If I was superstitious at all I might start to wonder if this transition wasn't snake bit, but I recognize that a lot of the tsuris is self-inflicted.
I sat here for a week unable to access the internet before I called Verizon. Of course, the first thing the tech asked was if I had a dial tone which I did not. (In the seven years I've lived here I've received no more than a dozen personal calls on my home phone so I don't answer it. It never occurred to me to see if it worked.) Then it took another week for a tech to come out and fix the problem - a corroded connection out on the panel.
My older sister came over from Arizona at Thanksgiving to help me pack, but she and I don't seem to work well as a team. She wanted to get rid of things I wanted to keep (or resisted getting rid of at her suggestion) so, although I took several bags of donations to Goodwill, I didn't get much packed before she went home.
I'm donating books to the county library and most of my furniture to the Salvation Army. I'm pretty much down to a U-Haul truck towing my Jeep on a trailer now, and there is a major winter storm moving up the Eastern seaboard - a foot of snow in Western North Carolina. Que sera sera. I expect to be underway for the Asheville area in ten days.
It looks like we might get health care reform legislation this year although it will fall short of providing universal health care. We let the oil industry write our energy policy and Wall Street banks write their own regulations, and now we're passing a health care financing plan that satisfies no one except the insurance industry.
I read that the commander of US forces in Iraq has just banned pregnancy among his troops. Way to keep it real, General. Outlaw physiology.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Life Transitions
It occurs to me, as I advise Kay to beware of paralysis by analysis, that I told her a little bit ago that I'd start writing again if she would; and she started up again awhile ago.
I am conscious of a degree of hopelessness in terms of seeing significant improvement in the state of the Union, and of a lack of any optimism at all about the State of California. I am conscious of some level of anxiety about the change in my personal situation from employed to 'retired' and my impending move away from California. Having said all that, I really can't say why I stopped writing. (I am bitterly disappointed that we appear to be letting the opportunity to enact universal health coverage get away from us, but I don't think that alone was the issue.)
It has occurred to me that I write about politics, etc., because it's easy to identify the issues and potential solutions. I seldom write about what's going on with myself because I don't believe I'm that interesting in the first place and I tend to deny the issues anyway. I confess that I was concerned about losing 30-some pounds over a six-month period, but that seems to be due to ulcerative colitis which apparently will aggravate me for the duration but won't kill me - much like that big honking clot in my right leg.
I have resigned from my job as of last week, and I expect to leave California in my rear-view mirror within six weeks. In a sense then the hard part is over because without a job I can't afford to stay in California anyway. I'm committed, and it's just a matter of getting up onto I-40 and aiming the vehicle east.
I am conscious of a degree of hopelessness in terms of seeing significant improvement in the state of the Union, and of a lack of any optimism at all about the State of California. I am conscious of some level of anxiety about the change in my personal situation from employed to 'retired' and my impending move away from California. Having said all that, I really can't say why I stopped writing. (I am bitterly disappointed that we appear to be letting the opportunity to enact universal health coverage get away from us, but I don't think that alone was the issue.)
It has occurred to me that I write about politics, etc., because it's easy to identify the issues and potential solutions. I seldom write about what's going on with myself because I don't believe I'm that interesting in the first place and I tend to deny the issues anyway. I confess that I was concerned about losing 30-some pounds over a six-month period, but that seems to be due to ulcerative colitis which apparently will aggravate me for the duration but won't kill me - much like that big honking clot in my right leg.
I have resigned from my job as of last week, and I expect to leave California in my rear-view mirror within six weeks. In a sense then the hard part is over because without a job I can't afford to stay in California anyway. I'm committed, and it's just a matter of getting up onto I-40 and aiming the vehicle east.
Friday, September 11, 2009
A Word for HM3 James R. Layton
Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, of Riverbank, CA, was killed September 8, 2009, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Doc Layton was assigned to an embedded training team with Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan.
Doc Crone at corpsman.com first made me aware of this casualty, and he linked to this story of Doc Layton's passing in the Modesto Bee.
Semper Fi
Doc Crone at corpsman.com first made me aware of this casualty, and he linked to this story of Doc Layton's passing in the Modesto Bee.
