I believe that this is the first Olympics that many people have seen in High Definition. The old TV's have been replaced by the High Definition ones throughout the land. I must admit the once you see them broadcasted this way, you are pretty well hooked. You may be watching sports you really don't care much about.
Its been pretty cool. There is the bright blue of the pool. The opening ceremony with its novel... I mean in both ways display... it designed to tell the story of Great Briton along with highlighting the celebrities and the culture of the country. It had a dramatic understated theme. It was an extravaganza but not in the sense of the in your face China Olympics. Sue was happy to see the Queen at the opening even though her facial expression, or rather lack of it was disconcerting. She was there however along with the current James Bond.
As there are many channels on the Direct TV set up that are affliliated with NBC, the media sponsers of the games, it has been fun searching around and finding that one channel is almost totally devoted the the boxing venue. This afternoon I came across the station where the basketball was alive and well.
My most interesting "finds" have been the whitewater kayak competition and the archery team competition. The women's whitewater competition was dominated by a 44 year old Czech. It is amazing the venue that was manufactured for the event.The height and depth of the concrete channel with huge artificial boulders added to it and gigantic pumps that recycle the water in ferocious turbulence was pretty exciting to see. I couldn't help but think of the novella Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan. The person in the book goes into the Cleveland Wrecking Yard in San Francisco and buys a section of trout stream. Someone was clearly buying sections of whitewater (designing and engineering it) so that this sport could happen at this venue. The coverage of the sport was very exciting.
The archery was a wild team event. The US team had knocked off the favored South Korean team and had only the Italians to beat for the gold medal. Sporting technologically "tricked" out bows the men drew their 50 pound strings and aimed at a target a long distance away. It got down to who could calm their hearts down and gently release the string so that the arrow would pierce the air and hit the target. After doing plenty of archery in my youth it still relied on the release. The winners did not "throw flowers" or jerk the release. The fingers had to release the arrow to its target while the thumb rested up against the checks. The results of the contest whose certainty wavered throughout proved the Italians had a better team by two points. It was a contest that will never be shown in prime time. It was pretty exciting to a former archer.
The coverage of the sports even with the ability to time shift has resulted in some people running around kind of grumpy. The coverage ends at 1 am each night. There have been dramatic decreases in people out shopping in the stores of Merced when the Olympics are on TV. We have become a nation glued to the TV for some good news. These athletes have a chance to give us this chance. We all know that the good feeling afterwards is temporary ... it still will keep us glued.
Take care and blink those eyes every so often...
: ) Pat
A written expression of a 65year old plus retired Speech and Language Specialist in the Central Valley of California.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Free Food and Freelander Culture
There is a friend of mind that grew up in a different generation and somehow developed a mind set that if there was anything out there that was free it was his. When people had parties, he would crash the the event so that he could "celebrate" with them and eat the free food. If he was remotely connected he was there bellied up to the table for a portion. When someone had talent, he would be there to use that talent for free of course and when called on it he backed off and claimed it was the person's privilege to comp him with their knowledge. At times it was a a cool ego boost to the person that had talent. I can teach him how to do it... blah blah blah. No, he really didn't want to learn or go through the steps to learn, he wanted your shortcuts and better yet do it for him for free.
It probably should not be strange to me that when it came to politics, the same thing was true in his philosophy. He did not want the government to do anything except defend him militarily. They should not collect the taxes to pay for schools for his kids or provide for the support of old people through social security. Certainly we don't need to buy health insurance, as a part of the freeloading culture thinks, this is what is coming to me for my awesome contributions to society. I deserve to get this for free and not pay for it.... someone else will cover me. If you make me pay for what I need, you take away my freeeeeeedom. On the other side this group always wants private enterprise to control the market place. If you need a surgery... pay for it yourself sucker... or get out of the way.
When it came to software, this person was first in line for a "free" copy of what the rest of the group bought. When software became expensive and the rest of the group decided to buy it in shares... this person decided not to buy it at all...and then when he had to buy in, it was by goods in trade. When he ate out and it was his turn to pay.. he threw the bills at the cashier as if paying was really not a privilege but a duty.
Then the software companies started making everyone buy a license. The freeloading group stands stuck in time. It costs a lot of money to design tools for computers and the prolific users that work for companies should pay for its use. There is no free lunch... everyone should have to pay. If you want the latest Adobe Photoshop you can even rent it for 19.95 a month. Why? because the freeloader culture needs to pay its fair share.
It gets down to the lowest level. The waiter the serves you your food. You know there is no living wages coming from the restaurant. Its our duty not to freeload on the cost of service.
Six retired men teachers had breakfast last Thursday morning. The breakfast that most of us got was 3.99, plus a 1.95 for a beverage. The waffle house 2 eggs ham, hashbrowns and toast or biscuits and gravy. The tip that was left collectively was 3 dollars in one dollar bills on the table.... I could not believe it. Granted some put their tip on the credit card they used to pay for their breakfast.... but 6 for 3 dollar tip... its part of a culture that doesn't pay any more than they have to... even when it doesn't make sense. We all had separate tags and multiple coffee refills.
