  The memories Child B gathers on this great solo adventure will last a lifetime.  Although her mother and I will be so happy (and relieved) when Child B returns to Midland, we are both happy that she went on this adventure.  We cannot wait for the stories she no doubt will have saved up by the time she arrives.  So, tonight Child B is in a little town outside of Houston.  Tomorrow she will again bravely set out into the world, maybe going to Surfside, maybe meeting friends in Galveston, but no doubt living another great adventure.

PS: Hello to Uncle Dwayne, Aunt Gail, and Cousin Gaylon..oh yeah, and Brother-in-law Greg

A Remarkable Thing About Humans

We humans have a very remarkable capacity built into our human nature by God. This remarkable trait is our ability to live life in a reasonably happy and content state even though we know that: 1) each one of us will die someday; 2) any one of us or our loved ones could die on any given day; and 3) bad or tragic things happen all the time. Yet we go on with our day-to-day lives, make plans for the future, and live like we will last forever. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing. I cannot imagine what it must be like to live every day in constant dread that I might die today, or someone I love might die today. It certainly would not be conducive to a happy and productive life to live in this state constantly.

No, most of us do not live in dread every day. But, every now and then, events happen that shake us, at least temporarily, out of our comfort zone and force us to confront the fact that tragic things happen, and that none of us will live forever. I suppose the most dramatic reminder of the frail human condition, for me at least, was the terrorists attacks of 9/11. But years earlier, an entire generation was exposed to this reality by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Incidentally, thousands of Japanese citizens got two very terrible surprises in 1945. But the reality is that everyday someone, somewhere, receives the shocking news of the loss or near loss of a loved one or friend. And suddenly the world stands still, at least for the person involved.

Just the other day I got a telephone call that was both terrifying and full of joy. Someone close to me had been injured in an accident at work, but the accident could have been fatal. Just a matter of inches could have brought a very tragic ending. With great joy I was happy that he had not been taken from us. I was reminded how much I love this person, and yet how often I take this person for granted. He had always been a part of my life. He would always be a part of my life. But the other day he came within inches of losing his life. He was injured badly enough, but we were so happy that he was ONLY hurt. All of you have been in similar circumstances. Someone comes within inches of tragedy. Maybe being a few minutes early or a few minutes late makes all the difference. That someone got a second chance at life, and we, his loved ones, got a second chance at not taking him for granted again.

I have often wondered why some people get second, or even several “second” chances. Is there some great deed they have not yet accomplished? Is there some great wrong in their lives that they need to make right? Or is the second chance not about them at all? Could it be a harsh reminder for us not to take our loved ones and friends for granted again? The answer to these questions may never be in my lifetime. For now, I only hope not to fall back into that rut of just assuming and hoping that those I love, those who are a part my life, whether close or long distance, or even “by computer,” will always be here. I need to let each of these people know every day, or as often as possible, that I love them all and I am so glad they are in my life. And I hope you will do the same for those you love and care about. For we never know, literally, when that special person may leave our sight, never to be seen again in this lifetime.

Mexico's New Partner In Education

The drug cartels of Mexico have implemented yet another avenue of terrorism and disorder, and unfortunately this new terrorism reaches to one of the fundamental institutions of any civilized nation, the educational system. The criminal cartels in several cities have begun openly demanding that schoolteachers and administrators pay fifty percent of their salaries to the cartels. The demands are of course accompanied by the usual (but obviously quite real) threats of kidnapping, bodily injury, and death. Unfortunately, given the criminals’ tendencies to carryout their threats, and given the Mexican government’s inability to control the cartels, or even to provide any semblance of safety for its citizens, many teachers have given in to these demands. Others have left the teaching field altogether and sought work in other industries. On top of this, many parents have stopped sending their children to public schools, so even if teachers did not cave to the demands of the criminals, they could lose their jobs simply due to declining student numbers.


