An article in today's Provo Daily Herald discusses the dangers of huffing legal substances that are generally easily available in just about any store. This particular article focused on huffing Air Dusters--the cans of compressed air everyone uses to clean computers and other electronics.
All in all, the article was fairly well-written, and did an OK job at educating the public on the dangers of huffing in general. The responses that followed the article were not really intelligent, and failed to address the issue in our community.
Here is me response:
"Anyone who believes there isn't a drug problem in Utah county is either an idiot, or in heaps of self-denial. Whether it's illegal drugs, or readily available OTC items, the drug problem is as bad here as anywhere in the nation.
Unfortunately, LDS Church members prefer to sweep any issues under the rug; presumably so their families don't look bad to other church members. The ONLY thing this accomplishes is allow the drug abuse to escalate and possibly even spread within the family; further damaging every family member--in some way--in the process.
Addressing substance abuse, in whatever form, is vital to the battle. Acknowledgement, addressing it and productively dealing with the problem are the best ways to tackle any abuse issues. As parents, you must stand up and protect the other children in your household; while standing up to the abuser. It's not fun; but hiding from the problem does NOT make it simply go away.
Forget the embarrassment you might face at church. The well-being of your family is vastly more important than denying such abuse exists. So do what you MUST do in order to save yourself, your child or your family from the devastating effects of drug abuse!"
~16 Oct 13 Follow-up~
I only got one response to the comment above and, typical for this area, the respondent denied the scope of the drug problem here in Utah County. His comment:
"Utah county's drug problem is as bad as anywhere in the nation? You've clearly never been to Detroit or Baltimore or pretty much any other metropolitan area in this country. We do have a drug problem in Utah, no doubt, but you're crazy if you think it compares to some of the worst areas in this country. We actually have it pretty good compared to them."
Of course, with that kind of a comment, you know I had to respond; so, here is my follow-up to the reader:
"Sorry...your argument is hollow. I've spent considerable time in Chicago, LA, Seattle, Tampa and Detroit, and have been a medic on the streets of Atlanta. The drug problem in Utah County IS as bad here as anywhere; we simply don't see it so openly displayed as in other cities.
Denial of the problem by individuals such as yourself does not help anyone address the issue. Drugs are here, they've been here for years, and the problem will only continue to grow on our streets and in our homes if everyone sits around saying, "We actually have it pretty good compared to...[those other cities]."
So bury your head in the sand--like so many others in this area--and continue to deny the scope of illicit drugs in our community. Maybe the drugs will just go away...
...after all, we live in Happy Valley where nothing bad goes on... (right?)"
"And by the way AP, Thank you for perfectly illustrating my point that I placed in the first two lines of my original comment. Love it when others do that for me! Have a wonderful day!"
Monday, October 14, 2013
China on the US Debt Crisis
From today's News...
"BEIJING –With days to go before the United States debt default deadline, Beijing aired its frustrations with the shutdown Sunday, saying it was time to consider a “de-Americanized” world order.
With $1.28 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, China is easily the biggest foreign holder of American debt.
China has also funneled billions of dollars into private American investments – to the tune of an estimated $54 billion in 2012 alone.
“As U.S. politicians of both political parties are still shuffling back and forth between the White House and the Capitol Hill without striking a viable deal to bring normality to the body politic they brag about, it is perhaps a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanized world,” according to a stinging op-ed article by state news agency, Xinhua.
The article, published Sunday, conveyed Beijing’s frustration with the spending and debt impasse that has paralyzed Washington for more than two weeks.
"Days when the destinies of others are in the hands of a hypocritical nation have to be terminated, and a new world order should be put in place, according to which all nations, big or small, poor or rich, can have their key interests respected and protected on an equal footing,” the piece added.
Should Congress not come to an agreement by Thursday’s deadline on a new raised debt ceiling – the upper limit set by Congress on the amount of money the Federal government may borrow – China’s potential losses stand to be devastating.
Prior to Sunday’s commentary article, Chinese officials had been more measured in their analysis of the U.S. budget impasse. Last week, Vice-Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao noted only that “we have to see that the clock is ticking.”
To many in China, the restraint on the part of China’s ruling Communist Party over its second-largest trade partner’s government problems was perhaps based in the belief that neither party, Democrat or Republican, would allow the U.S. to not honor its financial obligations.
“If we are really rational, I cannot imagine why someone would dare to bear this kind of responsibility because any real default will have a huge impact not only on the U.S. and China, but on the global economy,” said Professor Zhao Longkai, a dean at the Guanghua School of Management at Beijing University. “It’s hard for us to imagine anyone can be that crazy to push the limit to that level.”
