Liberty's Library

Originally written February 13, 2009

When I was little, my mom called the soap operas she always watched, “my soaps”. She had a schedule that she looked forward to every midday. She invested in them as if she owned them. Many of my friends have shows each night of the week. Perhaps Tuesday is American Idol night and Wednesday is Law and Order.

I only have two shows I claim as my own for the entire week. Monday is The Big Bang Theory night on CBS and Thursday is reserved for Hell’s Kitchen on FOX. That’s it. For a guy who used to make his living on TV, I’m pretty boring when it comes to actually watching it. I think it comes from my wife who doesn’t watch TV at all.

Having only two shows makes me pretty protective of the time I have to watch them. You can imagine my frustration when last night I turned on my TV last night expecting to find Hell’s Kitchen. Instead of watching Chef Gordon Ramsay yelling at some schmuck for under cooking her Jon Dory, I found the NAACP Image Awards, or as I like to call them the, “Here’s an award for being black” awards.

For shame. Now, I have to wait a whole week to find out if Lacy will get to survive another night in Hell’s Kitchen or if the brown-nosing Seth will scare Chef Ramsay to the point of dismissal. And for what? So a group of Americans could sit around and judge the accomplishments of other Americans on the basis of their race…on Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

Whatever.

Originally written January 4, 2006

Mornin' Everyone,

There is so much I wanna say about the Sago Mine situation. So much I wanna say about the national media's efforts to cover-up their mistake of running with a story that had not been confirmed, only later to say "Oops, we're sorry, your husbands, brothers, sons, and daddies are all dead". However, I need to learn from my past mistakes. There will be a time and place for finger-pointing and for blame-placing but that time is not now. Just as it was post-Katrina, we need to help people first then we'll worry about finding fault.

For those of you who don't know, we are the local CBS affiliate for the Sago, WV area. Our reporters know these people and their families. They are our neighbors. They are our brothers and sisters, church family and friends. When CNN pushes local people around so Anderson Cooper can have a better shot of our grieving statesmen, it doesn't go unnoticed. There was a swift and marked effort to only talk to the local media once those horrified people of Sago saw how the "big shots" treated West Virginia.

How completely ignorant do national reporters have to be to refer to this state as "Virginia" or to utterly misrepresent themselves by giving "Tallmansville" as their location. You are not in Tallmansville, you are in Sago. Please get it right. I thought the people of West Virginia were the backhills hicks who didn't know their butts from holes in the ground...and here we have the National Associated Press using the incorrect state abbreviation, "W.Va." Attention media, the United States Postal Service assigned all of the states two-letter abbreviations while I was still in elementary school. The abbreviation for West Virginia is "WV". It is not W. Virginia. It is not W. Va. It is not, West V. It is WV...period. Even if you graduated from a sub-par Journalism School you should still know all 50 of the state abbreviations.

[deep breath]

I do not consider myself a West Virginian. I never will. I was born in Ohio, a completely different state with a completely different history and a completely different socio-economic make up. However, I am actually physically angered at the simple dismissal with which some folks in this country treat the Mountain State.

These mountaineers are laughed at, spit on, ridiculed, subjected to countless sneers and jeers, culturally emasculated, and dejected at every turn by more states than not. And for what? I suppose it is because West Virginians are "stupid, slow, tobacco chewin', cousin datin', back woods, good-for-nothin hicks". Such arrogance makes me sick. Let me remind those who currently have this mindset that West Virginias know in what state they live. They know how to spell it, they know how to abbreviate it, and they know how to appreciate it for what it is.

Today, they lost 12 of their brothers and you lack the cooth of properly identifying their town.

Shame.

Originally written May 12, 2007


Everyone has one...probably more than one.

This morning I went there for breakfast since my wife is out of town on a Zoo Sleepover with the rest of the third grade in her school. I plopped down at the counter, all of the waitress said "good morning" with a few calling me by name, and I ordered my food.

While I was waiting I thought back to college and all of the fun my friends and I had at the Waffle House near campus. It was the only place open after curfew so we would sneak out and eat a late fifth meal. It was also the best place to sip coffee and study during finals week. That only happened during my senior year though because that's the only time I had a car.