Police forces, the armed forces, and the federal government seem powerless to combat the cartels or to protect innocent citizens. The cartels are doing what any smart business operation would do – diversifying into other areas of profit making besides drug trafficking, gunrunning, and extortion. Even the cartels realize the value of “multiple streams of income.” The cartels’ expansion of their enterprises into extortion of whole industries in Mexico represents a new height in their audacity and their contempt of the legitimate government. From business owner and employer points of view, it will be harder and harder to resist the cartels’ demands for “protection money” or other payoffs. If the government does not act quickly, the educational system of Mexico may be crippled or even shut down. The gaming industry is under attack as well, as we have seen with the tragedy in Monterrey. How many other industries will be assailed by the criminal cartels (can’t call them drug cartels anymore, they have diversified) before adequate protective measures are taking by the Mexican government? The cartels are now at the point where they threaten the very economic viability of the Mexican nation.

At this point, to one on the outside looking in, it appears that the cartels are now powerful enough to threaten the very survival of the legitimate government of Mexico. Fortunately, it is the very power of each cartel that could, in the end, prove to be the best weapon at the legitimate government’s disposal. The fighting between the most powerful cartels limits their ability to mount a coordinated attack against government forces. Federal officials need to capitalize on this situation and use it to their advantage while there is still time. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the cartels could begin working together. After all, a calmer and more peaceful nation would be to their advantage, as long as they were in control of both the legitimate and the illegitimate economies of Mexico. Given the fear and fatigue that the Mexican people feel, they would welcome peace, no matter who might be “in control.”

An Officer's Last Watch: Corporal Kevin Aigner, Travis County Constable - Precinct 2

Corporal Kevin Aigner was assigned to a an area known as Wharton Cove, where he was patrolling and assisting residents who had lost their homes in the wildfires.  While performing his duties, Corporal Aigner began having difficulty breathing.  Citizens and other officers came to his aid, and he was subsequently air-lifted to Seton Medical Center.  He died there several hours later due to breathing difficulties brought on by his exposure to smoke and ashes from the fires.  His last watched ended on Saturday, September 10, 2011.  He had served as an officer for over fifteen years.

I extend my gratitude to Corporal Kevin Aigner for his service, and I extend my sympathy to his family and his law enforcement colleagues at the Precinct 2.

Algebra Homework Should Not Interfere With College Football

I was watching a college football game on TV this past Saturday when I heard my spouse growling profanities under her breath.  It seems she was trying to complete an algebra test, but some of the questions were giving her fits.  I happened to glance her way during one of her profane outbursts and saw the following question in contained in the examination.

(Actual question in my spouse's algebra test)


For each function find:
a. the maximum number of real zeros that the function can have
b. the maximum number of X-intercepts that the graph can have
c. the maximum number of turning points that the graph can have

So I thought I would try my hand at answering it. (Quiet the laughter, Please!). Well, I skipped part A right off the bat, but don't worry, I will return to it.

Now on to part B. That one was easy. The maximum number of possible X-intercepts equals the number of times Y throws the football.

Part C was easy too. Turning points? For a graph? Right....only people  and football games have turning points.

Now, for part A - the maximum number of REAL zeros that the function can have(?).

The first thing that crossed my mind was...what, there are IMAGINARY zeros?! Guess what! It turns out that, YES, there REALLY ARE IMAGINARY ZEROS, and they are not figments of mathematicians' imagination. (Right!) Now, if you dispute the possibility of the existence of IMAGINARY ZEROS, you will merely flunk algebra. But if you try to convince people that there are space aliens living among us, that Big Foot is in love with Chupakabra, etc., the same mathematician that created the IMAGINARY ZERO will call YOU crazy. What a strange world we live in!

Incidentally, when I checked my answers in the "back of the book" I found that the editors had made some mistakes.  None of the provided answers matched my own.  Apparently the authors of the algebra text believe that the answers to the above problem are expressed "mathematically" through the long and tedious process known as "working out" the problem. 

I totally disagree with the provided answers.  Not only are my answers simpler and more straightforward, they close the mathematics discussion rather quickly.  This allows me to get back to my favorite Saturday afternoon  pass time: watching college football.  Oh look, Y threw ANOTHER X-intercept! Go Raiders!!



