A Book Signing for Bailey Black

I have to admit I was unsure what it would be like...the book signing, I mean.  I wondered if anyone would actually show up.  I wondered if I would be a good host.  Would anyone really want my book?  Stage fright?

The Coryell Museum and Historical Center, under the direction of Billy Byrom, graciously hosted the event, providing the room, the staff, and refreshments.  Not only that, but the museum staff prepared flyers and a news article prior to the event.  It was so great to have people coming in even before the book signing "started."  Several school mates and class mates attended, as well as many relatives, and a few people I had never met.  It was really nice to have people who were strangers to me come and tell me how they liked the book and could not wait for me to write another one.  And a really great thing happened.  Mrs. Lee (GISD Librarian) asked for copies of the book to place in the Gatesville school libraries.  I was so happy and proud. 

Just a few minutes into the event I had lost all my stage fright and was having the time of my life.  If I never have another book signing again, I will never forget this one!  Billy Byrom and the rest of the staff made my wife and me feel welcome, which made it all so much easier.  By the time it was over, I doubt if Stephen King felt any happier than I did at that moment.  My box of Bailey Black copies was empty.  I had pictured myself having to leave with a bunch of extra copies.  That was not the case.  In fact some people were not able to get all the copies they wanted. 

One highlight of the day was when I met Mrs. Black, who is married to...that's right...she is married to Bailey Black.  Of course he has not robbed as many banks as the main character of my book.  Mrs. Black bought a copy of the book for sentimental reasons.  I remembered her relatives who had operated Black's Grocery Store on the square in Gatesville so many years ago.  In that day, when a person asked for ground meat (hamburger) the butcher grabbed a cut of beef and ran it through the grinder while the customer waited, then wrapped the meat in white "butcher's paper."  The meat was never frozen.  I don't remember if it tasted any better then, but a trip to the grocery was a lot more fun.

I would like to thank all my friends for making the book signing a success.  I especially want to thank the Coryell Museum and Historical Center, and Billy Byrom, for making this signing a success.  I urge those of you who live in Texas to get by the Coryell Museum.  It only takes a short while to view all the exhibits but it is such an interesting and educational facility.  By the way, you should also visit your own local museum at least once.  These museums do not only preserve the past, but they preserve the past of your own family or those that you may know personally or through your parents.  It is a worthwhile activity.

Well, I will no longer have to keep nagging the reader about Bailey Black.  It is time to move on to the next project(s).  Just remember that Bailey Black is available through Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble.  Also Kindle users can get Bailey Black in that format.  Happy reading!

The TSA CAN Grope Our Children!

I write this blog with mixed feelings. It is about the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), an agency of the Office of Homeland Security. This particular blog is too short to go into my opinion of the Office of Homeland Security, so I will limit my thoughts today to the TSA. Specifically, I am addressing the TSA's policy of requiring airline passengers to submit to possibly unsafe radiation levels by walking through the X-ray machines or to submit to the very degrading and humiliating pat-down body searches normally reserved for criminal suspects. (Free tidbit: By definition one can only be a "suspect" if a reasonable police officer believes that probable cause exists to indicate the particular person committed a PARTICULAR crime.)  I believe reasonable security measures are prudent, but the "security" we have now is out of control.

I first would like to say that I believe the TSA, like any organization, is manned mostly be conscientious employees who are working within the parameters of the organization's policies.  I hope that is the case.  But the TSA, like any other organization with police-like powers, also has those employees who are less than conscientious.  Some may work there because of the power they have over passengers trying to board planes.  But there could be more sinister reasons for working as a TSA screening agent.  Those people who have evil intent can find rather rewarding work at the TSA.  Suppose a person has the desire to fondle other persons.  Suppose, even worse, that a person has the desire to fondle children.  The screening agent position is tailor-made for these people.

Now a video is circulating on YouTube and other online media in which the "pat-down" of a very young girl is recorded.  While the TSA agent conducting the pat-down is apparently "just doing her job" the young girl is clearly frightened, and the parents are upset.  Unfortunately, the family could not proceed through the screening area unless the young girl was searched.  Remember, citizens suspected of nothing more than wanting to exercise their rights against unreasonable search and seizure can be arrested for not complying with the TSA screening requirements. 

