Disagreements

Disagreements.  Nobody should disagree with me as I am always right - or as my friend Gary says - if I want your opinion I will give it to you. Sometimes I am not sure he is kidding when he says that but that is a tale for another time.

Recently General James Mattis, the Secretary of Defense for the U.S.A., resigned his position because he has policy disagreements with POTUS 45. 25% of our federal government is currently shutdown because of disagreements between POTUS45 and members of Congress over the building of a wall for border security which POTUS45 is convinced will stop the flow of drugs as well as eliminate the drug dealers, rapists, gang members and other human detritus Trump is trying to convince us Mexico is sending to assault the U.S.A.

There seems to be basic disagreement over how many illegals are crossing the border these days as well. So many disagreements. The only thing the involved parties can seem to agree on is that there is disagreement.

Disagreement resolution has three potential outcomes - one of the  parties wins outright, a compromise is reached, no agreement or compromise is able to be agreed upon and thus there is no resolution (sort of an agree to disagree). Of course the magnitude of the disagreement gives different weight to any outcome.
Does the disagreement involve armed conflict? Is the disagreement between two individuals? Groups? Nation states? All of those impact the attempt at resolution.

How do you approach a disagreement or attempt to resolve a disagreement? I'd start by keeping an open mind. You need to recognize the other side has what they deem to be valid reasons resolution in their favor. All involved need to listen and carefully consider other points of view. You need to genuinely want to resolve the disagreement. And, you must be willing to accept the decision of the mediator/facilitator if there is one.

It's all pretty basic stuff in my opinion - be respectful of the other side in a disagreement, listen carefully with an open mind and look for common ground on which to build an agreement. While that may not solve 100percent of your disagreements, it will solve enough of the day to day disagreements and leave you with the time and wherewithal to handle the really crazy ones. And, if all else fails, there is Glenlivet.

Be sure to check Ramana's Musings to see what he has to say about disagreements. And Happy New Year to you all

Is Competition Good for Kids?

This weeks topic came about after some discussions about participation trophies awarded to many teams in youth sports and  my observations over the years coaching youth soccer, baseball, softball and a few relevant life experiences.

Most people that know me know I spent most of my first 10 years in Pueblo, Colorado.That's where I was first exposed to both competition and youth sports. My first memory of competing is from second grade. My friend Dave Perkins competed in everything. Literally everything, We'd take a quiz in school (Carlile Elementary) and our custom was to stand when finished. The first thing Dave and I did upon standing was to check if the other was already standing.  Then we compared grades on the work, both seeking what passed for bragging rights to a second grader. We  both liked the same girl - Susan Taylor and both lost that one as she moved to California. About the only thing we did not compete on was eating lunch, though if memory serves Dave was a Coke guy and I was an RC Cola guy.

Our competition lasted until I moved to California the summer between 4th and 5th grade. Dave was one of the last people I saw before leaving Pueblo. Truth be told, in all of our competition we split just about 50/50. Dave quarterbacked the local HS football team to a state championship - no surprise to me. But all of that competition created a bond of friendship between us that would have lasted had I not moved away. In sports we got to play on the same Old Timers baseball team and Bantam League football team.

In California I continued with youth sports - Little League baseball replaced Old Timers baseball in Colorado. My days were nearly identical to the summer days depicted in the excellent  movie Sandlot. Not once were any participation awards passed out at the end of the year. If your team won the league championship you earned that recognition.

Fast forward a few years and Lynn and I coached my sister's softball team - 14-17 year old girls. No team I ever coached competed harder than Sheila's team and we did very well. We won our division and were rewarded with trophies for the recognition we had earned. There was a large pizza party for all. Another chance to hang out with their buddies on the other teams.

About that same time I got involved in youth soccer - no surprise there as both of my kids played in the league. Players were lumped into two basic categories - house and traveling. Other than tournaments, the house players all played within their league whereas the Traveling teams - the best players - played all around the area. They were as  serious about soccer as humanly possible whereas House players generally were in it for fun, and there was an  advanced house division to help develop players for the Traveling teams.

So what did the kids get from their participation in these teams? Starting as far back as my early participation I learned about competition, teamwork, winning and losing. I learned that it takes work and effort to develop the requisite skills to win. I learned there is a difference between winning and losing. I learned that winning is more fun than losing. And, I learned that as long as you gave your best effort, losing is not a crime. Nor is winning. If you lose you try to correct the mistakes that led to the loss and if you win, keep honing your skills. Be flexible.

These are all valuable life skills that apply daily. The world is growing more and more competitive. Kids must learn life skills at an early age and continue to hone those skills as long as they are part of the workforce. Be flexible. The days of working for a single company for your entire life have come a halt. Things are changing and developing at an incredible pace and will likely require a degree of teamwork and creative thinking unlike ever before.

Does exposure to competition assure success in this highly competitive world? Absolutely not. But it will create better prepared people to face the typical daily insanity we encounter.

Be sure to visit Ramana's Musings to see what he has to say about this topic.

Has liberalism failed? 2-on-1 12/14/2018

Has Liberalism failed? To proceed with this text there needs to be  an agreed upon definition of what Liberalism really is.  The far-right in this country has confused the situation by essentially equating liberalism with many historic evils, including communism, socialism, the devil, mental deficiencies and many more.

Merriam Webster offers this as one of its definitions - political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties specifically : such a philosophy that considers government as a crucial instrument for amelioration of social inequities (such as those involving race, gender, or class).

On the surface that all sounds great. The elimination of social inequities. Wow. Liberalism  eliminates racism, race and gender discrimination and more. Wow. Sounds like a perfect world to me.

Alas, all "isms" share a common misconception - that they can be all things to all people. Isms and their followers seem to consider themselves one size fits all solutions to an increasingly complex world with extraordinarily complex issues which must be resolved to make progress. And that, my friends, is from whence the so-called Progressive movement emerged from the swamp into the  lexicon of modern politics. 

And, from the Progressive movement came the most infamous of all indicator Liberal/Progressive thought - Political Correctness. The stuff that gets sanctimonious do-gooders to want to remove everything that is offensive to someone from the airwaves, written page and consigned to the garbage can of life. If the Political-Correctness cops had their way all pages would be blank and the airwaves void of content.