Semper Fi
Saturday, September 05, 2009
A Word for HM3 Benjamin P. Castiglione
Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin P. Castiglione, 21, of Howell, MI, died September 3, 2009, supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Doc Castiglione was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaisance Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
Semper Fi
Doc Castiglione was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaisance Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
Semper Fi
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Happy Birthday, Millie!
Wishing Millie Garfield of My Mom's Blog a fantastic birthday today.
The woman has a joie de vivre that is nothing short of inspirational.
The woman has a joie de vivre that is nothing short of inspirational.
Friday, August 07, 2009
A Word for HM3 Anthony C. Garcia
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Anthony C. Garcia, 21, of Tyndall, Florida, died August 5, 2009, during combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan.
Doc Garcia was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Third Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Marine Corps Base, Hawaii, at Kaneohe.
Semper Fi
Doc Garcia was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Third Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Marine Corps Base, Hawaii, at Kaneohe.
Semper Fi
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
My Rant About California Government
If you don't care about California or what I think of it then you won't get much out of today's post.
People keep saying that California may be too big to govern as a state or too complex or too diverse or [insert excuse here]. California has been designed to fail, and it's poised to do that brilliantly.
The kids' mom and I had just bought our first home in 1975 and, at the point that my son was due and his mother unemployed and our property taxes had damn near doubled already, I voted for Proposition 13 to roll back and cap property taxes. I don't remember exactly when the 2/3rds requirement to raise taxes in the legislature was passed, but we did that, too. The only sources of new revenue left then were 'fees' and property reassessments on most transfers or sales.
California has also gerrymandered its legislative districts to protect the incumbent parties so that, although the Republicans may never gain a majority, the Democrats will never have a 2/3rds majority. (I went to a community meeting in January and representatives of both Assemblymen spoke. The Democrat's staff was asked what part of Rowland Heights he represented and they didn't know, which is not surprising because he represents a narrow strip along the 60 freeway connecting the Democratic enclave to the east and the one to the west and in which I happen to live.)
For years now California voters have been asked if we want to spend X percent of revenue for schools to which we say yes, and it gets 'borrowed' and spent elsewhere. We've been asked if we want to commit gas taxes to transportation infrastructure to which we say yes, and it's been 'borrowed' and spent elsewhere. We pass a tobacco tax for anti-smoking programs and it gets hijacked into the general fund. Every election cycle they ask us what we want to spend the money on and, immediately afterward, they 'borrow' it and spend it elsewhere, because it doesn't matter what a majority of Californians want if we can't get 2/3rds of the legislature to vote for a way to pay for it all.
The chickens have come home to roost now. With revenues below 2003 levels, and our existing debt service and fixed expenses, there is no discretionary money and there is no recourse in the legislature. Thirty years of smoke and mirrors and fancy accounting moves have run their course, and California is broke.
I would encourage whomever is left here after the 2010 census to keep control of reapportionment completely out of the hands of the political parties. (I would make party affiliation disqualifying for participation.) By then one might hope that Californians will be ready to rebuild their state... or not because by then I have no intention of being a Californian.
People keep saying that California may be too big to govern as a state or too complex or too diverse or [insert excuse here]. California has been designed to fail, and it's poised to do that brilliantly.
The kids' mom and I had just bought our first home in 1975 and, at the point that my son was due and his mother unemployed and our property taxes had damn near doubled already, I voted for Proposition 13 to roll back and cap property taxes. I don't remember exactly when the 2/3rds requirement to raise taxes in the legislature was passed, but we did that, too. The only sources of new revenue left then were 'fees' and property reassessments on most transfers or sales.
California has also gerrymandered its legislative districts to protect the incumbent parties so that, although the Republicans may never gain a majority, the Democrats will never have a 2/3rds majority. (I went to a community meeting in January and representatives of both Assemblymen spoke. The Democrat's staff was asked what part of Rowland Heights he represented and they didn't know, which is not surprising because he represents a narrow strip along the 60 freeway connecting the Democratic enclave to the east and the one to the west and in which I happen to live.)
