[ Saturday, June 28, 2003 ]
Whats Right? Over at The Sentimentalist there is a discussion of the homeless. Recently some real scumbags have been exploiting this part of our society in ways that can never be justified, including making movies of homeless people fighting and hurting each other, and using homeless people to stage accidents for insurance fraud.
Our country does seem to shirk it's duty to the homeless, but what do we need to provide? One comment at The Sentimentalist suggested a "living wage" was needed, one that would pay for both food and shelter. That is a noble idea, but I'm affraid that such legislation, though well intentioned, would only result in high school students earning $7000 a year working part time, and hamburgers costing $10 apiece. I'd like to think I'm not a cold hearted bastard, but I believe that an employer who doesn't get a good return on his investment will close his business and leave his money in the bank. That leaves less jobs than before. I think another reality is that, unless you improve your job skills, you will only find jobs paying less than a living wage, and your best chance in the current economy is to live in a two income household.
I'd like to see more social programs that provide temporary shelter, day care, and training for those who want to increase job skills and become qualified to earn a living wage. What do you think?
Nunya [4:33 AM]
Last Straw I guess I've had it with Enetation comments. They're off the page. Sorry to loose the previous comments, but I could tell by my hit counter that visitors had to constantly refresh the page to leave and read comments. I switched to Haloscan. I've noticed they were pretty reliable on other blogs that use them. I believe they weren't taking new members earlier this year, but have re opened registrations now. Haloscan uses cookies, so you shouldn't have to re enter your info each time you comment. It's not as pretty as the old section, but reliability is more important to me anyway. Perhaps I'll learn how to customize this comment page as well. Anyone have a clue as to modifying Cascading Style Sheets?
Nunya [3:48 AM]
[ Thursday, June 26, 2003 ]
Great Internet. There is a lot of criticism of the internet, and some of it may be justified. Porn seems to be the single largest user of the bandwidth. Still once in a while you stumble on something great. Thanks to a post at Magpie I discovered a beautiful collection of historic photos that the San Fransisco Public Library has put online.
Here a group of cyclists cross the Golden Gate bridge in the 1950's. There are photos going back into the 1800's as well.
Nunya [10:02 AM]
[ Wednesday, June 25, 2003 ]
Sad
A U.S. Army digger destroys one of several houses in the Iraqi town of Ramadi, some 90 km (55 miles) west of the capital Baghdad June 3, 2003. Soldiers said that U.S. forces stationed nearby came under attack from these houses and it was decided to remove them.
REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby
Nunya [10:25 AM]
News Flash Ever figure out something so simple after so long that you are amazed you didn't see it staring you in the face? I've had this nagging feeling about work the last, oh, twenty five years or so. I've changed jobs and become somewhat happier for a while, but in the end I never seem to enjoy the new job either. I've been employed for 10 years in my present position (I know, some people don't stay married that long) and have been feeling torn between wanting to stay and wanting to do something else. Well coming in to the old salt mine today I realized I truly was looking forward to work today, so then I was wondering what it was I didn't like? One difference? I got up early this morning and ran two miles. Not as far as I would have liked, but it fit in the time I had. Then I ate, showered and went to work. I did something I wanted to do, something I don't get to do every day. It's not that I don't like work, it's that I like play better. And sometimes between work work and house work and yard work and having social obligations (damn I hate social obligations) there are days I don't get to play at all. So that is my big epiphany today, its not about what I do that bothers me, its about what I'm not doing that bothers me. And I think I can do something about that, without changing jobs.
Nunya [8:38 AM]
[ Tuesday, June 24, 2003 ]
Deep Thoughts Recall the SNL skits about this?
*If a man speaks in the woods, and there is no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong?
*If you are traveling in your car at the speed of light and you turn on your headlamps, does it do any good?
*You can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish.
*Is it better to have a bottle in front of me or a frontal lobatamy?
Someone e mailed me today telling me he had found the way to inner peace. He said someone told him if he finished the things he had already started, it would help. My friend said he finished a bag of potato chips and a case of beer he had started the day before. He then finished the last half dozen Krispy Kreme donuts that were sitting in his kitchen.