Every right-thinking individual recognizes the folly in such thought and action. We function best and make progress within a system that does little or nothing to restrict or impede the acquisition of wealth. Vast quantities of it. Prices are to be determined by the market with no restriction on profit. And if you reject Jesus in any way, shape or form enjoy your short earthly stay because you will spend eternity in hell. Oh - and there are no AC units in hell. 

Clearly both liberalism and conservatism have been presented in very brief, extremes here. I could go on and on but this weekly exercise is not for War and Peace - we are more of a short story or for those of you who may recall them - the Cliff's Notes versions.

In the brief samples offered above, the liberal viewpoint offers empathy and concern whereas the right viewpoint is more of the Gordon Gecko greed is good notion. Both - if taken on their own are ineffective in the long run. It is when the two notions are combined that a real workable solution is offered. And when we hop into our very safe automobiles - made safe by liberal/progressive safety feature demands that the auto manufacturers screamed would put them all out of business because of the cost - and drive to our safe that back up to a marvelous river that we swim in and catch food from - thanks to restrictions placed on the lumber mill and coal mine handling of waste that was once simply  dumped into the river we should give props to those liberal folks.

When President Bill Clinton had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky in the 1990s, right-wing evangelist Franklin Graham—son of the late Rev. Billy Graham—was not happy. As he saw it, Clinton had disgraced the presidency. And he wasn’t about to keep quiet about Clinton’s infidelity because the president’s “sins are not private.” But in 2018, Franklin Graham has a very different set of rules for President Donald Trump—and this time, he is ordering fellow Christians as well as the media to lay off the president or face God’s wrath and judgement. Isn't it amazing what the price for a couple of Supreme Court Justices can be.

This little ditty could become a large ditty very quickly but I do not wish to scare you off. Liberalism is not dead nor is its counterpart - Conservatism. A judicious application to both principles is required in nearly all instances for any semblance of a civil society. Back in the old days it was not a mortal sin, political suicide nor just plain wrong for our two political sides to get together and be civil to each other while working things out. I used to be what was known as a Rockefeller Republican. I have a liberal, progressive view of most social causes and a more conservative view of government.Smaller is better. These days I am most often called a RINO or libtard.

That's a wrap on this week's topic. be sure to check Ramana's Musings for his take. 

Can a truly decent man be an effective leader?

We lost former President George H.W. Bush last week. Bush 41 - not to be confused with his son, Bush 43. Almost immediately, Bush 41 was hailed as a truly decent man and excellent leader, contrasted sharply with the crude, amoral current occupier of the White House.

What constitutes decency? Merriam Webster's dictionary for learning English says: polite, moral and honest behavior and attitudes that show respect for other people. That is perfectly acceptable for the context of this exercise.
 
41's legacy of decency was discussed by every network and most commentators from both parties. Twitter was alive with tweets extolling the decency and virtues of Bush 41. and even President Trump, who has blasted Bush 41 i n the past, restrained himself. Can there be a red lineeven Trump will not cross?

Bush 41 history is well known - born into substantial wealth,the youngest aviator in WWII, graduated from Yale University, successful businessman, elected to the House of Representatives twice, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chief of the Liaison Office in China, Director of Central Intelligence, Vice  President and finally President.
various
As happens with most politicians, Bush 41's position on various issues, among them abortion, evolved over the years. Bush could reach across the aisle and work with Democrats. almost unheard of in these days marked by some of the most acrimonious political times in history.

Bush 41 was a Republican - make no mistake about that. He was loyal to the cause but respectful to the other side. When Bush 41 spoke of reaching across the aisle he was serious about doing just that. There is very little of that today.
 Bush 41 likely was not elected to a second term due to his  famous "No new taxes" comment and then raising taxes. Bush 41 did what was right at the time, not the most expedient, and he paid a hefty price.

Many people are astonished at the friendship that developed between Bush 41 and Bill Clinton. Clinton is certainly not known widely as a decent human being and his connections with/to known pedophile Jeffrey Epstein (also a pal of Trump's) certainly have been seemingly ignored - as have Trump's ties to Epstein. Hillary Clinton? Her actions regarding Epstein and others are equally disqualifying for a decency award but Both Clintons are widely respected for their political savvy. Trump and his actions are an embarrassment but some of his policies have been well received so clearly being a decent human being is not a requirement to be an effective leader, though I would argue it is desirable.

And then there is Bush 43 - the self-proclaimed compassionate conservative. Bush 43  aka "W" is one of the most widely mocked people to serve in the White House. I consider him to be the Yogi Berra of politics. And, like Yogi, I believe W to be a truly decent human being - as is IMHO his brother Jeb, the former governor of Florida. I suggest their inherent decency came from their father and how he lived his life and the example Bush 41 and his wife Barbara offered their children. It is no surprise that the Bushes were much more welcoming to immigrants than their party today. Decency in and of itself does not necessarily dictate policy - it merely affects how policies are implemented.

Bush 41's presidency included military action dictated by foreign policy. Military action in Panama and the Middle East, and the Berlin Wall came down. Operation Desert Storm was a huge success.

When you add up the successes and failures in George H W Bush's lifetime it is clear he was a successful man and by extension a successful leader so yes - given the right set of circumstances a truly decent man can be an effective leader. I have no doubt the same holds true for a truly decent woman. But real decency is no guarantee of effective leadership.

That's my take on this week's topic.Be sure to check Ramana's Musings for Ramana's take on the subject.

Weekend Athletes

This week's topic was suggested by Ramana. It is something that in September of 1970 I willingly became - a weekend athlete. That is when my school sports days came to an end because of a disagreement with a football  coach. Weekend athletes are the natural progression for those of us who love sports, want to stay active and grow our previous sport legends in our own minds.

