Dust!

Been a very busy summer. I thought I would come back in knock the dust off this blog. More to follow including rants on politics and ghost hunting!

Race Card

America has taken steps towards the growth of race relations. We have hope for unity and have progressed as humans who understand it is not about the color of our skin. Unfortunately even the obviously intelligent members of our society hold bitter feelings for any number of reasons. Jim Crowley of the Cambridge PD responded to a possible break-in at the home of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. - Crowley asked questions and pursued his investigation of the situation and Gates became agitated for whatever reason.

Don't we expect cops to perform their job? What if Mr. Gates didn't realize a break-in was in progress? Who would be criticized and possibly fired for not fully and thoroughly investigating a report?

It seems Gates felt he was mistreated and objected to the investigation and quickly and stupidly dropped the race card out of his pocket. A Harvard professor, and this is his best intelligent response to the situation.

Crowley tried to save the life of Basketball player Reggie Lewis, who happens to be black and also taught a Racial Profiling class at Lowell Academy. Interesting stuff for a "racist".

Obama stuck his neck out and stupidly made comment about a situation he admitted to knowing little about.

Sometimes intelligence is reflected in your ability to keep your mouth shut.

Back to Reality

Back in from vacation - Vacation is an interesting thing. As I become older the "vacation" is enjoyed less.... more things to do, more people to make happy and so little time to relax. Don't get me wrong - I hate my job and anytime away is typically a good thing but this vacation seemed like I recieved about 2 or 3 hours to relax and the balance of the time was spent appeasing someone. When does the man of the house, the King of the Castle get a break? He is not afforded such trivial pursuits........

Michael Jackson - Dead

As I strolled through the shipping department yesterday I heard the DJ announce in a somber tone that Michael Jackson was dead - this was followed by appropriate silence that carries with these types of announcements. I thought wow, incredible - In a weird way, much like the strange journey of Jackson's life, was this predictable? Should we have seen this coming? I know this is an unusual perspective on the situation and typically, I will admit that my first inclination with these types of over-inflated, self indulgent "stars" is that they are dysfunctional and operate without reason or connection to reality but Jackson was truly the symbol of all things wrong in that star mentality. He was completely removed from anything normal - his closet companion was bubbles (his chimp).

Pain pills have already surfaced (in rumor) as the cause of his demise and if it is - that would also make sense. I certainly (as well as anyone else connected to reality) see he had issues and often the pain is covered by a mix of drugs to keep life in a fog.

I feel remorse for his children and the twisted journey their lives will be.

Neda Agha-Soltan

This past Saturday the icon and face of the Iranian election protesters became defined by the death of Neda Agha-Soltan. Time and history will remember these images in the same manner as Eddie Adams' photo of execution in Saigon, 1968. What will the result be of all the protests? Unless the Iranian protesters, the youth of Iran, take arms and fight to remove the government - it will mean nothing. It will just be an image of repression in the world and snapshot of history.

I curiously wonder about this obviously once beautiful and vibrant person who is now dead. Why was she out in that crowd? Was she a true political activist? Or one of the many who are caught in this moment of time to protest what obviously is a fraudulent election. I certainly have a distinct feeling the protests are a sight to see and many gather as if it was a monster truck rally and become embroiled in the mob atmosphere - nothing is wrong with that, expect people are getting killed..... I hope the people of Iran continue to protest, but importantly I hope this actually leads to change.

Changing World

The world is changing..... we are into another chapter, part of the story and drama that is playing out in America and world affairs.

As control of Iraq is turned over to its own government and military the country becomes more unstable. The power vacuum that was closed by the efforts of the US military and money (to pay off insurgents) might reopen in the next year. The pulse needs to be monitored closely like a patient fighting a tug of war with a terminal disease..... eventually this country, Iraq, will be tossed back into chaos - it's only a matter of time.

North Korea - the situation seems to be nearing a boiling point with the underground nuclear tests and the direction and mindset of Kim Jong-il (Lil'Kim). If Kim Jong-il truly wanted to invade the south and start a war, no better time is present. The American military machine is weak due to the over extended nature we have found ourselves in and our reaction to an invasion would be at the very least slow and painful. As crazy as Lil'Kim is I don't think he is serious with intentions of war, if he is - the mistakes are already being made tactically. Time will tell.

More later on Pakistan and Afghanistan -

Festering Chigger Bites

Something has been bothering me like festering bothersome chigger bites under my skin.... gas prices, fuel efficiency, the future of the auto industries and new technologies. I had a recent conversation with the wife of an engineer from one of those failed automakers. This engineer works in the new technologies department - hybrid, fuel cell etc etc. I made sure to ask how they were managing given the fact the bailout and bankruptcy must be causing some stress, and of course it has but the engineers wife felt confident given the position the husband holds.

The wife quickly showed the resentment of the government being "in" the company and was looking forward to that relationship ending. She went on to proclaim "this is the land of the free and if we want to drive big cars we have the right" and "I don't drive far so I'm not worried about gas." Also an obvious concern was given to their company car, a large SUV type may be taken away, which includes free gas I might add.

I found the tone of this conversation strange, given the failures of the company and the fact that the obvious mindset of this person and very possibly the mindset of the new technologies engineer had little regard for raising the bar with new technologies and improved fuel efficiency - Why be concerned when we get the cars free along with the gas? The environment.... well it did not even come up in the conversation.

Maybe the source of the real problem with these automakers is the fact that they are brainwashed into the big car theory - even the new technologies engineers and management. I expected some urgency in this aforementioned conversation towards the need to change, to develop new ideas and provide something for the future of America and the world and I received was the same old "big cars are good" and the government trying to save us is bad.

Maybe this company needs to clean house completely to truly enact a new corporate culture.

I won't be purchasing stock in this company.