For years now California voters have been asked if we want to spend X percent of revenue for schools to which we say yes, and it gets 'borrowed' and spent elsewhere. We've been asked if we want to commit gas taxes to transportation infrastructure to which we say yes, and it's been 'borrowed' and spent elsewhere. We pass a tobacco tax for anti-smoking programs and it gets hijacked into the general fund. Every election cycle they ask us what we want to spend the money on and, immediately afterward, they 'borrow' it and spend it elsewhere, because it doesn't matter what a majority of Californians want if we can't get 2/3rds of the legislature to vote for a way to pay for it all.
The chickens have come home to roost now. With revenues below 2003 levels, and our existing debt service and fixed expenses, there is no discretionary money and there is no recourse in the legislature. Thirty years of smoke and mirrors and fancy accounting moves have run their course, and California is broke.
I would encourage whomever is left here after the 2010 census to keep control of reapportionment completely out of the hands of the political parties. (I would make party affiliation disqualifying for participation.) By then one might hope that Californians will be ready to rebuild their state... or not because by then I have no intention of being a Californian.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thoughts on a Parental Government
Stories such as the Hauser family's ordeal offend me in a number of respects.
The first time I heard about Daniel's flight to escape compulsory treatment I was struck by the evident venom in the reporter's voice as she related that the family, although white, believed in the alternative treatment methods of a Native American band. Then it occurred to me that I was hearing of a family being compelled to submit their child to treatment against their will which offended me on a whole other level.
I'm pretty okay with government - including the judiciary branch - constraining my behavior, but I'm of the opinion that compelling behavior is supposed to be the exception. We are compelled to pay taxes and to report for jury duty. Unfortunately we are no longer compelled to make ourselves available for a period of national service. Other examples of compulsory behavior under the law don't quickly come to mind.
I get that Daniel Hauser has Hodgkin's Lymphoma which usually (90%) responds well to chemotherapy and that there is no scientific data to support whatever alternative therapy the family comtemplated. I don't get that society - the government - had any business interfering with the Hausers, particularly with Daniel and Colleen since Anthony Hauser didn't seem up for the challenge.
Unless I learn that no Minnesota child with Hodgkin's Lymphoma is ever left to his or her fate without appropriate chemotherapy, I'm inclined to think that this comes down to an arbitrary abuse of power depriving Mrs. Hauser of her parental rights and responsibilities - probably because they have pretty good insurance - and of her right to give or refuse her informed consent to her son's treatment. (I know she 'consented' in court today but if you think that wasn't under any duress then I've got some 'confessions' from Gitmo for you to read.) There was no compelling interest in this case unless every case of Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Minnesota is handled the same way.
The first time I heard about Daniel's flight to escape compulsory treatment I was struck by the evident venom in the reporter's voice as she related that the family, although white, believed in the alternative treatment methods of a Native American band. Then it occurred to me that I was hearing of a family being compelled to submit their child to treatment against their will which offended me on a whole other level.
I'm pretty okay with government - including the judiciary branch - constraining my behavior, but I'm of the opinion that compelling behavior is supposed to be the exception. We are compelled to pay taxes and to report for jury duty. Unfortunately we are no longer compelled to make ourselves available for a period of national service. Other examples of compulsory behavior under the law don't quickly come to mind.
I get that Daniel Hauser has Hodgkin's Lymphoma which usually (90%) responds well to chemotherapy and that there is no scientific data to support whatever alternative therapy the family comtemplated. I don't get that society - the government - had any business interfering with the Hausers, particularly with Daniel and Colleen since Anthony Hauser didn't seem up for the challenge.
Unless I learn that no Minnesota child with Hodgkin's Lymphoma is ever left to his or her fate without appropriate chemotherapy, I'm inclined to think that this comes down to an arbitrary abuse of power depriving Mrs. Hauser of her parental rights and responsibilities - probably because they have pretty good insurance - and of her right to give or refuse her informed consent to her son's treatment. (I know she 'consented' in court today but if you think that wasn't under any duress then I've got some 'confessions' from Gitmo for you to read.) There was no compelling interest in this case unless every case of Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Minnesota is handled the same way.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Happy Birthday, Tamar!