At the time I was a PE major planning on eventually becoming a football coach. I was taking a soccer teaching lab  and became fast friends with a Dutch student named Walther. Whenever I played goalkeeper in our class activities I  did fairly well and Walther convinced me to join him and his team on a Saturday as they had lost their goalie. Thus began my 2-season career as goalkeeper for Hayward United in the East Bay Soccer league. Talk about a fish (whale?) out of water - LOL. Plus, the season was in progress and I  could not register as a new player so I assumed the identity of the previous goalkeeper and before every game when the referees were checking the player passes (photo ids) I was always warming up at the opposite end of the pitch. The mostly English players on the team got a kick out of the giant keeper who played angles like a hockey goalie and tried to be helpful. One game got completely out of hand and multiple fights broke out. The opposing keeper - a large Dutch gent named Hans  sprinted my way and when he got close enough to swing started laughing and said "No frickin way are we going to fight. I'm Hans" and stuck his hand out. We shook hands and watched the officials sort things out. After the game we went for beers - a necessary component of weekend sports - and realized he attended the same JC as I.

The makeup of the team was fairly similar to every weekend sports team of which I was a member - several older (40s) players, mostly 30s players that formed the core of the team and a few younger players.

I was working at Sears at the time and there was a softball team made up of players from the store. I talked to the guy that ran the team and he was frankly not interested in a 290 lb first baseman so his team was  always without an opening. As luck would have it there was a weekend when several players were unavailable (also a regular component of weekend sports) and I got a shot to play. The field had a left field fence with tall, full trees along the fence and across the street was a 4 or 5 story apartment complex. The fence was 275 or so feet away from home plate, really a bit short. The first 4 times I batted I hit 2 balls against the apartment and all 4 over the fence and trees. Jack - the guy that ran the team just kept shaking his head and laughing. I should interject that consistently hitting a slow-pitch softball a long way is tougher than it sounds as the balls are pitched with very high arch. I'm tall enough that the arc does not effect me much. Long story short - I was the regular first baseman for that team until 1976 when Lynn and I moved to Connecticut when she was offered a job transfer. As luck - or fate - would have it, we were not having much luck meeting other young couples until after a discussion with the local(liquor store) package store owner lamenting the need for a first baseman
on his softball team. Our social lives improved greatly when my teammates realized I could hit a softball over 300 feet fairly regularly. Suddenly being from California did not mean quite so much in conservative Rocky Hill CT.

We moved back to California in 1977 but it was southern California. I did not  participate in sports there although my bonafides were confirme inadvertently when once during a lunchtime conversation one of the salesmen was bragging about his softball team. They were exceptional and included an ex NFL player who hit monster home runs. He told me the fellows name -  Ed Galigher - and I smiled and said to tell Ed hi for me. Les was somewhat incredulous as he knew I was from Northjern California and Ed (6'5, 275 or so) was a UCLA alum. Turns out Ed and I had been friends since  Little League as we were both from Hayward, we played JC ball together at Chabot. We had been friends and competitors since he was 11 and I was 12. Ed is the best football player I ever played with or against. I may still have the bruises to prove it. The next day Les - the salesman - had a different opinion of me - LOL and relayed Ed's greetings back to me.

At the end of 1977 we made our way back to Northern California and I continued to play softball util my late 40s.  I also regularly played raquetball and handball as well as the odd weekend football game. For several consecutive Thanksgivings a large group of us played a game on Thanksgiving Day aptly named the Turkey Bowl.

Unfortunately, the weekend athlete typically does not have access to medical care and eventually that takes its toll. I am now paying for those decades of fun by living in constant pain. Both knees are shot and I gimp around on crutches. While suggested several times I have a thing about knee surgery and refuse to have it. Knee surgery ranks right up there with flying as shackman no way in hell things. My right shoulder hurts so much I occasionally cannot hang my shirts in the closet. That said, I would do it all again. Someone once called sports the opioid of the masses.

They certainly were that for me. No matter what happened during the week, Saturday or Sunday game time found me with a big grin on my face. Just playing the game was good enough to perk us up.

One of my last job assignments at RadioShack was copywriter for web content. My boss was a former tight end at TCU who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. Brian and I had seveal conversations about sports in general and he asked me why I quit playing. I said that while I enjoyed playing I realized that after two years playing JC football, the second on a nationally ranked team, I simply did npot love the game enpough to keep up with the effort it would take to continue playing. He smiled and said that when the 49ers drafted him they wanted him to play for Barcelona in the World league to rehab his injured ankle. He came to the same realization - he simply could not give the level of effort required to continue playing.

Perhaps if we'd known how much money would be involved down the line we'd have felt different, alas we made our decisions.  Weekend athletes encompass a broad swath of personalities and are simmply a cross section of any culture. There are some competent athletes, some who were never particularly successful athletes and a myriad other reasons but they all share a desire to play. In many ways weekend athletics offer the fun of a sport with much less pressure. The exercise is good for you and the camaraderie is great. Game days are easily turned into family fun days with picnics, parties and more. I'd definitely do it all again.

Be sure to check Ramana's Musings for his take on the subject.

Favorite Time of the Year

This weeks topic was my choice. What is your favorite time of the year? Mine is the last quarter of the year -m October, November and December.

Why? .Summer is gone, it is much cooler and Fall has begun. Fall is my favorite season - leaves change and the scenery is spectacular if you do not live in an urban environment. I have very distinct memories of my time in Colorado when we would pile into the car and head off to Aspen to see the changing colors. Gotta admit though - it would be kinda cool if the buildings changed color like the leaves during the fall. Maybe in an alternate universe.

Fall transitions into winter. Now remember - I do not live in a place where winter buries you up to your rear end in snow. I have not seen that since 1976 in Connecticut. I enjoyed it back them butr I was not even 30. The thought of that now is not pleasant. This is more like it....

North Carolina snow

Ft. Worth snow

 And then there are the holidays in the last quarter of the year, beginning with Halloween - my absolute fave as a child. Yes - I liked Halloween even more than Christmas. Back them it was common to receive  home made treats like candy and caramel coated apples, popcorn balls, cookies and the like.It was most definitely a more innocent time. The cinnamon candy coated apples on a stick were my faves -  bright red and oh so cinnamony.

Next up on the holiday parade is Thanksgiving - the American holiday known most for serious over eating and watching football with family and friends Turkeys begin  to get nervous about their fate around September I suspect. In fact mine is in the oven right now, under the watchful eye of my oldest granddaughter Jazz.
December has several holidays - Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing day and Omisoka.There are more that apply to other parts of the world.

