Well…was up early this morning as you can see from the previous post and don’t feel too bad…maybe there is something to be said for taking a day off from beer and trying to sleep without any aids. I do have this weird heartburn that started last night and continues this morning but that may be from the acid rich foods that I had yesterday and the fact that I’m still not eating enough. You’d never think that to look at me….still carrying about 10 pounds too much but I guess I’ll have to live with it. It might be a fun day today…T might be able to go to lunch and I haven’t seen her in a while so that would be nice. And, as you know, it’s Wed and that means out to Ada for pool later….
I think there may be more topics for later, too, but you know that depends on how the news hits me when I go out for coffee…I’m going to try….
Well…it’s about 5 am and I haven’t been able to sleep, and part of the reason is this idea that came to me last night when watching Countdown with Keith Olbermann. The story that was the catalyst dealt with the Koran burning that a Florida church is proposing for the anniversary of 9/11 as some sort of protest against radical Islam. The story had the normal hand-wringing about the effect this would have on our standing in the world, especially on our troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. and was the theme of General Patreus’s remarks yesterday saying that this may put our troops in more danger. The consensus being that the church should not do this; ignoring the fact that it is not Christian-like to spew hate, I think the answers we are giving to the world are wrong. What we should be saying to the world is “This is what freedom looks like”. Freedom is loud, freedom is vulgar at times, but it is also wonderful and brilliant. Freedom gives everyone the right to say what they think and we should all be standing up for that right. We should be living what Voltaire felt; that I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.
That is the message the world needs to hear; that the repressive societies need to hear. Our leaders need to say “this is what freedom looks like”, it’s messy, stupid at times but it’s also what makes this the greatest country in the world and we won’t apologize for it, but will hold it up to the rest of the world and say let’s see you do better!
Well…have been reading the polls lately and one thing strikes me as a great example of the schizophrenia that the US electorate suffers. Why is it that the Democrats are always held responsible for everything, even things that are out of their control when the repubs can screw the whole country and preside over the greatest redistribution of wealth upwards in history and no one cares? I think it may just be ignorance since the leaders of the repubs proudly display the lack of “book learnin'” and exhort their followers to demonize those who have advanced degrees and who can think. If they could, think that is, they would remember their 11th grade economics that taught that employment is a lagging indicator in any recession; especially one this severe. I am kind of hoping that the repubs take control of the House so people will have their memories refreshed on how bad their policies are for the working people of this country…geez….
Well…it’s been a weird morning…decided to go out to GH to see the waves and even wanted to go swimming but the temp of Lake Michigan has dropped about 10 degrees and it just wasn’t worth it. The Moday funday yesterday was a somewhat melancholy affair, at least for me, because it marked the acceleration of the changes that will shortly take us quickly into the fall. I do like autumn but it is much easier for me to lie to myself that I’m not getting older, that time is not passing when all of the days seem the same. I could see the first small markers of that change in some of the leaves that I saw turning on the bike ride and lining the road to GH. The problem is, you can’t do anything about it; but it is still hard to accept, especially when you know your are closer to the end than the beginning. I guess I’ll just have to try to ignore it again….but that never works….maybe just revel in the melancholy, let it have me for a couple of days and then get up and go forward…..
Well…there was Monday Funday yesterday to celebrate (or mourn) the end of summer…had fun at Logan’s and was a good boy when I got home so I feel okay today…there was a huge traffic jam on 131 coming home because of an accident so it took me almost a half hour to go 13 miles….I don’t understand why people can’t just drive past a wreck….there was one open lane and no one could drive past it faster than 5…not a lot to do today, hope to get back on the bike since I gave my legs a rest yesterday and they do feel better; not sore at all but I’ll take it easy anyway….I will have some topics later, I hope,….more later…
Well…since it is Labor Day, I think it’s appropriate that I comment on the role of labor in our society and what I see as the demonization of labor, and the active, organized program of the right to destroy the unions and put the worker “back in their place”. One of the assertions that is always made by the new robber barons is the reason for moving jobs offshore is that American labor just costs too much; all the while the compensation gap between the CEOs and general labor is at it’s highest point in history and the real cost of labor is the same that it was 30 years ago. So, who is it that costs too much? The question that I always ask when discussing this problem is “how much is enough?” If the CEOs would halve their pay, saving the company millions, then how many workers could be retained? Is the man (or woman) at the top worth hundreds of workers?
I think we are now seeing the true cost of the hollowing out of the middle class and the elevation of the CEO and banker to godlike status….and the scapegoating of labor for all of the ills in the economy…it is time for us to stand up and say enough…without the American worker and consumers there would be no economy for the right to distort; there would be no money for business to steal, and this wouldn’t be the great country that it is. Let’s hope there is still a reason to have a Labor Day next year….
Well…had to take yesterday off for a recovery day but was bad again last night so we’re back on the recovery today….but I am going to go out and get coffee and read the papers…so I’ll try to get something topical out later today…might have a Monday Funday later since it is a holiday…..more later…
Yeah, I know, I’m late this morning…had way too much fun yesterday and Michigan won,,,yay! Started out the aft at Peppino’s downtown but 7 dollar draft beers? So, we moved over to OT for the rest of the game but didn’t watch much of it since we were playing shuffleboard and, of course, K and I won both games we played…that gets us to 23-2 when we play together. It was nice to have a few of the group back together if even just for the day. I’m debating with myself whether to go out for a bike ride but I probably will if just to get the toxins out. No sprints today, just a cruise.
Oh, a one last thing, I did buy a slow cooker yesterday and made some chicken, potatoes, carrots, and corn on the cob…well..don’t want to cook any other way….some of the best, most tender chicken I can remember….can’t wait to have the leftovers today….
Well…it’s been a long time coming but the day is here for the real college football to start with Michigan taking on UConn. We also have the State game at noon along with Notre Dame and Purdue. So, it should be a fun day…not a Sunday Funday, but a fun day nonetheless. Whew…any time I have to use words like nonetheless I cringe a little..but just a little since it fits so well. I am a little concerned that we are going to have another season like last year…I don’t know if I can take 3 losing seasons in a row and I can’t remember that happening since I have bee a fan. Could they turn into the Detroit Lions of college football? I shudder (literally) when I have those thoughts. At least we have hockey starting in three weeks if this goes bad. Or, State, since they are both Michigan teams, I have to root for them, too, and there is a little connection for me to that school since my daughter graduated from State a few years back.
Any other sports? Well, there is the Nationwide race from Atlanta under the lights for later if I make it that far…guess I’ll just have to pace today and stay to the one beer and hour limit…which is a good idea anyway and saves me money.
Well…another boring night at home but feel okay today…the change in the weather has been a little surprising but at least it’s not raining anymore. I DO have something to do today…yay! Going out to watch the Michigan game against Uconn and it looks like there will be a few of us at Peppino’s downtown. Had to look all over this place for my gear but found the shirt and need to de-wrinkle it so I don’t look too sloppy. I think I’m going out to get a slow cooker today and maybe cook some chicken, potatoes, and corn….should be yummy…more later…
I DO have to wish two of my sons happy birthday today…yep, two of them born on the same day 3 years apart…but the even weirder thing is that my oldest brother and I were born on the same day 13 years apart….match that one…