College wasn't the only time I captured memories from WH and stored them for later retrieval. I think it was 2004 and my brother had just come home from his 14-month tour of duty in Iraq. I came into town for his homecoming and so had most of the family. We had patriotic bunting hung up all over the house and cake and all kinds of party stuff waiting for him when he got home. After the party, the pictures, and the gifts he brought back for us, he asked me and my oldest sister to go out for coffee. We arrived at Waffle House and he sat us down. He then gave us a special gift, one that was only for the two of us and no one else. He said,

"I know that my friends and family have a lot of questions about my time in Iraq. Only you two can ask me anything you want and I'll answer to the best of my ability. There are no boundaries, but only for you two."

That was one interesting night.

But I'd say the most memorable time at Waffle House was when I went with my last college roommate ,Manuel, and one of his friends from Panama. Manuel and I were great friends even though we had just met that last year of school. He and his Wife even came up from Costa Rica to be in mine and Amy's wedding this past October.


Anyway, back to the story. I forget Manuel's friend's name so we'll call him Edgar. While Edgar was driving, he was bragging to us that his money was no good at WH. The workers always let him eat for free and yadda yadda. Oh well, at least he always had a food option if he was low on funds so good for him.

While waiting for our food, I began doing what alot of people do at restaurants, stacking the coffee creamers. I started with a one-level base of around eight creamers then I started one single tower that kept creeping higher and higher. I had about ten creamers stacked one on top of another which was getting a bit of restaurant-wide attention. I felt bold so I stopped with the creamers and went for the salt and pepper shakers. Now, these shakers weren't the squared, plastic ones that you find at McDonald's, these were glass and metal with rounded tops and not that suitable for stacking.

The salt was the first to go up. After a few ginger repositions, it was stacked and balanced right in place. Edgar was beside himself with disbelief and truthfully so was I. I was never a stacker so this was all new territory for me. It was kind of exciting but I also feared how long of a clean up I'd be in for if this thing came down prematurely.

During this time, Edgar had been flirting with the waitresses and really hamming up the fact that he was going to eat for free and he knew it. So I decided to make things a little more interesting. I bet Edgar that if I could stack the pepper shaker on top of the salt shaker that he would have to buy MY food as well. If it didn't stack, I'd get his for him (even though he didn't need it).

All of the sudden, this cocky Panamaniac who thought himself King of the Hash browns was backing down off of his throne just a touch. He called one of his waitresses over and he explained the situation. Using some sweet talk and flashing his award-winning smile a few times, the waitress reluctantly agreed to cover his bet if he lost. I could tell that she wanted me to lose [It also occurred to me that some of the waitresses weren't exactly enamored with Edgar as he had earlier stated].

So, with the particulars in check, I went for the pepper shaker. I was extremely nervous because I was still a novice stacker and here I am going for rounded object on rounded object. To my amazement, the pepper shaker went up pretty easily with only a few minor adjustments. I pulled my hand away and the tower stood firm. The corner booth across the room clapped and for the first time all night Edgar's smile was very forced and nervous.

I'd find out two weeks later that that night was the last night Edgar ever got to eat free at WH. :)

So, what's your Waffle House story?

Originally written February 20, 2007



Just yesterday Bob Chirdon, the Vice President and General Manager of WTOL, aired this editorial on the statewide smoking ban that Ohio voters passed back in November. He praises the Ohioan voter for passing this ban after walking into a smoke-filled Italian restaurant in Milwaukee over the weekend.

During the election season, all of the folks in the newsroom were tossing around their opinions about this measure. There was one common reaction from just about every person to whom I talked and that was, "Ew...I hate smoke. I hope it gets banned in November". Well I, too, hate the smell of cigarette smoke and the cancer causing ingredients in contains, and the fact that it is the only product on the market that when used as directed kills you. Please don't misunderstand that. However, I think a larger point has been missed here and that is government should have no right to tell a private business owner to whom he can or can't open his doors.

How is it that a "No Smoking" sign couldn't have been enough to tell smokers to go elsewhere to light up? How is it that a "smoking section" isn't enough of an indicator that if non-smokers don't want to smell smoke, then they should be seated in the non-smoking section? So what...because smokers and non-smokers alike couldn't follow the plainly written placards, the tyrannical majority felt it necessary to force a moral highground issue down citizen's throats? How is that the American way?