The plethora of holidays has had people through the years saying Happy Holidays. Recently that has caused the evangelical right to claim there is a war on Christmas which has led to other people complaining about religious icons and displays being incorporated in civic holiday displays. Personally I usually wish people a Merry Christmas and have yet to run into someone who is offended. Sometimes a person will indicate they are not Christian. I usually ask if they celebrate any of the other December holidays and depending on their response wish them a happy Hanukka Kwanzaa or whichever is appropriate.

 

Personally I think those offended by someone wishing them a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays need to take a chill pill. Anything that silly that contributes to our divided society is ridiculous.

And finally there is that annual reset button known as New Year's Eve. Now I freely admit it is rare these days for me to stay up until that silly ball falls in Time Square but it is refreshing to know you get to begin a new year the very next morning.

One thing interesting great to speculate on is would my favorite time be the same if I lived say in Oz - like my HS classmate Jerry. Because of the weather I cannot be sure.

Be sure to check Ramana's Musings to see what Ramana has to say

Secrets

Ramana's choice for a topic this week is Secrets.  We live in a world filled with secrets. Everybody has secrets and every institution has secrets. And - pretty much everyone wants to know those secrets.

Politics and secrets certainly make strange bedfellows. It seems today's secrets in the political realm are merely tomorrow's leaks, designed to keep that "secret" in the news cycle longer than the typical 24-hour news cycle. That has - to my mind - increased significantly since 45 was elected. Our amoral sociopath POTUS is a master manipulator and liar. Who knows what secrets he is hiding under his sad looking comb-over. One thing is certain - the Presidential Book of Secrets  will never be the same after 45 is finished with it.

Like many things in life, secrets can be benign or harmful. Some are up for debate as far as I am concerned. I am not convinced it is ultimately harmless to kids to jeep up the existing Easter (bunny), Christmas (Santa, the Tooth Fairy and other similar mythologies for kids - we are lying to them. How can that be good when we are essentially telling kids it is okay to lie long before they are old enough to comprehend.

Keeping a secret like a surprise celebratory party is perfectly acceptable. I certainly enjoyed the party arranged for my 17th birthday unbeknownst to me.

Secret societies have been with us for centuries. Arguably, the most famous (infamous?) in western society is the Masons. The Masons have been accused of  and the subject of the most prevalent conspiracy theories in recent memory, from covering up the fact that Jesus has a bloodline (fictionalized in the DaVinci Code to devil worship along with the Templars. For a look at Masonic conspiracies, check. All of this is due to the secretive nature of the Freemasons.  Check here here to read about freemasonry  in Wikipedia.

Secret societies are by no means limited to western culture. Have you ever heard of a thug? That term comes from a Hindu cult called Thuggees in India - robbers and murderers responsible for upwards of 2 million deaths per  the Guinness book of records. Perhaps Ramana has one in his family woodpile - LOL. I have Freemasons  in mine.

The Ivy League - arguably the most prestigious group of colleges/universities in the U.S.A. is home to a vast list of secret societies, the most famous being Yale's Skull and Bones Society.  Read about  The Skull and Bones in Wikipedia.

Read about the Skulls - it is fascinating to see how many powerful men - including Presidents - are or have been  members. A central conspiracy theory to the Skulls and to an extent the Freemasons is their so-called desire to control the world.

There are religious secret-societies. They have been mentioned in several popular movies - the Illuminati and the Knights Templar, there are the Rosicrucians and more.

Clearly secrets play a huge part in society - from the benign kid stuff to some  allegedly very powerful groups. Some of it makes for very enjoyable reading.

As usual, be sure to check Ramana's Musings to see what his take on secrets is.

For you curious types there is a newsletter that you can sign up for to be kept up to date on the world domination desires of secret societies here  Secret Societies.

Do you believe in magic?

When I sent this topic to Ramana for our weekly blog, I neglected to mention what its inspiration was. John Sebastian, a superb artist, songwriter and musician, was playing with the band in a club in New York when he noticed a young lady  dancing. This was early in the bands history and he said it was like magic watching how she reacted to the music. Now, considering the time frame there could possibly have been some chemicals involved, but this song was the result. 

Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart

How the music can free her whenever it starts 
And it's magic, if the music is groovy 
It makes you feel lovely like an old time movie 
I'll tell you about the magic, and it'll free your soul 
But it's like tryin' to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll

My readers know how important music is to me. Do I believe in the magic of music? Absolutely.

Artists have been painting and drawing throughout recorded history. In fact cave drawings are the earliest form of recorded history available. From cave paintings to Dali and all others, art is purely magical.I suspect most people have an artist or two that cast a spell over them with their work.Here are a couple of my faves.There are art styles and artists sufficient to appeal to almost anyone.

You say you like to read about magic? J.K. Rowling's best selling Harry Potter series of books inspired millions of kids to read a fairly complex series of books. But you re an adult you say? Might I suggest  Jim Fishers Harry Dresden series which I was inspired to read thanks to an email from best selling author Dana Stabenow - author of one of my favorite mystery series featuring Alaskan investigator Kate Shugak.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I'd say that qualifies as a sort of magic on the printed page.

Have you ever listened to radio dramas? Stepped back in time to those thrilling days of yesteryear? Give this a listen - and   while listening imagine stumbling across this on the radio dial one day in the 1930s and missing the intro.             

Magic? Considering the wide spread panic this broadcast caused, I would say this qualifies as magic.

Movie magic shows itself in many forms. There is the story - a well thought out story can enchant an audience, Then there is the most obvious form of movie magic - special effects. That form of  magic has grown in leaps and bounds since the early days and frankly often the effects detract from a film. Not this one though.

When special effects are combined with a fun story the resulting movie itself is magical - like Jurassic Park, my choice for the greatest popcorn movie (my term for a movie that is just plain fun to watch) of all time,  although Jaws will always be right up there.

Magicians have been around for centuries, These days they typically call themselves illusionists,, although those purveyors of close up tricks call themselves magicians. I prefer Penn and Teller for magic.