My daughters that have worked in restaurants never let me leave that table with less than 20% tip. I think that is a good starting point.
We as a people need to stop thinking in a free food freeloading mindset. There are really people out there that depend on the little extras that we all can afford. It seems that the people that can least afford it give the most.
Is the freeloader culture the natural progression of what we call youthful entitlement?(by which we all hate).
It probably should not be strange to me that when it came to politics, the same thing was true in his philosophy. He did not want the government to do anything except defend him militarily. They should not collect the taxes to pay for schools for his kids or provide for the support of old people through social security. Certainly we don't need to buy health insurance, as a part of the freeloading culture thinks, this is what is coming to me for my awesome contributions to society. I deserve to get this for free and not pay for it.... someone else will cover me. If you make me pay for what I need, you take away my freeeeeeedom. On the other side this group always wants private enterprise to control the market place. If you need a surgery... pay for it yourself sucker... or get out of the way.
When it came to software, this person was first in line for a "free" copy of what the rest of the group bought. When software became expensive and the rest of the group decided to buy it in shares... this person decided not to buy it at all...and then when he had to buy in, it was by goods in trade. When he ate out and it was his turn to pay.. he threw the bills at the cashier as if paying was really not a privilege but a duty.
Then the software companies started making everyone buy a license. The freeloading group stands stuck in time. It costs a lot of money to design tools for computers and the prolific users that work for companies should pay for its use. There is no free lunch... everyone should have to pay. If you want the latest Adobe Photoshop you can even rent it for 19.95 a month. Why? because the freeloader culture needs to pay its fair share.
It gets down to the lowest level. The waiter the serves you your food. You know there is no living wages coming from the restaurant. Its our duty not to freeload on the cost of service.
Six retired men teachers had breakfast last Thursday morning. The breakfast that most of us got was 3.99, plus a 1.95 for a beverage. The waffle house 2 eggs ham, hashbrowns and toast or biscuits and gravy. The tip that was left collectively was 3 dollars in one dollar bills on the table.... I could not believe it. Granted some put their tip on the credit card they used to pay for their breakfast.... but 6 for 3 dollar tip... its part of a culture that doesn't pay any more than they have to... even when it doesn't make sense. We all had separate tags and multiple coffee refills.
My daughters that have worked in restaurants never let me leave that table with less than 20% tip. I think that is a good starting point.
We as a people need to stop thinking in a free food freeloading mindset. There are really people out there that depend on the little extras that we all can afford. It seems that the people that can least afford it give the most.
Is the freeloader culture the natural progression of what we call youthful entitlement?(by which we all hate).
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
From the President
This was reported by Politico as part of the President's speech.
PRESIDENT OBAMA , at a naturalization ceremony for active-duty military members, in the East Room this a.m.: "Looking back, it was an act of extraordinary audacity -- a few dozen delegates, in that hall in Philadelphia, daring to defy the mightiest empire in the world ... Two hundred and thirty-six years later, we marvel at America's story. From a string of 13 colonies to 50 states ... From a fragile experiment in democracy to a beacon of freedom that still lights the world . From a society of farmers and merchants to the largest, most dynamic economy in the world. From a ragtag army of militias and regulars to you -- the finest military that the world has ever known. From a population of some 3 million -- free and slave -- to more than 300 million Americans of every color and every creed."
PRESIDENT OBAMA , at a naturalization ceremony for active-duty military members, in the East Room this a.m.: "Looking back, it was an act of extraordinary audacity -- a few dozen delegates, in that hall in Philadelphia, daring to defy the mightiest empire in the world ... Two hundred and thirty-six years later, we marvel at America's story. From a string of 13 colonies to 50 states ... From a fragile experiment in democracy to a beacon of freedom that still lights the world . From a society of farmers and merchants to the largest, most dynamic economy in the world. From a ragtag army of militias and regulars to you -- the finest military that the world has ever known. From a population of some 3 million -- free and slave -- to more than 300 million Americans of every color and every creed."
Happy Birthday USA
Today we celebrate the nation's birthday.
A country that was founded by rich folks that looked after their interests and the interests of the poor.
The wild eyed dreamers found in compromise a country that was so different from any other in their era that it was worth fighting for. Even now, at its best, it protects individualism and lets the minority voice be heard.
It is not a country that requires membership or support to any particular religion but recognizes the part of religion or lack their of in its citizens.
It is not without fault. It makes mistakes. Just as the people that govern it do as well.
We are proud of our country when it accomplishes great things. This country moves on it .... it looks forward. It uses the past as a benchmark, but it moves on.
Some are worried about the loss of manufacturing in this country. They really shouldn't be. I never thought that that in my lifetime that BMW, Korean and Japanese auto plants would be thriving on American soil using American workers.
Some are worried about he education system. Yet every year thousands of students from other countries enter our high schools and colleges to get the education that is denied them in their home country. Why do they do this? Because we have a system that educates them all. Our biggest issue it seems to me is how to utilize their talents after they have finished their American Education. Our world is going to be better in the next generation because of this. Some leaders of the world have become less scary to us because they have been to the United States for education. Case in point, the new president of Egypt.