Again don't get me wrong here, I hate it that people are addicted to this garbage. This habit is debilitating and kills too many moms, dads, and kids each year. But if you don't want to smell smoke, then don't frequent the establishments that have smoking sections; this includes the ones that are poorly ventilated. If you want to light up after a meal, don't expect a non-smoking restaurant to cater to you or like cliental. How is that hard to understand? Now, in enclosed spaces where it is difficult or impossible to remove yourself from unwanted secondhand smoke (i.e. a train, subway, or work place) it is pretty universal that smoking is prohibited and only permitted outside of these facilities or in a designated smoking room with ventilation (i.e. large airports). Now with this ban, smokers don't even have that choice anymore.

This smoking ban should have never made it to the ballot in the first place. It should have been left up to the free market system to handle. If there is a greater demand for non-smoking establishments, then more and more business owners will cater to that crowd. If there is a large smoking population nearby, locally owned, private business should be able to offer goods and services to them without the government's dissatisfaction. Now that this precedent has been set, what civil liberty will voters take away next? Will they ban private gun ownership because, "I don't like knowing there are guns in my neighborhood"? Will they vote away your right to spend your money at wal-mart because "I don't like that they forced mom-n-pop shops out of business"?

New York is already banning the use of trans fats like there is no tomorrow and the wackos on Capitol Hill are trying to do the same all over the country. When are we finally going to look at the 400lbs. lady who cries that McDonald's made her fat and call her out for her lack of personal responsibility? I don't need Uncle Sam to save me from myself, thank you, and I don't need the voter to do that either. What if I want trans fats in my hamburger every once in a while? Am I gonna have to go to Canada to get it (did anyone else shutter when they read that)? Come on, people!

Dave Hudson said it best, "Just pave my road and kill those who are trying to kill me. I'll take care of the rest".

I wish that were true.

Originally written February 12, 2007

The letters and manuscripts that make up the Bible speak mostly on subjects having to do with faith in God the father, the coming of the Messiah, and how His teachings should (and did) transform its listeners into a brotherhood of Christianity. Paul says in I Corinthians (1:10) that we should let no divisions be among this brotherhood. Instead we are to be joined together in the same mind and judgment. This, of course, is a preface to the shame he later brings on the Corinthian church for harboring divisions.

I watched as a church visibly split down the center isle after one of the members called the marital availability of a divorced minister candidate into question. Divorcees felt that he should be allowed to re-marry. After all, either God approved of their divorce; they felt, or would understand and forgive if they had sinned by separating and or remarrying. Others kept repeating verse after verse quoting, “God’s stance”, on multiple marriages and being divorced for any reason other than death or unfaithfulness. Like Francium and water, this loaded topic exploded and exposed a rift in the membership that had long existed under the surface. Opinions got hotter while opposition got stronger. To quote Brick Tambland, choruses of “loud noises” rang louder than any song service ever held in that building.

It is no small wonder why the Holy Spirit placed so much emphasis on unity in the scriptures. Division among His children is the single most destructive topic about which Jesus ever prayed. Our separation from Him is the reason God formulated a salvation plan that included Christ’s coming to earth. Today, it is the only cause of war, poverty, addiction, oppression and suffering around the world. You might ask how this could be true.

Poverty is the division between people and means. Addiction separates the body from its fix. Force without justice gives way to oppression. A reaction absent of a solution leads to suffering. War is often the result of quick pride without calm wisdom. While the ‘how’ of every problem might change, the ‘why’ is always some form of partition, disagreement, or error.

That little church discovered that the only way to rebuild in-roads amongst the two factions was to openly and respectfully study what the Bible had to say and discuss all possible meanings scripture could hold. The forum was not designed for the body to come together under one opinion. Rather, the membership could once again talk about what they felt and why without causing pain or breaking open even larger chasms.

The division of racism in America can only be discussed and debated in one forum. A theatre of respect, honesty, and openness must exist for any solutions to be reached. I am so thankful for Cameron’s methodology to this very intricate matter and only seek to offer constructive and complimentary discussion. I need to state that I am participating under the assumption that the discussion addresses areas of concern to the Black community. So, my response is directed to this community.