Penn and Teller have a summer TV show called Fool Us where magicians try to fool Penn and Teller with techniques and tricks - in other words, How did you do that? If you enjoy magic, coin and  card tricks, mentalism and even some classic magician stuff.  Here is a sample.

Magic. It takes many shapes and forms, and is not necessarily the same for everybody.. There are the wonders of nature, numerology,tarot, ouija boards, and what a good friend says is the magical way life unfolds before us. So when asked "Do you believe in magic? My answer is a resounding yes.

Be sure to check Ramana's Musings for his take on today's subject. 

The politics of blogging

Blogging can be extremely frustrating for myriad reasons. In every blogging group I have participated there are times that it feels like a 13-year old gossip session with people ganging up on a single blogger to complain about what or how that blogger says things on their blog.

If a particular blogger offends your sensibilities I say make an attempt to work it out with that blogger one on one. Problem solved? Everyone lives to blog another day in a civil manner. Problem not resolved? Try ignoring  that bloggers blog and comments on blogs you both read. Both parties live to blog another day and skip the frustration of dealing with each other. 

If you simply cannot ignore that blogger's writing then deal with it and quit complaining.- clearly you relish the disagreement more than you are willing to admit and like a good fight. That is fair/fine. Just be honest  about it. Dunno about all y'all, but I loved debate class- put me on either side of the topic  and let the fun begin. I enjoy the battle.

The single caveat I suggest is be civil. It isn't that hard. If you cannot be civil, stay away from here. If the civility of any comment is in question, when you engage on my blog you follow my rules. If that us a problem there are lots of places to read blogs that I am sure you will find more rewarding than Shackman speaks. And, if you feel you cannot participate here because someone who regularly does so offends your sensibility then Happy Trails.


Like the Vaughn Meter line in his old JFK comedy album goes, "When you play with my ball you play by my rules.

A Reason for Being

When I first saw Ramana's choice for this weeks topic I immediately thought great - I will just find  a tube of lipstick, slap some on this pig and be done with it. Then I thought what the hell - I will just be honest and let it all hang out. Please know that I am in no way feeling sorry for myself - I accept full responsibility for everything that has gone on in my 69 years here on the third rock from the sun - good, bad and indifferent.

Truth be told life has not been particularly pleasant for several years. In fact I'd have to say it has sucked. Nothing leaps to mind that qualifies as a reason for being. I have discussed the tale of Lynn's passing and we are now dealing with my daughter Jamie's HD diagnosis. Then of course there is the 50/50 chance each of her three kids has HD. And Sean, my middle thirties aged son refuses to have the diagnostic test as he is afraid it will ruin his attitude for life. And, of course he has two children who may well inherit the disease if he does in fact have it. I can understand his reticence - we all saw  Lynn essentially give up and sit around and wait until she  as died. Of course there were the bouts of violence directed at Jamie and I - Sean not so much because he was rarely around because of the strained relationship with his sister and girl friend and the fact that Jamie and I do not get along at all for reasons I will not get into here. And the relationship has grown more strained since Jamie's diagnosis as she blames me for everything. Why did we have kids? Why do I not have a large insurance policy to take care of her? Who is going to take care of her? Dysfunction junction - otherwise known as my family - is never a dull moment.  The mountains of stress it heaps upon one are immeasurable. 

The simple fact of the matter is that a reliable HD test was not devised until the early 1990s. When the entire topic of HD was revealed to us by Lynn's mother, there was nothing reliable. Lynn went through the protocol and was judged HD free. Her mother lied and never mentioned Lynn's father had HD until his brother died from HD many years after Lynn's father passed. It was not until we had been in Texas several years when circumstances arose that led to Lynn's being tested again and this time testing positive for HD. To this day I remember the call from the Dr's office passing on the fact that Lynn's remaining time was limited and a good percentage of it would not be pleasant.

So now Jamie has essentially seen what her life will be like and she resents it. Can't say that I blame her, She appears to be on a similar trajectory to Lynn's - time wise. It is too early to tell if she will have the exact same symptoms as Lynn. That not only stamps Jamie's sell by date on her forehead it does the same with mine - with the caveat I live that long. That is something I highly doubt will happen as I have health issues that will likely prevent my lasting that long. 

Then there was the pipe dream, that was a reason to hope for a better outcome. An old friend and I agreed to play the lottery and if one of us won, we'd establish a base in a place called Nevada City, CA and use it as a base for an extended road trip, just hanging out and having a good time. We are great friends, we have known each other about 50 years and thought that would be a great end to things. Silly - I know but like I said, it was something to hope for and laugh about. She has been diagnosed with cancer - a dream crusher. Another reason life sucks.

I cannot count the number of times some well meaning Christian friend posts feel good little sayings about how when god closes a door he opens another one or some such nonsense. My experience shows that god waits until my hand is on the door and then she slams it on me. There must be something about me that just pisses her off but that is fine. It is what it is. And now my favorite baseball player of all time has died. A soul  crusher for me. RIP Willie McCovey.

So, you will forgive me if I say at the moment I do not see a reason for being nor will I waste my time looking. I am just gonna lay low and see what happens. The country is in jeopardy because the person we elected President is a self-serving  liar, narcissist and amoral sociopath. None of that bodes well for our future. The hatred that permeates our politics shows no hope of letting up. 45 continues to insult our allies and cozy up to authoritarian figures around the world. He is strapping future generations with unmanageable debt. 

So, my friends,  that is my take on  A Reason for Being. Be sure to check Ramana's Musings to see whet he has to say.

History

This weeks topic is History. Let's take a look at what is written about the past. 

I suspect most of us take history for  granted when we are in school. Many are even bored by history. That is a pity because most people are not even aware of real history. History is written by the winners. It includes the built-in bias of the winners and so most history is spun to reflect the winners point of view. I'd wager it is safe to say there is as much unsaid as is logged and labeled history. 

  

It has become fashionable these days to speak in glowing terms of the people who drove the engine of industry that grew the USA into the titan it is today. We have conveniently forgotten they were called Robber Barons for  reason. Robber baron - a person who has become rich through ruthless and unscrupulous business practices (originally with reference to prominent US businessmen in the late 19th century). These days the current version typically runs a large investment fund. But little is said about our robber baron history.