Some fear that we have offered too much in entitlements. Yet we will not, as a country, stand by and allow our elderly no support in their last days. Its sad to see that many of the elderly that have a few bucks want to separate themselves from the people that have so little. The little towns across the United State a filled with elderly that their only self support comes from the property they live on and Social Security, the elderly federal insurance program, which allows them to eat and pay their utility bills. Medicare, the health care portion helps them with their medical needs. Is this too much? No... I don't so. Is it too expensive for a country founded by wild eyed idealists? Nope. When moneyis spent in this country, all near and wide benefit. The dentist bill gets paid. The pharmacist gets paid. There may be even money left over to buy something at the big block store. This supports the people that clerk, stock and manage. Most of it stays home and multiples. If the money stays in the United States it gets passed around and makes other lives successful.
Some fear that we overreached our charter by pouring our money and our lives into changing the world in other countries. Its hard not to think that with all the issues that we have at home that we just cannot afford to be overseas running wars. Can you imagine that if we felt that way about our involvement in World War 1 or World War 2. What would the world look like now? Sometimes we need to take a stand as a country. We also have to temper this with the threat perceived or otherwise of loss to our country's way of existence. This is one of the reasons we have leaders. They must be free enough to make the right decision. Is the military piece of this conflict so important that I would send my own son or daughter in to protect the life of this country? There are not many that would do so. My hats are off the conservatives hawks that send their kids to do the war.
Some fear that our judicial system is broken. It is one that requires proof for a conviction. After seeing the tragedy of Amanda Knox in Italy, it is clear that we have a better way. Ignoring major pieces of evidence in this case, the prosecutor was able to convict this American student hearsay. I really don't think that would have happened here. Our frustration is from the possibility that some are let go because we do not want to convict an innocent person.
Setting our worries and fears aside. we are so fortunate to live in this country. Its a great time to celebrate its strengths and its future.
Best to all... : ) Pat
A country that was founded by rich folks that looked after their interests and the interests of the poor.
The wild eyed dreamers found in compromise a country that was so different from any other in their era that it was worth fighting for. Even now, at its best, it protects individualism and lets the minority voice be heard.
It is not a country that requires membership or support to any particular religion but recognizes the part of religion or lack their of in its citizens.
It is not without fault. It makes mistakes. Just as the people that govern it do as well.
We are proud of our country when it accomplishes great things. This country moves on it .... it looks forward. It uses the past as a benchmark, but it moves on.
Some are worried about the loss of manufacturing in this country. They really shouldn't be. I never thought that that in my lifetime that BMW, Korean and Japanese auto plants would be thriving on American soil using American workers.
Some are worried about he education system. Yet every year thousands of students from other countries enter our high schools and colleges to get the education that is denied them in their home country. Why do they do this? Because we have a system that educates them all. Our biggest issue it seems to me is how to utilize their talents after they have finished their American Education. Our world is going to be better in the next generation because of this. Some leaders of the world have become less scary to us because they have been to the United States for education. Case in point, the new president of Egypt.
Some fear that we have offered too much in entitlements. Yet we will not, as a country, stand by and allow our elderly no support in their last days. Its sad to see that many of the elderly that have a few bucks want to separate themselves from the people that have so little. The little towns across the United State a filled with elderly that their only self support comes from the property they live on and Social Security, the elderly federal insurance program, which allows them to eat and pay their utility bills. Medicare, the health care portion helps them with their medical needs. Is this too much? No... I don't so. Is it too expensive for a country founded by wild eyed idealists? Nope. When moneyis spent in this country, all near and wide benefit. The dentist bill gets paid. The pharmacist gets paid. There may be even money left over to buy something at the big block store. This supports the people that clerk, stock and manage. Most of it stays home and multiples. If the money stays in the United States it gets passed around and makes other lives successful.
Some fear that we overreached our charter by pouring our money and our lives into changing the world in other countries. Its hard not to think that with all the issues that we have at home that we just cannot afford to be overseas running wars. Can you imagine that if we felt that way about our involvement in World War 1 or World War 2. What would the world look like now? Sometimes we need to take a stand as a country. We also have to temper this with the threat perceived or otherwise of loss to our country's way of existence. This is one of the reasons we have leaders. They must be free enough to make the right decision. Is the military piece of this conflict so important that I would send my own son or daughter in to protect the life of this country? There are not many that would do so. My hats are off the conservatives hawks that send their kids to do the war.
Some fear that our judicial system is broken. It is one that requires proof for a conviction. After seeing the tragedy of Amanda Knox in Italy, it is clear that we have a better way. Ignoring major pieces of evidence in this case, the prosecutor was able to convict this American student hearsay. I really don't think that would have happened here. Our frustration is from the possibility that some are let go because we do not want to convict an innocent person.
Setting our worries and fears aside. we are so fortunate to live in this country. Its a great time to celebrate its strengths and its future.
Best to all... : ) Pat