Zhao said the patience China had shown until recently was rooted not only in Beijing’s confidence in America’s ability to deal with the budgetary crisis, but also its own burgeoning self-confidence.
“For average Chinese people [the budget crisis] is a show there and we’ve seen it before… we also know that it's not only the United States that we are relying on, we have a lot of other investments,” Zhao said.
The Xinhua commentary may raise eyebrows in Washington, but Beijing’s frustration underscores a key point: Despite a desire to diversify its holdings, the Chinese government continues to buy U.S. Treasury bonds out of political and economic necessity.
As long as China’s domestic growth and stability are boosted by American debt, the deep ties between the two countries will likely endure.
Here is my response:
"The statement from the Chinese government sounds like the rhetoric so often heard during the Cold War with the then Soviet Union. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess.
China IS right in one regard, though; that the US has far to large a presence on the world stage. The Founders never intended for the United States to have a world wide military; never for us to exert our beliefs on other countries; never for us to poke our noses in everyone else's business and internal affairs.
Yes, we have done a lot of good over the last 75 years; but at what cost to America? Our manufacturing base is nearly gone, the dollar is at the weakest point it has ever been, the middle class is shrinking--along with its majority tax base--millions of jobs are now on foreign soil, resentment amongst the world community towards the US is at an all time high, the politics in Congress have become an embarrassment to any democratic nation, the last two Presidents (current one incl.) have openly trampled on the very Constitution they both swore to uphold and defend and our national debt is so vast that we will never get it balanced again.
So yeah, China is right about a few things. However, their statement today could be a headline from thirty years ago. In spite of all the change, the Cold War is still going strong...at least in China's overreaching view of the world."
"BEIJING –With days to go before the United States debt default deadline, Beijing aired its frustrations with the shutdown Sunday, saying it was time to consider a “de-Americanized” world order.
With $1.28 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, China is easily the biggest foreign holder of American debt.
China has also funneled billions of dollars into private American investments – to the tune of an estimated $54 billion in 2012 alone.
“As U.S. politicians of both political parties are still shuffling back and forth between the White House and the Capitol Hill without striking a viable deal to bring normality to the body politic they brag about, it is perhaps a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanized world,” according to a stinging op-ed article by state news agency, Xinhua.
The article, published Sunday, conveyed Beijing’s frustration with the spending and debt impasse that has paralyzed Washington for more than two weeks.
"Days when the destinies of others are in the hands of a hypocritical nation have to be terminated, and a new world order should be put in place, according to which all nations, big or small, poor or rich, can have their key interests respected and protected on an equal footing,” the piece added.
Should Congress not come to an agreement by Thursday’s deadline on a new raised debt ceiling – the upper limit set by Congress on the amount of money the Federal government may borrow – China’s potential losses stand to be devastating.
Prior to Sunday’s commentary article, Chinese officials had been more measured in their analysis of the U.S. budget impasse. Last week, Vice-Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao noted only that “we have to see that the clock is ticking.”
To many in China, the restraint on the part of China’s ruling Communist Party over its second-largest trade partner’s government problems was perhaps based in the belief that neither party, Democrat or Republican, would allow the U.S. to not honor its financial obligations.
“If we are really rational, I cannot imagine why someone would dare to bear this kind of responsibility because any real default will have a huge impact not only on the U.S. and China, but on the global economy,” said Professor Zhao Longkai, a dean at the Guanghua School of Management at Beijing University. “It’s hard for us to imagine anyone can be that crazy to push the limit to that level.”
Zhao said the patience China had shown until recently was rooted not only in Beijing’s confidence in America’s ability to deal with the budgetary crisis, but also its own burgeoning self-confidence.
“For average Chinese people [the budget crisis] is a show there and we’ve seen it before… we also know that it's not only the United States that we are relying on, we have a lot of other investments,” Zhao said.
The Xinhua commentary may raise eyebrows in Washington, but Beijing’s frustration underscores a key point: Despite a desire to diversify its holdings, the Chinese government continues to buy U.S. Treasury bonds out of political and economic necessity.
As long as China’s domestic growth and stability are boosted by American debt, the deep ties between the two countries will likely endure.
Here is my response:
"The statement from the Chinese government sounds like the rhetoric so often heard during the Cold War with the then Soviet Union. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess.
China IS right in one regard, though; that the US has far to large a presence on the world stage. The Founders never intended for the United States to have a world wide military; never for us to exert our beliefs on other countries; never for us to poke our noses in everyone else's business and internal affairs.