Take a look at Native Americans - without doubt one of the most repressed groups in history. Take a look at the term genocide - the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. What  happened to Native Americans at  the direction of the US government was genocide but rarely is the term used. Now we grumble about the gambling facilities built on tribal lands. Giving the tribes sovereignty over the land we so graciously gave up in treaty after treaty was fine as long as the land was useless but when the tribes found a way to get something of value, many were not pleased. Our treatment of Native Americans is nothing short of blatant racism.

Winston Churchill - the great statesman from the UK is looked upon as a racist war criminal to people in India. Blogger Aman Spandan says "Churchill was a staunch imperialist who never wanted India to be independent. He had expressed his disgust at 'a half naked fakir parleying with the British' when Mahatma Gandhi attended the Round Table Conference. Again, as the British PM, he refused to talk about granting India independence, saying he had not 'become His Majesty's first minister to preside over the liquidation of the British empire'. So, his other qualities apart, Churchill was no friend of India and it is natural for Indians to have no love for him.

During the devastating Bengal famine, it was the abominable Churchill who refused to divert food grain produced by Indians to save starving Indians.

By 1943 hordes of starving people were flooding into Calcutta, most  dying on the streets." 

That is a significant chunk of history to gloss over when discussing Churchill.

History you probably were not taught in school ............

• Did you know that Joe Kennedy Sr - patriarch of the Kennedy clan was an anti Semite and Nazi sympathizer? 
• After Pope Gregory IX associated cats with devil worship, cats throughout Europe were exterminated in droves. This sudden lack of cats led to the spread of disease because infected rats ran free. The most devastating of these diseases, the Bubonic Plague, killed 100 million people. Karma
• Beginning in 1909 (and continuing into the 1970s), the Australian government instituted a policy of removing Aboriginal children from their parents and teaching them to reject their Aboriginality.
• In 1917, Margaret Sanger was jailed for one month for establishing the first birth control clinic.
• African-American men were not deemed equal members of the Mormon Church until 1978.  This was not a pure "color" issue as there were Polynesians who were never excluded, but interestingly enough BYU developed a nationally ranked football team shortly after the Mormon church president spoke to God and this change happened. Coincidence? Probably. Read about this "revelation" in Wikipedia here.
• After finding a 36,000 year old steppe bison preserved in the ice, Alaskan zoology professor R. Dale Guthrie and his team ate some of its flesh. Guthrie said "the meat was well aged but still a little tough." They should have cooked it low and slow. 
• The Spanish Inquisition issued a death sentence to all of the residents of the Netherlands. 
• BeforeAbraham Lincoln became a politician, he was a champion wrestler. With more than 300 bouts under his belt, Lincoln only lost  one match in his career and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall Of Fame in 1992.
• Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima when the first atom bomb was dropped. He then traveled home to Nagasaki the day before the second atom bomb was dropped. He survived both and lived to be 93.
• During the 1800s in the United States, it was considered a cruel and unusual punishment to feed lobster to prisoners and convicts.
• When the American Civil War started, Confederate Robert E. Lee owned no slaves. Union general U.S. Grant did.
• When famed scientist Nikola Tesla passed away, many of his private documents, possibly including a blueprint for a hypothetical time machine, were viewed by scientist John G. Trump, who happens to be the uncle of President Donald Trump.
• President Lyndon B. Johnson held many important meetings, including press briefings, from the White House toilet. In fact, he even had a phone installed in the bathroom so he could regularly save time and kill two birds with one stone

One cannot help but wonder how historians will view POTUS 45 when his story is written. Clearly the mainstream media has chronicled his continual lies and in spite Trump's protestations,  he should go down in history as the greatest liar of all time. That is going to blow these lists up and make for some sad, fun reading.

That concludes this weeks fun with history post. I must admit my original intent was to do a heavier piece focusing on the dark side of history. Maybe some other time. Be sure to check Ramana's Musings to see what his take on history is. See ya next week,  same Bat time, same Bat channel.

• 13 of 56

  One of history's most successful pirates was a Chinese prostitute named Ching Shih. She commanded a fleet of over 1,500 ships and 80,000 sailors.
  14 of 56

  Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima when the first atom bomb was dropped. He then traveled home to Nagasaki the day before the second atom bomb was dropped. He survived both and lived to be 93.
  15 of 56

  Roman Emperor Gaius, also known as Caligula, made one of his favorite horses a senator.
  16 of 56

  On his death bed, Voltaire was asked to renounce Satan by a visiting priest. He replied, "This is no time to be making new enemies."
  17 of 56

  The town of Salem, New Jersey once held a trial against tomatoes in 1820 because of the widespread belief they were poisonous. The case ended after Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson ate a basket of tomatoes without ill consequence.
  18 of 56

  While Pope Gregory IX was in power, he declared that cats were associated with devil worship and had them exterminated across Europe. It's believed that the disappearance of cats helped rats proliferate and spread the bubonic plague.
  19 of 56

  Potatoes were only introduced to Ireland in the late 1500s after being discovered by Spanish Conquistadors in Peru.
  20 of 56

  Jeanette Rankin became the first female member of Congress in America in 1916, four years before women were given the right to vote.
  21 of 56

  Despite popular rumors, Elvis Presley had severe constipation that plagued him throughout his life. He actually died while pooping because of a condition called "megacolon."
  22 of 56

  In 1942, the U.S. Army fired 1,400 anti-aircraft rounds during what was thought to be a Japanese air raid over Los Angeles County. It turned out to be a false alarm. Five civilians died as an indirect result.
  23 of 56

  In 1493, Columbus thought he saw mermaids -- they were "not as pretty as they are depicted, for somehow in the face they look like men." It's suspected he saw a manatee.
  24 of 56

  At the height of his popularity, Charlie Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like competition in San Francisco. He came in 20th place.
  25 of 56

  Chickens may have been first domesticated by humans for cockfighting, not for food.
  26 of 56

  History's shortest war was between England and Zanzibar. It lasted only 38 minutes.
  27 of 56

  During the 1800s in the United States, it was considered a cruel and unusual punishment to feed lobster to prisoners and convicts.
  28 of 56