Tamar of Mining Nuggets is already celebrating this milestone birthday in Paris, but I'll add my best wishes for her to enjoy a beautiful day and many more years of good health and great happiness.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thoughts on Torture
I've repeated - I don't know how many times - before that we don't do the things we do because of who "they" are but because of who we are. Dick Cheney insists to this day that, because it yielded actionable intelligence, our torture of prisoners was justified. I think we all need to think about who we are and what, if anything, we stand for.
The Geneva Conventions are pretty clear that placing someone in fear for their life or of being maimed is considered torture throughout the world. We can call it 'aggressive interrogation' if we want to, but in the World Court it's called torture. People who torture are criminals. In fact, given that it's hard to think of anything more terrifying than being killed or maimed, it could be argued that people who torture are terrorists... terrorist organizations... state sponsored terrorism.
We did it. We need to face that we did it, and we need to stop doing it. I was going to say that we need to promise not to do it again, but historically we are also faithless liars. (Seriously, sending prisoners to countries where we know they will be tortured and then using the resulting intelligence makes us what?)
Does the end justify the means? If it does then any behavior can be justifed by a successful outcome. Is that who we are? It kind of looks like that's who we are.
The Geneva Conventions are pretty clear that placing someone in fear for their life or of being maimed is considered torture throughout the world. We can call it 'aggressive interrogation' if we want to, but in the World Court it's called torture. People who torture are criminals. In fact, given that it's hard to think of anything more terrifying than being killed or maimed, it could be argued that people who torture are terrorists... terrorist organizations... state sponsored terrorism.
We did it. We need to face that we did it, and we need to stop doing it. I was going to say that we need to promise not to do it again, but historically we are also faithless liars. (Seriously, sending prisoners to countries where we know they will be tortured and then using the resulting intelligence makes us what?)
Does the end justify the means? If it does then any behavior can be justifed by a successful outcome. Is that who we are? It kind of looks like that's who we are.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A Word on the Commissioning of USS Stockdale (DDG-106)
As I noted on his passing, I don't have a lot of heroes - don't believe in them for the most part - but Adm. James B. Stockdale was one of them. Yesterday the Navy commissioned the newest Arleigh Burke destroyer naming it USS Stockdale. In the Navy, that's considered a huge deal and rightly so. It represents a "second bite at the apple" to establish immortality as the ship and crew establish their reputation well into the 21st century while carrying Admiral Stockdale's name.
The LA Times chose to note that many people might be most familiar with the Admiral as Ross Perot's 1992 running mate. I acknowledge that there's a lot of ignorance in the world, but USS Stockdale honors an officer who commanded men with wisdom and courage through a literal hell and in the face of impossible conditions, and who carried his commitment to public service to his grave.
I wish DDG-106, and all who serve in her, fair winds and following seas throughout a long and honorable career.
The LA Times chose to note that many people might be most familiar with the Admiral as Ross Perot's 1992 running mate. I acknowledge that there's a lot of ignorance in the world, but USS Stockdale honors an officer who commanded men with wisdom and courage through a literal hell and in the face of impossible conditions, and who carried his commitment to public service to his grave.
I wish DDG-106, and all who serve in her, fair winds and following seas throughout a long and honorable career.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Happy Birthday, Kay!
A quick shout-out to wish Kay (of Kay's Thinking Cap) a fantastic birthday, and every happiness for many years to come.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Happy Birthday, Ronni!
Wishing Ronni Bennett at Time Goes By a fantastic birthday today, and many more years of good health and great happiness.
I know that my path has been smoother over the past five years for the information and resources she's shared, and I owe her. She's a hero and role model, and a dear friend.
I know that my path has been smoother over the past five years for the information and resources she's shared, and I owe her. She's a hero and role model, and a dear friend.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Post-Inaugural Frustration
Did you have the dream that this past national election marked a turning point in the modern American political experience? I confess that I did, but the dream has been mortifying into the same old nightmare since.
Every time I hear the words "Republican," "Democrat," or "bi-partisan" I feel the need to strangle someone. I speak strictly for myself, but I'd be willing to bet that a large part of the reason for low voter turnouts is that 60% of us don't give a rat's ass which party a prospective legislator belongs to; I want you to represent me, irrespective of your fraternity or whatever you call it, and you haven't been doing it.