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Texas Burning Again - No Help From The Little Federal Tyrant Man or President Obama

My heart goes out tonight to those who have lost everything, some even have lost loved ones, in the fires that are burning down Central Texas now. The huge flames, the dense clouds of smoke, are all too familiar to those of us who have already lived through the same situation in West Texas. So many homes have been lost in and around Austin. And last week, many homes were lost in Possum Kingdom. Some people there saw their homes burn twice, having lost their first homes in the fires earlier this year, then rebuilt, and then watched their new homes go up in flames. So here in West Texas we watch the news and we hope that each day we don't hear that more people have lost their lives. The property can be replaced of course, even though it really hurts to lose everything and to have to start over. Our prayers go out for all the people effected by the fires, and for those risking their lives to bring the blazes under control.

On a sad and sour note related to the fires, it seems that some agent of the United States government has been arbitrarily turning away firefighters who have traveled from other parts of the state, and even from other states, to help local firemen. If this is really true, it represents a terrible and unforgivable lapse in judgment on the part of the federal officer responsible; especially in the face of our President's constant refusal to help Texans in time of great emergency. He has been too willing to give the state "Federal money" (along with all the "Federal strings attached) which of course means OUR MONEY given to the federal government in the form of taxes. But I think it truly speaks to our President's character when he allows his feelings about our state governor (warranted or not) to guide him in his dealings with ALL the citizens of Texas. Many Texans voted for Obama in the wave of popularity he had prior to the election. That seems forgotten now, at certain quarters in our nation’s capital.

No matter whether the President turns his blinded eyes away from the needs of Texans during these dire times, and no matter what ridiculously stupid decisions a certain power-hungry little tyrant federal official might have made yesterday, I praise our firefighters, and those who came to their aid. These men and women risked their lives to save the lives and property of people who are mostly strangers to them. And, fortunately for this little federal tyrant, I believe all of these same firefighters would willingly risk their lives to save HIS property and HIS loved ones should he ever find himself at the mercy of those terrible fires or some other catastrophe. THIS is the true SPIRIT of TEXAS and of Texans. We will always help those in need, even those who may have turned their backs on us in our own time of need. I hope this little man with big power leaves our beautiful state soon. As to the President who has turned his back on our state now, not once but twice, I hope all who thought (and still may think) this man is so wonderful will remember, in the next election, he brazenly turned his back on this state. He does not deserve to serve in that high office beyond January 2013.

An Officer's Last Watch: Sergeant Mark Scianna, Bexar County Constable Precinct 3

I was aware of Sergeant Scianna's death several days ago, but was hoping for a little more information before writing these words in dedication to him and his service as a police officer.  But I am disappointed to say that the answers are still few, so I will leave that for the professionals.

Sergeant Mark Scianna was killed in what I have heard some officers call a "mystery crash."  This is an incident in which a police officer is involved in an accident but there is no official reason as to why the officer was driving in an emergency mode, no last radio call, no accounts from witnesses that could shed light on the situation.  Sergeant Scianna died in such a crash.  He was working the night shift and was driving in his patrol car.  Witnesses said later that the officer activated his emergency lights and siren, and within seconds his vehicle left the rode and struck two utility poles.  The car burst into flames.  The crash was horrendous and was heard for blocks around. People rushed out of their homes and attempted to render aid.  At a nearby fire station, firefighters heard the explosion and saw a fireball.  They were on the scene immediately but were not able to rescue the officer.  It is unlikely that he survived the crash or at least not long afterwards, as can be seen from the complete destruction of the patrol car.  The vehicle is almost unrecognizable as to make and model.  Now, after three days, answers are still elusive.

I have the honor of paying respect to Sergeant Scianna in this blog, and I thank you for your service, Sergeant.  Unfortunately, Sergeant Scianna leaves behind a special needs child, a fifteen year-old boy.  One of the last things Sergeant Scianna did before his death was to call his son, tell him he loved him, and tell him "good night."  My sympathy to this young man, the Sergeant's other loved ones, and to the Constables of Precinct Three who have lost their fellow officer and friend.