I would like to ask one question:  Do you, as a passenger, feel one bit safer with the current security requirements than you did with the immensely less intrusive pre-9/11 airport security measures?  And one more question: Have the new TSA security measures stopped bombing attempts or other attempts at terrorism?  The answer to the first question is subjective, that is, each person must answer it for himself or herself.  The second question has been answered by reality.  There have several bombing attempts since 9/11.  Were the suspects apprehended by the TSA?  Nope.  Actually the would-be bombers were caught ON the airplanes by alert and courageous passengers who acted to prevent the attempted bombings. (You may also recall that the terrorists in the 9/11 attacks were armed AFTER they were on board the airplanes by accomplices who were in place as ground crew members.)

Now, what is my point?  My point is that TSA agents routinely and (supposedly) legally violate our civil rights be subjecting passengers to unreasonable searches.  Remember? In the United States we are free from unreasonable search or seizure.  So what is reasonable?  It is reasonable to expect that our luggage be scanned for bombs or explosives, since these can most easily be transported in luggage rather than on one's body.  Also, X-rays are less damaging to material than people.  Therefore, since scanning luggage is logical and is not harmful to people, it is reasonable.  Similarly, a person appearing very nervous and wearing several layers of bulky clothing COULD be concealing a dangerous object.  In this PARTICULAR case, that person is obviously acting in a suspicious manner that can be articulated by a police officer, or even a TSA agent.  Therefore, a bodily search or "pat-down" of THAT person would be warranted.  Bodily search of a six year old girl? Not so much.

I wonder now how long we, the American people, will tolerate this blatant violation of our civil rights?  Again, we would not allow trained, competent police officers to simply stop people and demand to conduct bodily searches.  Why are we allowing this to go on in our airports?  Worse, why are we allowing TSA agents to grope our children?  Does this sound reasonable to anyone?  I hope the American people will act with the power granted to them by the Creator and demand that these unreasonable and misguided efforts on the part of the government to keep us safe be abandoned, and that we return to reasonable precautions as in the pre-9/11 era.

They Want To Raise The National Debt "Ceiling"

Our leaders, the first being President Obama, want to raise the national debt "ceiling."  At stake is the credibility of the United States, financially speaking, meaning that other nations will no longer regard the United States as a safe investment if the US government should fail to meet obligations such as debt interest payments.  By the way, President Obama did not initiate the national debt; in fairness to him, he has only raised the national debt by about three trillion dollars in his first term.  And part of that was not really his fault.  The War on "Terror" was initiated by his predecessor. 

Actually there is something so very much more important at stake.  If the debt ceiling is raised again, we (the people of the United States) will no longer have even a chance to rein in the national debt.  I believe the financial stability of this nation is much more important in the long run than is our "good credit" in the short run.

My stance on bringing the national debt under control will not be acceptable to many people, probably not to the majority, in fact.  My stance is simple.  The only way to bring the national debt under control is not to spend more than we (as a nation) bring in as revenue.  We (the people of the United States) are NOT UNDER TAXED.  No, we the people are paying taxes at the highest rate in United States history.  Granted, the tax system is unfair, and granted, there are some individuals and corporations are not paying their fair share of taxes.  Nonetheless, clearly MORE and HIGHER taxes are not the answer.  How do we know this, class?  It is because the tax rate has grown but the national debt has climbed steadily anyway.

So does the complainer have a solution?  Yes, but like I said, my solution will be much more practical than popular.  First, though, let us forget Democrat and Republican.  Both parties are to blame, and I guess in a sense we, the voters, are to blame for not demanding a balanced budget.  And that is my solution.  We must have the character and the fortitude to balance the budget.  That means, class, we can only spend that sum of money that we actually have (i.e. - one year's worth of income tax revenue).  You do not have to be brilliant to see that this solution will not be popular.

First, I suggest that each and every single program operated by the United States government needs to be cut by fifty percent across the board.  Tonight! Right now!