  Fourteen years before the Titanic sank, Morgan Robertsonwrote the novella Futility. It was about the large unsinkable ship "Titan" hitting an iceberg in the Northern Atlantic. Both the Titanic and the fictional Titan did not have enough lifeboats for the thousands of passengers on board.
  29 of 56

  Thomas Edison once electrocuted a circus elephant to death on Coney Island. Over a thousand people came to watch her die while Edison recorded it on video.
  30 of 56

  Before the 19th century, dentures were commonly made with teeth pulled from the mouths of dead soldiers.
  31 of 56

  In 1998, 1,200 bones from some ten human bodies were found in the basement of Ben Franklin's house. The bodies were used in the study of human anatomy, scholars believe.
  32 of 56

  Between the 11th and 19th centuries, Buddhist monks in northern Japan practiced a kind of meditation called Sokushinbutsu, in which they would mummify themselves alive by slowly weaning themselves off food and water before eventually starving to death.
  33 of 56

  Seven of the ten deadliest wars in human history have been in China. The Taiping Rebellion alone had twice as many deaths as World War 1.
  34 of 56

  Between 1900 and 1920, Tug of War was an Olympic event.
  35 of 56

  During the middle ages, it was believed that sperm produced from the left testicle produced girls. To ensure having a son, men would have it removed.
  36 of 56

  Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died hours apart on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of American independence.
  37 of 56

  During World War II, a Pennsylvania dentist convinced President Roosevelt to bomb Japan with timed explosives attached to thousands of bats. But after some of the armed bats were accidentally released and destroyed their testing facility, the bat bomb project was scrapped.
  38 of 56

  The tallest married couple ever recorded was Anna Haining Swan (7'11") and Martin Van Buren Bates (7'9"). Swan also gave birth to a 22-pound baby.
  39 of 56

  The smallest Major League Baseball player of all time was 3'7" Eddie Gaedel. He walked in his only plate appearance.
  40 of 56

  President William Henry Harrison served the shortest term in U.S. history. He died of a cold just two months into his presidency. Doctors have him traditional treatments like leeches, opium, and snakeweed, which contributed to his death.
  41 of 56

  In 1945, a balloon bomb launched by Japan landed in Oregon. It was happened upon by a woman and five children, who died when it exploded. These were the only World War 2 casualties on US soil after America entered the war.
  42 of 56

  In 1929, researchers at Princeton University turned a living cat into a telephone.
  43 of 56

  The name "Nazi" was taken from pre-existing slang for a backward peasant. The term was popularized by Hitler's opponents and was rarely used by Nazis themselves.
  44 of 56

  Serial killer Ted Bundy once saved a young child from drowning and also received a commendation from the Seattle Police Department for chasing down a purse snatcher.
  45 of 56

  Instead of saying 'cheese,' Victorians said 'prunes' when their picture was about to be taken.
  46 of 56

  The Civil War began on the farm of Wilmer McLean, who then moved more than a hundred miles away to escape the fighting, only to have the war end inside his new house at Appomattox.
  47 of 56

  One of history's longest wars likely lasted for 335 years and was between the Netherlands and the Isles of Sicily. Not a single person was killed.
  48 of 56

  Romans used urine as mouthwash. Urine contains ammonia, which is one of the best natural cleaning agents on the planet.
  49 of 56

  The current 50 star U.S. flag was designed by 17-year-old Robert Heft for a school project. He received a B-.
  50 of 56

  A passenger who lived through the traumatic fire and sinking of a ship in 1871 faced his fears and boarded the Titanic in 1912. He sank with the ship.
  51 of 56

  In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe wrote The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, a book about four crewmen on a whaling ship who ended up stranded and having to draw lots to see who would be eaten. The lot landed on a cabin boy named Richard Parker. Forty-six years later, a yacht named Mignonette bound for Sydney, Australia capsized en route from London. The three crewmen then killed and ate their cabin boy named Richard Parker.
  52 of 56

  A would-be assassin threw a grenade at George W. Bush in 2005, but it didn't explode.
  53 of 56

  People were buried alive so often in the 19th century that a safety coffin was invented so the "dead" would have the ability to alert those above ground if they were still alive.
  54 of 56

  Civil War soldiers on both sides were offered bounties upon enlistment, causing some men to enlist and escape again and again in order to collect multiple bounties. One man collected 32 before he was finally caught.
  55 of 56

  Lord Byron kept a pet bear in his dorm room while studying at Cambridge University.
  56 of 56

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  Share it:

  • Share
  • Tweet
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Before Abraham Lincoln became a politician, he was a champion wrestler. With more than 300 bouts under his belt, Lincoln only lost one match in his career and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall Of Fame in 1997 of 5Until the early 20th century in Mongolia, criminals could be locked up in a wooden box as punishment, sometimes left to die of starvation8 of 56

• In the Victorian era, it was popular for people to photograph relatives after they had died, often placing them in lifelike poses.
  9 of 56

  In Renaissance France, a woman could take her husband to court if he was impotent.
  10 of 56

  In 1923, jockey Frank Hayes won a race at Belmont Park in New York despite being dead. He suffered a heart attack mid-race, but his body stayed in the saddle until his horse crossed the line for a 20-1 outsider victory.
  11 of 56

  All British tanks since 1945 have included equipment to make tea.
  12 of 56

  Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin were all nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
  13 of 56

  One of history's most successful pirates was a Chinese prostitute named Ching Shih. She commanded a fleet of over 1,500 ships and 80,000 sailors.
  14 of 56

  Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima when the first atom bomb was dropped. He then traveled home to Nagasaki the day before the second atom bomb was dropped. He survived both and lived to be 93.
  15 of 56

  Roman Emperor Gaius, also known as Caligula, made one of his favorite horses a senator.
  16 of 56

  On his death bed, Voltaire was asked to renounce Satan by a visiting priest. He replied, "This is no time to be making new enemies."
  17 of 56

  The town of Salem, New Jersey once held a trial against tomatoes in 1820 because of the widespread belief they were poisonous. The case ended after Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson ate a basket of tomatoes without ill consequence.
  18 of 56