Calderon Is Powerless In Mexico; His ONLY Weapon: Blame the United States

Felipe Calderon, the ineffective and powerless President of Mexico, rightfully spoke to the people of Mexico after the tragic and most cowardly act perpetrated by the Zetas so far, the burning of a casino in Monterrey, which resulted in the death of over fifty Mexican citizens.  President Calderon was RIGHTLY OUTRAGED.  This atrocity WAS a cowardly act.  The President flew to Monterrey Saturday and personally placed a wreath on the burned-out shell that was once the Casino Royale.  Then he made a speech to the Mexican people.  Did he vow to catch the criminals?  Did he promise new programs to bring an end to the endless "War On Drugs" in Mexico.  Did he EVEN go so far as to PROMISE A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION?

Nope....

For some twenty minutes the most powerful (?) man in Mexico screamed and railed against the United States, citing the United States (MEANING YOU AND ME, my friends) as being responsible for the criminal gang warfare in Mexico, and for all the illegal guns and other arms flowing into Mexico.  AND Mr. Calderon went on to say that Americans (YOU AND ME, once again) bear some of the blame in the deaths of those fifty innocent people caught in the fire.  President Calderon (although receiving MILLIONS of dollars in aid as well as personnel and intelligence from the United States) called this nation the biggest drug consumer in the world.  Well here is the quote:

Part of the tragedy that we Mexicans are living through has to do with the fact that we are next to the world's greatest drug consumer and also the greatest global arms vendor that pays billions of dollars each year to criminals."

Don't take my word...you can read the story here:   http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/26/3316792/calderon-says-us-shares-blame.html

The story also appeared in major papers if you would rather read in "reliable" print. 

So, after this cowardly incident, President Calderon, not unpredictably, IMMEDIATELY WENT ON THE OFFENSIVE by attacking, NOT THE CRIMINALS, but the United States.  But his attack rings hollow when we remember that most of the weapons used in Mexico have been traced back to MEXICAN FEDERAL weapons buying.  Then the federal authorities somehow "lost track" of the weapons (including hand grenades, shoulder fired rockets, C-4, etc. not the type of weapons sold in most gun shops in the United States) time and time again.  This information can be verified by reading the accounts in Mexican and American memorandums outlining the arms deals in Mexico.  Again, you don't have to take my word for it.

Incidentally, in the same newspaper (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) on the same date was this story:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/26/3317008/2-fort-worth-men-sentenced-for.html

So you see that the people buying guns in Texas and other states and transporting them to Mexico account for less than one percent of the guns, and ZERO percent of the more advanced military weapons making their way into Mexico.  President Calderon, again, being weak and ineffectual in his nation, has only one way to SEEM in control and powerful, and that is by attacking the United States, including plying insults - not against our government - but against you and me as citizens of our great nation. 

President Felipe Calderon can scream and cry and yell, and insult all of us.  What he CANNOT DO is come up with EVEN ONE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM to counter the trouble in Mexico and bring a stop to the bloodshed and violence.  Not being hypocritical, I DO HAVE at least one program that will bring immediate results.

Mr. CALDERON, since you "KNOW" that the weapons are coming from the United States, via border smuggling, I propose that you detach a significant military force to your northern border, right down to the edge of the Rio Bravo, and let your troops INTERCEPT the smugglers at the border.  If they are smuggling nearly 100,000 weapons a year across the good ol' Rio Grande, your army should immediately impact the drug cartels' means of making war.  

Next, place only your most elite and trusted units at weapons depots and let them GUARD the weapons. 

Thirdly, appoint a trusted Inspector General and a small staff of inspectors to monitor both the safety of the depots and the weapons confiscations that will (?) be taking place at the border. 

By following these three measures alone, I predict that you, Mr. President, will cripple the ability of the cartels to rearm and resupply themselves, thus ending their ability to make war.

But I have a forth measure for you, Sir.  I respectfully request that you tell your allies in the various United States agencies, and your crying buddy President Obama, that you want ALL US AID to your country curtailed immediately, so that there will be no "bungling" by US authorities. 

If you succeed, by following all these steps, you will no doubt win re-election, Mr. Calderon.  If you do not, your country will be no worse off then it is now.  But please, if you are going to cry and berate and condemn the people of the United States, at least do it AFTER you have implemented ideas that will successfully curtail the power of the drug cartels.  Right now, your cries and tears ring hollow north of the Rio Grande.