Second, since I am now the most unpopular person in the United States, I submit that each and every program operated by the United States government be objectively examined and those not absolutely necessary be thrown out.

Third, all federal politicians and bureaucrats, from the President to the White House lawn manager must take an immediate fifty percent wage cut.   Many federal employees are unionized.  Too bad.  ALL federal officials and employees must be included.

Fourth, the military must be reined in.  All of our nation-building and our occupations of foreign countries must be halted immediately.  Only those essential foreign-located military bases and forces should be maintained.  In Europe, NATO is fully capable (without US assistance) of handling that continent. 

Fourth (A) the "War on Terror" must be stopped now.  It has gone on since 9/11 and there is still terror, still world-wide violence. 

Fourth (B) the pay for active duty military personnel must be raised to actual living wages, and all promised benefits must be granted without question.  Wounded veterans must receive all aid promised them without fail.  They were willing to give their lives for us, we owe them no less than fair treatment.

Fifth, foreign aid must go (save disaster aid) until we are once again a solvent nation.  Infrastructure building for other nations must wait.  Our own infrastructure is failing at an alarming rate.  Why are we building roads in Central and South America when our own highways are crumbling.

Sixth, agricultural subsidies must go.  If these giant corporate farms can't make it, they will be replaced by smaller, sustainable operations. 

There really is no need to go further.  I would never get elected with these kinds of solutions as my platform.  No matter what program, what budget item, what agency, is reviewed and slated for elimination, there will be a loud outcry from either those effected by the programs or those profiting from the programs.  If social programs are cut, of course there is outcry from the various segments of society and the various organizations that support those segments of society. 

The point is that balancing the budget will be a very painful operation.  Social security (which is insolvent), Medicare (insolvent), if cut, would place people in the position of having to make hard decisions, food over medicine, one medicine instead of fifteen, etc.  Just think, if the government were not in the position to care for us, we would have to care for ourselves, and help care for our aging parents or our extended family.  Maybe even help out our friends every now and then. 

Only if we, whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, Tea Party, Communist, whatever, can bring ourselves to take drastic, painful, and to some, inhumane action, can we bring the national debt under control.  The only way is to hold politicians accountable, and to demand that the budget be balanced. I don't believe that it is a stretch to say that, if this runaway national debt is not controlled, we will go the way of the former Soviet Union.  There may always be a United States, but will it be the "Land of the Free?" 


EPILOGUE

Don't worry, I'm okay.  I woke up from my dream of a balanced budget. But like the Beach Boys once sang, "Wouldn't it be nice...?"

Maybe It Was Mitchell Moore Who Said It....Maybe Not

I think Mitchell Moore posted this on Facebook earlier today or yesterday:
"We smelled the smoke.  Others lost everything." 

I thought about his words and realized this was a subtly profound statement.  The threat of fire, the possibility of loss of life or property, and the fear of the unknown, were carried on the wings of the wind.  But while some people only experienced the fear, others had to come to grips with the total loss of all they owned.  Several dwellings on the south side of Midland burned down.  Most of the owners lost everything except what they were wearing.  Others who lived nearby did not lose their homes, but had to wait in suspense at a local shelter until the neighborhoods were declared safe.  Only then did these luckier ones learn that their homes had been spared. 

In Marfa and Fort Davis, the scene was repeated several times as fire ravaged parts of those towns as well as dwellings in the country side.  Compounding the disaster was the failure of the water system there after a power substation was destroyed by the wildfire.  Many homes were lost there, as well as outbuildings and other property.  Fire threatened the McDonald Observatory.  Fortunately that facility was spared.  But the fire continues to burn in Jeff Davis County, and is within miles of Balmorhea. 

Now many people are watching and waiting, living in fear of what may be.  The people in the area have smelled the smoke for days as the fire moved closer to their own property.  While reports say the fire
is now sixty percent contained, for those in the flame's path, the fear is still very real, the uncertainty still growing.  I am certain many people have a new and more profound respect for the firefighters who stand between them and the racing fire.