  While Pope Gregory IX was in power, he declared that cats were associated with devil worship and had them exterminated across Europe. It's believed that the disappearance of cats helped rats proliferate and spread the bubonic plague.
  19 of 56

  Potatoes were only introduced to Ireland in the late 1500s after being discovered by Spanish Conquistadors in Peru.
  20 of 56

  Jeanette Rankin became the first female member of Congress in America in 1916, four years before women were given the right to vote.
  21 of 56

  Despite popular rumors, Elvis Presley had severe constipation that plagued him throughout his life. He actually died while pooping because of a condition called "megacolon."
  22 of 56

  In 1942, the U.S. Army fired 1,400 anti-aircraft rounds during what was thought to be a Japanese air raid over Los Angeles County. It turned out to be a false alarm. Five civilians died as an indirect result.
  23 of 56

  In 1493, Columbus thought he saw mermaids -- they were "not as pretty as they are depicted, for somehow in the face they look like men." It's suspected he saw a manatee.
  24 of 56

  At the height of his popularity, Charlie Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like competition in San Francisco. He came in 20th place.
  25 of 56

  Chickens may have been first domesticated by humans for cockfighting, not for food.
  26 of 56

  History's shortest war was between England and Zanzibar. It lasted only 38 minutes.
  27 of 56

  During the 1800s in the United States, it was considered a cruel and unusual punishment to feed lobster to prisoners and convicts.
  28 of 56

  Fourteen years before the Titanic sank, Morgan Robertsonwrote the novella Futility. It was about the large unsinkable ship "Titan" hitting an iceberg in the Northern Atlantic. Both the Titanic and the fictional Titan did not have enough lifeboats for the thousands of passengers on board.
  29 of 56

  Thomas Edison once electrocuted a circus elephant to death on Coney Island. Over a thousand people came to watch her die while Edison recorded it on video.
  30 of 56

  Before the 19th century, dentures were commonly made with teeth pulled from the mouths of dead soldiers.
  31 of 56

  In 1998, 1,200 bones from some ten human bodies were found in the basement of Ben Franklin's house. The bodies were used in the study of human anatomy, scholars believe.
  32 of 56

  Between the 11th and 19th centuries, Buddhist monks in northern Japan practiced a kind of meditation called Sokushinbutsu, in which they would mummify themselves alive by slowly weaning themselves off food and water before eventually starving to death.
  33 of 56

  Seven of the ten deadliest wars in human history have been in China. The Taiping Rebellion alone had twice as many deaths as World War 1.
  34 of 56

  Between 1900 and 1920, Tug of War was an Olympic event.
  35 of 56

  During the middle ages, it was believed that sperm produced from the left testicle produced girls. To ensure having a son, men would have it removed.
  36 of 56

  Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died hours apart on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of American independence.
  37 of 56

  During World War II, a Pennsylvania dentist convinced President Roosevelt to bomb Japan with timed explosives attached to thousands of bats. But after some of the armed bats were accidentally released and destroyed their testing facility, the bat bomb project was scrapped.
  38 of 56

  The tallest married couple ever recorded was Anna Haining Swan (7'11") and Martin Van Buren Bates (7'9"). Swan also gave birth to a 22-pound baby.
  39 of 56

  The smallest Major League Baseball player of all time was 3'7" Eddie Gaedel. He walked in his only plate appearance.
  40 of 56

  President William Henry Harrison served the shortest term in U.S. history. He died of a cold just two months into his presidency. Doctors have him traditional treatments like leeches, opium, and snakeweed, which contributed to his death.
  41 of 56

  In 1945, a balloon bomb launched by Japan landed in Oregon. It was happened upon by a woman and five children, who died when it exploded. These were the only World War 2 casualties on US soil after America entered the war.
  42 of 56

  In 1929, researchers at Princeton University turned a living cat into a telephone.
  43 of 56

  The name "Nazi" was taken from pre-existing slang for a backward peasant. The term was popularized by Hitler's opponents and was rarely used by Nazis themselves.
  44 of 56

  Serial killer Ted Bundy once saved a young child from drowning and also received a commendation from the Seattle Police Department for chasing down a purse snatcher.
  45 of 56

  Instead of saying 'cheese,' Victorians said 'prunes' when their picture was about to be taken.
  46 of 56

  The Civil War began on the farm of Wilmer McLean, who then moved more than a hundred miles away to escape the fighting, only to have the war end inside his new house at Appomattox.
  47 of 56

  One of history's longest wars likely lasted for 335 years and was between the Netherlands and the Isles of Sicily. Not a single person was killed.
  48 of 56

  Romans used urine as mouthwash. Urine contains ammonia, which is one of the best natural cleaning agents on the planet.
  49 of 56

  The current 50 star U.S. flag was designed by 17-year-old Robert Heft for a school project. He received a B-.
  50 of 56

  A passenger who lived through the traumatic fire and sinking of a ship in 1871 faced his fears and boarded the Titanic in 1912. He sank with the ship.
  51 of 56

  In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe wrote The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, a book about four crewmen on a whaling ship who ended up stranded and having to draw lots to see who would be eaten. The lot landed on a cabin boy named Richard Parker. Forty-six years later, a yacht named Mignonette bound for Sydney, Australia capsized en route from London. The three crewmen then killed and ate their cabin boy named Richard Parker.
  52 of 56

  A would-be assassin threw a grenade at George W. Bush in 2005, but it didn't explode.
  53 of 56

  People were buried alive so often in the 19th century that a safety coffin was invented so the "dead" would have the ability to alert those above ground if they were still alive.
  54 of 56

  Civil War soldiers on both sides were offered bounties upon enlistment, causing some men to enlist and escape again and again in order to collect multiple bounties. One man collected 32 before he was finally caught.
  55 of 56

  Lord Byron kept a pet bear in his dorm room while studying at Cambridge University.
  56 of 56

  Like this gallery?
  Share it:

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Emai

7 of 56

Until the early 20th century in Mongolia, criminals could be locked up in a wooden box as punishment, sometimes left to die of starvation.

8 of 56

In the Victorian era, it was popular for people to photograph relatives after they had died, often placing them in lifelike poses.