I’m convinced that the key to some if not all of these problems is encouragement. The time for buck-passing on the part of whites and apathy on the part of blacks is over. Squabbling over who’s at fault accomplishes nothing save more division. It is time to empower people with solutions and equip them with knowledge.

Just look at all of these African American firsts. www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmfirsts.html. These endeavors are nothing short of extraordinary and are the product of hard work and dedication. This list is yet unfinished. More can and will be done. We must push the younger generation on to greatness and add their names.

Most of all, while celebrating one’s individual heritage, we need to embrace the citizenship of our America as one people, not sub-groups of unassimilated sub-cultures. For example, Notre Dame College offers a 3-credit course in the English Major track called (EN 343) Major African-American Writers. We should be including these writers in an expanded section of American Literature. Why further separate the nation and her people’s accolades along these racial lines?

With that in mind, let’s take each item one at a time:

How to secure medical coverage – Half of this answer is that there is good news to share concerning the nation’s economy. Too many citizens are buying into the media’s message that big oil profits, a rising Dow, and other successful businesses are bad for the country. Nothing (short of global warming) could be further from the truth. So many journalists want society to believe we live in soup kitchen America and that our poor population is rising with every waking moment. This article, “Not So Poor: The luxury of American poverty - Census Bureau definitions too wide” by Robert Rector found in the National Review, dated Oct 25, 1999 challenges that horse-and-buggy thinking.

The other half of this answer is being gainfully employed. And more and more people are doing just that. According to www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/economy, 111,000 jobs were created in January. Since August 2003, more than 7.4 million jobs have been created – more than the EU and Japan combined. Over 500,000 jobs have been added in the past three months alone. Finally, the economy has now added jobs for 41 straight months. Productivity has had strong average annual growth of 3.1 percent, which is higher than that of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. According to the US Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate in December of 2006 was 4.6%. This was the lowest unemployment rate since the tech bubble burst in the late 90s/early 00s.

If more people have jobs, more people have insurance. There is a new message today and it is “The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race.” ~ Booker T. Washington. This is good news and you can be apart of it!

After all of that, I’m wondering who is saying disparaging things about the economy and why? Perhaps, this Booker T. Washington quote applies here:

"There is another class of colored people who make a business of keeping the
troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public.
Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they
have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs -- partly because
they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want
the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their
jobs...There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who do not want the
patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only
an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make
themselves prominent before the public."

Now, what about those who stay chronically unemployed? After education incentives haven’t worked and unemployment has run out and the fourth baby is born…there is one very drastic solution that needs to be seriously considered. If someone can work but won’t, we must remove their ability to harm children as a consequence of laziness. Remove the children from the care of their unfit parents placing them in families who do have health and dental benefits. Cameron said it best when he said, “when millions of children are still without something so fundamental, it shames us as a people”. I can only add to that by saying that it should shame the parents more so.

Amending Public Schooling – Brown vs. the Board of Education (1954) was a powerful landmark that overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) ‘separate but equal’ stamp. It, along with the Higher Education Act (1965) secured equal public schooling, which has paved the way for institutions, that 60 years ago, Black America could have only dreamed. From the US Department of Education website: “Today, there are 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universitys with more than 228,000 students enrolled. Fifty-six institutions are under private control, and 51 are public colleges and universities.” The HEA defines an HBCU as: "...any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation."

Stop issuing scholarships based on race. Highlighting or setting apart one race over another is the every definition of racism and it needs to end. Plus, by offering these scholarships, the black populous is saying, “you’re right. We are weak and can’t do this by our own merits”. I can think of no academic slap in the face harder than making a minority believe itself to be inferior all the while reinforcing the idea that it is impossible to get by without handouts. It wasn’t for real but these guys out of Boston University did something pretty remarkable in order to shed some light on this racist practice. Ever heard of the scholarship for white students?

Finally, a short note on elementary school funding. Millions and millions of dollars go into public education every year. Yet where does it go? The teachers (my wife being one) don’t know and the principals are still asking for more and more with each passing year. Here is a story about New York’s sham funding system from 2002. I’d like to know exactly where my money is going before we throw more at this problem. Perhaps we’re spending enough and we won’t really know until we find it.