So some smelled the smoke...other lost everything.  When the flames are finally extinguished, there will be those whose homes were miraculously spared, while others will return to only ashes and memories. These events are no longer something that we saw on TV, that happened to "someone else."  No, many of us have friends or relatives who were (or will be) effected in some way by this disaster.  For those of us outside the danger zone, this is a great opportunity for us to share our blessings with those who are in need. 

Smoke Over Midland This Weekend

Only a month ago, a series of grass fires broke out across the Permian Basin, from Midland to Andrews to Big Spring, and to points beyond.  Tragically, one of the Midland fires resulted in the death of a little girl after smoke covered Interstate 20, bringing visibility to zero.  A car stopped in the road and was then struck by the following vehicle.  Eventually five or six cars and a heavy truck were involved in the crash.

Today, once again fires are burning around the area, including the fire burning just south of Midland.  I (who suffer with severe smoke allergies) went for a short walk.  I thought...I know this is crazy...but I thought the white and gray clouds were rain clouds closing in from the south and west.  By the time I was about one/quarter of the way to the mailbox I realized that the clouds did not really look so much like rain clouds.  By the time I was halfway to the mailbox, I was beginning to realize the folly of mistaking the "clouds" for rain clouds.  By the time I reached the mailbox I was basically using the Braille System to locate my mailbox as my eyes watering and my vision was just about kablitzed.  By the time I struggled back to the house, it was time to head for the benadryl locker!

It is strange to be in the midst of "fire season" and summer is still months away.  Firefighters and other emergency personnel are already exhausted and resources are already being taxed to the extreme, but the fire season is young.  Already at least one person has died and over fifty residences throughout west and northwest Texas have burned as result of these fires.  I, being a new native to West Texas, was somewhat skeptical of the dangers of these kinds of fires.  The past few years have been educational.  While the terrain here is not what firefighters in forest lands experience, the grass fires are deceptively dangerous.  When I was a "fresh" transfer to West Texas, I never dreamed that a fire in this country could generate the heat and the tender to burn down a home.  Or to endanger the lives of firefighters and those caught in the path of the advancing flame.

In a "past life" I myself was a volunteer firefighter.  In that capacity, it was my privilege to experience a near-death experience when the pumper truck ran out of water at the exact moment that the fire surrounded us.  The driver made a mad dash through flames that were as high as the burning mesquite trees around us.  We made it through the flames but the truck sustained some heat damage.  This same situation can happen in the desert when the grass, tumbleweeds, and cactus erupt like TNT.  The heat generated can indeed ignite a vehicle tire, and the spreading, blowing embers can easily set a house afire.  Unlike firefighters in greener areas, water is serious concern when fighting fires in remote areas of the Permian Basin.  Tankers may be miles away from point of initial attack on the fire.

So we are in the middle of another fire-filled weekend.  I would like to go on record to show my appreciation to the firefighters, both here in the desert, as well as firefighters everywhere.  They all have a dangerous job and do it well.  My hat is especially held high to the volunteers that man about eighty-five percent of the fire departments around Midland and Odessa.  These firefighters face the same risk as paid fireman, often without the same level of equipment and training. 

As thick white and gray smoke blots out the beautiful West Texas sunset, I think of the firefighters even now engaged in protecting the rest of us from the dangers of these wildfires and I have a new respect for the job they do.  May they rest under God's covering hand till that last flame is extinguished.

Andrews, Texas And Her Sister City - Forsmark, Sweden

The Swedish city of Forsmark could be considered the sister city to Andrews, Texas.  There have been no ceremonies, of which I am aware, to mark this great sisterhood, and the mayors have not exchanged keys to their respective cities.  Nevertheless, these two cities, across the sea from each other, share common ground.  Are they both desert cities? No, we all know Sweden has rain and snow, and greenery.  Both oil producing cities? Nope...the area around Andrews is saturated with Texas Tea; Forsmark, not so much.