He reports that he feels more at peace now than any time in the past few months, and he was going to finish a nap he had started before he e mailed me.
*I was going to quit smoking, but everyone hates a quitter.
All of us have to have something to believe in, I believe I'll go home early and fix a good supper.
(Yes it's slower today at work than yesterday!) (No, I don't really do any of this stuff!!!!)
Nunya [2:25 PM]
[ Monday, June 23, 2003 ]
Busy We were so busy at work today that I didn't get to blog that much, but tonight, at home, after J went to bed, I surfed to all my favorite blogs to visit you, and it was great. I spent more time than I get at work, and left a few more bodacious comments than I may have typing at work. Hooman set me up for a great comment, "This is Bullshit" and you know you want to go look! I've noticed that when I visit a new blog or two, and comment, that the authors return the favor, and shortly afterwards they are posting comments at other blogs on my blogroll, and the authors of those blogs are asking, hey, where did you surf in from? Its nothing earthshaking, but cool. Rook is surprised that Steppenwolf visited his blog, he's honored to have an Iranian visit his work (his words) then he finds that he's on Steppenwolf's blogroll too. My son and I ran together for the first time tonight, then he was going swimming with his friends. I thought he was holding back so I could keep up with him but after 3 miles I am not sure who was holding back. Give him two weeks more and he'll whip my butt though!
Goodnight!
Nunya [11:10 PM]
Previews of Coming Attractions. Yesterday my son and his fiance had their wedding shower. It was something my wife and the bride's mother worked on for a couple of days preparing food for the guests. We went over to my son's house afterwards and watched the couple open their gifts. They were so excited, especially the bride to be. This morning my 16 year old left for four days of football training camp. With the 20 year old pretty much his own agent, my wife and I will see what it's going to be like living alone in a few more years. Nothing like a wedding in the family to make you start to feel older. My mom is visiting her sister in New Jersey for a couple of weeks, and I called her yesterday to see how she is feeling. I spoke to a cousin who was there visiting and she told me she lost 15 pounds and looked like a teenager again. I had just come back from a swim workout, the first outdoor swim of the year up here in Michigan, AKA Iceland Too, and although I know exercise will keep me younger longer, I was feeling pretty sore at the moment. (not as sore as I feel today though). Of course my mom had bragged me up to the aunt and cousins, and they knew I was training for another triathlon. The one thing that nags me in the back of my mind is although I see active 50 somethings out there, I don't see many active 60 somethings. Anyone want to start a club?
Nunya [8:10 AM]
[ Sunday, June 22, 2003 ]
"I have a dream..." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. first delivered his "I have a dream" speech on June 23rd, 1963 at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan. He had led a group of 125,000 people on a freedom walk to protest the assassination of civil right leader Medgar Evers. This year the AFL-CIO and the Detroit chapter of the NAACP are commemorating this historic even with the 2003 Walk to Freedom. The march will be held on Saturday, June 28th at 10AM, starting out at Woodward Avenue near Warren. Other info can be obtained, or groups may register by calling 313-871-2087. There is also a website for the event. The original marchers called for an end to segregation. I hope that the group marching next Saturday shows we have achieved Dr. King's dream.
Nunya [7:59 AM]
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Trans Fatty Acids. Do you recognize either of these? Well to follow up on yesterdays post by Whats Up down South, I'm pointing you to an article from June's issue of Men's Journal. The title is "125 Best Foods for Men" but there is nothing gender oriented here. Just a great list of little known groceries that can make it easier to eat healthy. Examples include Mount Olive No Sugar Added Pickle Relish, Bush's Best Vegetarian Baked Beans, Hormel Turkey with Bean Chili, and many other healthful, great tasting staples, condiments and entrees. This isn't just a list, these are selected as the tastes best favorites from a long list of contestants the editors considered for their story. And if you can't seem to lose that last annoying bit if weight, you may also wish to check out their article entitled Lose the Last Ten.
Nunya [7:58 AM]