Internet access for children – My best solution for this situation is putting the power of the internet in the hands of our publicly funded libraries. This would cut costs of trying to outfit everyone with a computer. According to Wikipedia under “racial demographics in America”, Today, most African Americans (over 60%) live outside the southern US and in urban areas, but are increasingly moving to the suburbs. Lets use our urban mass transit system to direct this 60%+ to the locally operated and maintained libraries to use the pre-existing internet access at a reduced rate or free. In Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, the library allows its visitors free internet access for 30 minutes. Some libraries might offer more time to its patrons. I can also see this as a great opportunity for our local churches to step up and help with the needs of the community. Take this church for example. They have a program called, “Homework Central” that is a fully functioning after-school tutoring program complete with computers with internet access and is totally funded by the weekly and special contributions. What a great ministry opportunity that is.

How to prevent the Brain Drain – The city of Toledo is suffering from this very situation. Some folks seem to like the Mayor’s suggestions. This article from the Toledo Blade newspaper shares what Mayor Finkbeiner’s survey has found.

1. Lower cost of living.
2. Cut city income and property taxes.
3. Make an effort to hire local college graduates.
4. Inform the public to take advantage of the buyers housing market.

I leave you with a very inspirational and eye-opening final word from Mr. Washington’s “Up with Slavery”:

"Think about it: We went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into
slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens. We went into slavery
with chains clanking about our wrists; we came out with the American ballot in
our hands...Notwithstanding the cruelty and moral wrong of slavery, we are in a
stronger and more hopeful condition, materially, intellectually, morally, and
religiously, than is true of an equal number of black people in any other
portion of the globe."

The answer is that black America can do anything it wants to do. Just look at what it has already overcome. It can refuse payment from depression and be a people of means thus crushing poverty. Black America can be proactive in finding a solution to end suffering. It can fix and heal the collective body from the addictive entitlement mindset and emerge victorious. Young black men and women can use their wisdom to silence the war raging within and be proud.

Can they do it alone? Maybe…maybe not. But why should they have to? We are one America and it is our job to help ourselves.

Originally written September 14, 2004


Mornin' Everyone,

I had a great weekend and wanted to share some of the highlights.

First of all, Micah's football team won on Friday night. He had the first points of the game with a 35 yard field goal. He was so siked about putting that one through! It was great to be there and be excited for him and be the big brother. Lots of family and church family came to the game as well to cheer him on so the stands were full of people pulling for him...and it was an away game!

Then on Saturday morning, Micah played on the JV team and they won that game too. He had all the kicking duties that game so he worked alot. he did well as the team cruised to a 41-8 victory.

The coolest part of the weekend, though, was going to the Ohio State game. However, the coolest part wasn't being at "The Shoe" and it wasn't seeing the best band in the land or even watching my team win a very close game. In order to fully appreciate this, you'll have to read one of my previous posts...the one with all the quotes in it. Go ahead, I'll wait...........

Okay, now that you are caught up, I give you the coolest part of my weekend:

It's right after the Football game on Friday night. It was an away game so, I hop into my car along with my parents and Abby (my niece) and we head back to Marysville to wait for the band and the team to get back. We stop by the high school to wait for the team, but discover that they beat us there because we dropped off Abby at her house. So I go find Micah and we all ride home together.

When we arrive home there is a message waiting for my dad on the answering machine. I'm not paying much attention, you know, the message isn't for me, so I walk on by and head for Micah's room which is where I sleep while I'm home (Micah and I share his room just like old times). I catch a glimpse of my dad fevorishly writing something down from the answering machine message but make nothing of it.

Now, it's 8:00 on Saturday morning and Micah is already at the school to dress and practice for his JV game later that morning. I wake up and head in for breakfast when my mom greets me in the kitchen. She gives me "good mornings" and asks what I want for breakfast. So I'm munching on my Honey Combs and looking out the sliding glass doors that overlook the golf course and noting what a beautiful morning it is...and I noticed my dad was gone. That's when my mom levels me with some great news!

Fast forward to a few hours later. The JV game has just ended with a victory. Micah has left the field to come see us in the stands, but has to go back into the locker room to change. We wait for him by the enterance to the school and when he comes out, he gets leveled by the same good news!