No, my friends, the great binding cord of sisterhood for these two cities is that they are both being turned into dumping grounds for nuclear waste. In a similar situation to the origin of the Waste Control Specialists facility near Andrews, much of the Swedish population (80 %) is against this facility, BUT, the "leadership" of the community understands the need for this facility as well as the economic boon the facility would bring to Forsmark.  http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14935527,00.html  And, like Waste Control Specialists, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) has researched the selected disposal site for thirty years and (BIG surprise here!) declared the disposal site completely safe for the 100,000 years necessary for radiation to dissipate to less than lethal levels.

SKB plans to build a facility similar to the WCS Andrews facility.  The SKB facility will manufacture copper capsules which will then be used to encase the spent nuclear fuel rods.  The storage capsule would then be lowered into a pit some 500 meters underground in a large granite formation.  This formation is the mechanism by which the surrounding land will be protected from the nuclear waste.  SKB assures us that no radiation would be able to leach through the granite barrier because A) the copper capsules will remain in tact for several thousand years, and B) the granite barrier will prevent radiation from deteriorated capsules from passing through to the water tables below the granite.  Does this sound similar to a certain company's claims about the WCS Andrews facility?  I wonder if the average Swedish citizen feels any safer than residents of Texas living near the WCS facility or anyone who lives along the disposal truck and train routes through Texas?

Of course other scientists dispute the SKB findings:  "In our experiments, we saw that corrosion was 1,000 to 10,000 times faster than SKB assumes in its safety analysis," said Peter Szakalos, materials researcher at the Royal Technical University in Stockholm, who conducted the studies. The citizens of Sweden voiced their opposition to the proliferation of nuclear power in the 1980's, and in fact voted to phase out nuclear-powered electricity generating plants.  And as usual the politicians (similar to their Texas counterparts) found ways to overturn the public will.  Nuclear power grew to the point that over fifty percent of the electricity produced in Sweden came from nuclear energy-powered generation plants. 


With the proliferation of nuclear reactors comes the proliferation of nuclear waste.  With the proliferation of nuclear waste comes the inevitable problem of waste disposal.  And in steps SKB with its "final solution" which consists of bringing all the nuclear waste in Sweden to Forsmark for "safe disposal." Here I would like to insert a tidbit from history that will cost the reader nothing:  Hitler called his plan for Jews "the final solution."  It is a little unsettling that SKB borrowed Hitler's term for human holocaust and applied it to what could someday become another kind of holocaust.

So, Andrews has a sister city in Sweden, but not for any good reasons.  Like the Andrews WCS site, the Forsmark SKB site has been declared "safe," and like the Andrews site, independent scientists have declared the SKB site to be unsafe.  Both studies are backed with scientific "proof."  And most unfortunately, the will of the people of Sweden was ignored by political leaders, just as occurred in Texas.  It can be a great thing to have a "sister city."  In this case, not so much.

My Own Letter from Maummar Gaddafi!

That's right! I got my own email from President Gaddafi today.  Now mind you, I don't know HOW Mr. Gaddafi got my email address, but that did not diminish my extreme pleasure one bit.  No, sir.  In fact I was so elated to be the recipient of this email that I was literally unable to think about another subject for this blog.  I mean, the Colonel Himself sending me a message!  How honored I feel!

The gist of the email was that President Gaddafi had come to realize that his position as President for Life and Colonel in Chief of the Libyan Army was no longer tenable.  For this reason, Mr. Gaddafi needed my help to secure $98,000,000.00 that is apparently locked away in some bank and not yet "frozen" by the United Nations.  All I had to do was email another address (apparently Mr. Gaddafi is hiding under the name of Mac John Seere @att.net) to get instructions as to how to collect my share of the fortune and transfer the remainder to Mr. Gaddafi. 

The only thing that disturbed me about this letter was the similarity between this letter and what some refer to as the Nigerian Letter Scam.  Now of course I know Mr. Gaddafi would not be involved in any such dishonesty; however, since I was not able to personally help Mr. Gaddafi, I was more than happy to forward his email to the FBI.  I believe that agency would surely be able to help "the embattled President" complete his exodus from Libya.  Thank you so much for keeping me in mind, Mr. President!