There are more than 300 million Americans now, and each one of us is experiencing this day from his or her own unique perspective. There are very few, if any, legitimate partisan issues; you people were elected to represent all of the people of the United States. If you want to represent the Republican Party or the Democratic Party or any other party, do it on your own time. On taxpayer time I want you to shut the fuck up, and get to work representing me and my interests in the city, county, state and nation.
California Senator Bob Huff, you should have been fired as an Assemblyman. It's February 14th, and our state budget was due last July 1st. Lead, follow, or get out of the way, but at least have the decency to refuse your salary. Assemblyman Charles Calderon, the same is true for you, too. You people have one deadline and you've missed it by more than seven months this time!
Senator Harry Reid, quit sending me your damned e-mails and solicitations. I sent a little money to the Edwards' campaign, but I'm an independent voter - and you should be, too. This isn't a pissing contest; it's our government.
Every time I hear the words "Republican," "Democrat," or "bi-partisan" I feel the need to strangle someone. I speak strictly for myself, but I'd be willing to bet that a large part of the reason for low voter turnouts is that 60% of us don't give a rat's ass which party a prospective legislator belongs to; I want you to represent me, irrespective of your fraternity or whatever you call it, and you haven't been doing it.
There are more than 300 million Americans now, and each one of us is experiencing this day from his or her own unique perspective. There are very few, if any, legitimate partisan issues; you people were elected to represent all of the people of the United States. If you want to represent the Republican Party or the Democratic Party or any other party, do it on your own time. On taxpayer time I want you to shut the fuck up, and get to work representing me and my interests in the city, county, state and nation.
California Senator Bob Huff, you should have been fired as an Assemblyman. It's February 14th, and our state budget was due last July 1st. Lead, follow, or get out of the way, but at least have the decency to refuse your salary. Assemblyman Charles Calderon, the same is true for you, too. You people have one deadline and you've missed it by more than seven months this time!
Senator Harry Reid, quit sending me your damned e-mails and solicitations. I sent a little money to the Edwards' campaign, but I'm an independent voter - and you should be, too. This isn't a pissing contest; it's our government.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Reflection on Gaza
It's in my heart to say something about what's happening in Gaza. I am - praying, if you will - for the people of Israel at this time because I'm afraid that they've lost their way and that they're amassing some really horrible karma.
I think I can see their frustration with the terrorists blindly firing rockets over the fence into Israel, but it's Israel's fence and I think they have a responsibility for the custody of the people confined within it. I try to imagine circumstances - levels of gang activity, etc. - that would justify putting walls around an entire population and then directing fire on them with bombs and artillery, and I can't get there. We don't do this in prison riots where everybody in there is presumably guilty of something.
What is Israel's objective? The Hamas militants firing those rockets are criminals whose objective is to destabilize the relationship between Israel and the Arab world. As with our response to 9/11, certainly Israel has been provoked; but will their response advance their objectives or Hamas'. What is being created inside that fence? Peace?
L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa, whose sincerity on any topic is open to question, spoke today of the fear in the eyes of Israeli children. Children within the Gaza perimeter have reportedly stopped reacting to incoming strikes because there is no break. Will these children be able to live together when this is finished?
There's an expression I remember from my younger days: "Kill them all and let God sort them out." I understand where that comes from, but it has never, ever led to lasting peace.
I think I can see their frustration with the terrorists blindly firing rockets over the fence into Israel, but it's Israel's fence and I think they have a responsibility for the custody of the people confined within it. I try to imagine circumstances - levels of gang activity, etc. - that would justify putting walls around an entire population and then directing fire on them with bombs and artillery, and I can't get there. We don't do this in prison riots where everybody in there is presumably guilty of something.
What is Israel's objective? The Hamas militants firing those rockets are criminals whose objective is to destabilize the relationship between Israel and the Arab world. As with our response to 9/11, certainly Israel has been provoked; but will their response advance their objectives or Hamas'. What is being created inside that fence? Peace?
L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa, whose sincerity on any topic is open to question, spoke today of the fear in the eyes of Israeli children. Children within the Gaza perimeter have reportedly stopped reacting to incoming strikes because there is no break. Will these children be able to live together when this is finished?
There's an expression I remember from my younger days: "Kill them all and let God sort them out." I understand where that comes from, but it has never, ever led to lasting peace.
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