"Look here", says my dad as he holds two OSU tickets.

"Yea, Yea, I know", mumbles Micah, who first believes that my dad is just rubbing in the fact that he and I are going to the OSU game. However, after a second look, he realizes that these tickets are different than the ones that had been sitting on my dad's desk for the past week.

Dad declares, "These are two tickets to the OSU game...two more tickets".

Micah goes nuts! He's jumping up and down and hugging anyone that moves, including this poor couple that just happened to walk by where we were. Picture a football player jumping and screaming like a school girl and that was my brother.

However, the story isn't over. Tyler, my nephew who is about two years younger than Micah came along to the JV game and he's watching Micah go into histerics completely unaware that the same great news is about to knock him off his feet.

"Buddy, you're in...you're going", I said as my dad held out the remaining, precious Ohio State ticket in front of a bewildered 16 year old.

Now you've got two teenaged boys jumping up and down embracing each other and screaming like two school girls...in public!

Then came the explaination concerning the appearance of these "holy grail" tickets from above. Mom chimes in with the details.

"Your dad was calling all over the place yesterday looking for two more Ohio State Tickets and he found some, but they were in Dublin. So, he went in to Dublin before your game and picked them up. That's why we took two cars to the game."

So, on that Saturday afternoon, along with 104,622 of our closest friends, my dad, Micah, Tyler and I watched the two family-favorite teams play one another for the very first time...live. What a day that I shared with my family!

I'll never forget the bridge we walked down from the parking lot towards the Horseshoe that day in Columbus; marveling at the tens of thousands of people walking that bridge with me and the bridges on either side. I'll never forget the "Best Darn Band in the Land" that played with such attitude, pristine dominance, and insistance of respect which 104,622 people freely gave. However, I'll treasure the memories of sitting next to my dad for hours soaking in this moment together...I'll treasure my little brother and nephew getting a front row seat for the game winning 55 yard kick that was directed towards the end zone where they sat...and I'll treasure the bonds strenghtened by the events of that weekend, both family and new aquaintences.

How firm thy friendships...O - HI - O!

Until I see you again,
Be good and be God's ~

Originally written May 14, 2007


The National Gas Out Day won't work! So, don't waste your time or my ears tell me about this fool-hardy scheme that comes up at least twice a year! I cringe when people actually believe that they are going to make some huge shift in prices in just one day. The simple economics tells the story.

If you are planning on skipping the pump on Tuesday, you likely filled-up Monday or are waiting until Wednesday. And so will all the rest of you crazies! Therefore, the gas companies (more importantly O.P.E.C -- Oil Producing and Exporting Countries) will still get all of that profit, just one day later -- or sooner as the case may be.If you really wanna make a splash in the oil markets, you'll need to do several things:

Stop blaming President Bush!

He's not the cause of high gas prices. The cause is a combination of OPEC, the futures market value, federal and state tariffs, the lack of refinery capacity in the U.S. and her dependence on foreign oil, green peace and other wackjobs not letting us drill for oil in our own country because we MIGHT harm the environment, and political unrest in the Middle East and Africa.
Properly maintain your car buy keeping up with all scheduled maintenance.

Only put the grade of gasoline on which your engine's manufacturer suggests it be run. Also make sure your tires are properly inflated. Finally, remove all excess garbage and junk from your car. Every pound your car carries decreases fuel efficiency. All of those empty coffee cups and McDonald's bags add up after a while.

Car pool.

Drive a hybrid (I shutter saying that because I don't want to be mistaken as a tree hugging, earth idol worshipping, freak show).

Pick one day every week and make that your permanent "No Gas Day".

Never buy gas on that day again. It will take a concerted and persistent 'gas out' to really make any waves in the futures of crude.

Just to prove you have intellectual prowess, stop giving U.S. oil companies the figurative finger every time they post earnings reports.

I, for one, am happy our capitalistic society is working and it is a beacon/model for the rest of the world to follow. Back in the 80s when gasoline was $0.25 a gallon, I don't remember Congress rushing to the financial aid of the oil companies to keep them afloat. So, now that they are prospering (thanks in large part to President Clinton's efforts to increase our dependence on foreign oil) people like Hilary Clinton should shut her "I wanna take those oil profits" mouth...and so should all those who are pissed at Exxon-Mobil, Marathon, and BP.

Thank you and keep the change!

Originally written February 6, 2006


Mornin' Everyone,

Admittedly, I don't watch the NFL until the Super Bowl so I am terribly unqualified to type any further. However, since the first amendment applies to me too...

I have always lived in Northern West Virginia under the notion that this was a temporary stop on a career filled with other small stops until marriage and settl-age. However, as it appears, this was a longer layover than I first thought, but it does offer a quicker track to marriage and settling down. Anyway, WV has no professional team for which to root. That said, depending on where in the state you live, you could be a Browns, Bengals, Ravens, Redskins, Eagles, or Steelers fan. This part of WV is firmly placed within the bounds of Steeler country...and I've been sick of it since five minutes after I got here.

Most of you have no blood born right to call this team your own. If you were born in PA or currently live there, this post is not directed at you. Ownership is rightfully proved in this case.

But I digress.

So, with last night's win in Super Bowl Extra Large, most everyone here is clamoring over Bettis and Ward and Randel El....blah blah blah. Look people, you are in West Virginia and you are claiming ownership of a team that is in Pennsylvania... a state by the way, whose other college football team (Pitt, although some even hate Penn State just as much) you despise with as much vigor as I hate Michigan. Explain to me how that makes sense? How idiotic you all look for jumping on the Pittsburgh bandwagon! How sad you look as you twirl your Terrible Towel posing as the lost sons of Steel Country. I was hoping for a Seattle victory last night but only to shut the yaps of the desperate, wannabe, Steelers adopted fans of WV.

Now, I'm sure that won't set well with my WV readers. Well, to them I say, "a dissenting opinion has its place too and I'm dissenting against the loud mockery you make of yourselves every Sunday during football season". So, like it or lump it, that is what I have to say about that.

Now, if you disagree, hey, more power to you. Feel free to let me know you disagree with me. Just don't think that an opposing opinion will shame me into submission and surrender. ;)

To end, I ask this question: Is it August yet?

Orginially written February 19, 2007

A book report of sorts
I've had within my possession, for about 8 months now, Jonathan Foreman's book, "The Pocket Book of Patriotism", and I've been meaning to share some of its deeply meaningful contents with you.

In the first portion of the book, Foreman recounts a timeline of selected human events and of American history. Truthfully, I've never read that portion all the way through but when I want to find something of interest, I check to see if it's on there.

The second portion of the book contains monumental speeches, excerpts from (or entire) several important documents, and historic songs and verse that became woven within the fabric of our country.

Finally, the last portion lists assorted US facts including all 42 presidents (Grover Cleveland listed twice), the name and occasion of each state admitted to the union, the Pledge of allegiance, the naturalization oath, the medals of honor for branches of service, famous quotes concerning America and the patriotism of her people, and selections of the Federal Flag Code which was passed by Congress in 1942. I know I'm not listing all of the material covered in this book but I think you get the idea.

As the back sleeve indicates, it is essential that this book find itself in every home and school in America. It saddens me that American History is a subject that bores so many of our youth today. The blame for this is jointly shared between the parent, the pupil, and the educator...not all, mind you, but some. The parent for failing to instill within every son and daughter the lifeblood of what an American is and what he/she can be thanks to the sacrifice of the brave who possessed the wisdom of foresight - that something greater than themselves was beyond the horizon; the educator for not properly contextualizing patriotism nor its weight on the inhabitants of this great nation and in turn the citizens of all mankind; and the pupil for not giving a hoot in the first place.

I'd like to share with you just a few quotes you'll find in, "The Pocket Book of Patriotism" and then read your thoughts and ideas regardless of political posture.

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty." ~ John F. Kennedy's inaugural address - January 20, 1961

"One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it is the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man...let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened, 'I will not fail thee nor forsake thee'." ~ Ronald Reagan's Pointe Du Hoc speech - June 6, 1984

"Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man." ~ Mark Twain

"One cannot be an American by going about saying one is an American. It is necessary to feel America, like America, love America and then work." ~ Georgia O'Keefe

May God bless you and may God bless America.