Yes, we have done a lot of good over the last 75 years; but at what cost to America? Our manufacturing base is nearly gone, the dollar is at the weakest point it has ever been, the middle class is shrinking--along with its majority tax base--millions of jobs are now on foreign soil, resentment amongst the world community towards the US is at an all time high, the politics in Congress have become an embarrassment to any democratic nation, the last two Presidents (current one incl.) have openly trampled on the very Constitution they both swore to uphold and defend and our national debt is so vast that we will never get it balanced again.
So yeah, China is right about a few things. However, their statement today could be a headline from thirty years ago. In spite of all the change, the Cold War is still going strong...at least in China's overreaching view of the world."
Friday, August 23, 2013
Baseball Mediocrity Rewarded
A report surfaced yesterday out of Seattle that the Mariners Execs had extended the contract of GM Jack Zduriencik as his initial five year contract is set to expire at the end of the current season.
JackZ--as he's known to Mariner fans--inherited a franchise in disarray following a GM who basically destroyed the club from the inside out. JackZ promised to build the Mariners into a World Series team; but espoused patience in the process. After an initial break even season, the Mariners have had three successive campaigns of sub-500 ball; and this season is headed for a fourth straight losing season. Yes, some things have improved; but other things have not. Bad Free Agent signings, unequal trade results, and poor on-field play have all been recurring issues for the GM.
When CBS News reported the [JackZ] signing, I responded with the following brief, but incredibly valid observation...
If true, then the M's Upper Mgmt. should be awfully proud that JackZ built a sub-500 team from the ground up. Mediocrity as a measure of success...this could rewrite the book on underachieving!
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it...I'm a lifelong Mariners fan; have been since their inaugural season. But aside from the Lou Pinella years, Seattle really IS the greatest farm team in the Major Leagues! And with yet another sub-500 season well under way, I really don't see this changing anytime soon. Go sub-Mariners!
In the hours since I commented, not a single respondent alluded to, attacked, negated or assailed my observation. Once again, it seems I have a point.
JackZ--as he's known to Mariner fans--inherited a franchise in disarray following a GM who basically destroyed the club from the inside out. JackZ promised to build the Mariners into a World Series team; but espoused patience in the process. After an initial break even season, the Mariners have had three successive campaigns of sub-500 ball; and this season is headed for a fourth straight losing season. Yes, some things have improved; but other things have not. Bad Free Agent signings, unequal trade results, and poor on-field play have all been recurring issues for the GM.
When CBS News reported the [JackZ] signing, I responded with the following brief, but incredibly valid observation...
If true, then the M's Upper Mgmt. should be awfully proud that JackZ built a sub-500 team from the ground up. Mediocrity as a measure of success...this could rewrite the book on underachieving!
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it...I'm a lifelong Mariners fan; have been since their inaugural season. But aside from the Lou Pinella years, Seattle really IS the greatest farm team in the Major Leagues! And with yet another sub-500 season well under way, I really don't see this changing anytime soon. Go sub-Mariners!
In the hours since I commented, not a single respondent alluded to, attacked, negated or assailed my observation. Once again, it seems I have a point.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Whining Pro Golfers
This morning the British Open [Golf] Tournament opened at Muirfield, a R & A (Royal and Ancient) course just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. Like and R & A course on the British Open circuit, Muirfield is extremely challenging in many aspects of its layout and overall course conditions.
After completing his opening round of golf, Phil Mickelson, the media hog that he is, began complaining to the press corps about what he felt were unfair course conditions for any professional golfer to have to deal with. He stated that the directors of the tournament need to "let go of their egos and just set up the course so that the best players can win.;" inferring that the R & A had unfairly made the course harder--I don't see how they can do that--in an effort to penalize the players.
Here was my response:
"These professional golfers need to just keep their opinions to themselves and play golf to the best of their ability. After all, they're supposedly the best golfers in the world, right? So start playing like a pro and stop expecting the perfect course every time they tee off. There are hundreds of regular R & A members who play this course every week who likely have no problem whatsoever with the hole setups. What makes the pros so special that they need to have an easier course to play on?
I used to work at a course that was a stop on the Senior PGA Tour. The course was very difficult under normal conditions. Without exception, every year a majority of the players would whine that the setup wasn't easy enough, as if they expected the easiest pin placements, optimum watering conditions, etc. I played that course hundreds of times, and rather than whine about it, I worked on bettering my game to try and beat the layout.
Why pros like Mickelson think they have the right to complain about a course rather than improve their game is mystifying. These guys just need to suck it up and perform their job better. To do otherwise only decreases my respect for these supposed professionals."
After completing his opening round of golf, Phil Mickelson, the media hog that he is, began complaining to the press corps about what he felt were unfair course conditions for any professional golfer to have to deal with. He stated that the directors of the tournament need to "let go of their egos and just set up the course so that the best players can win.;" inferring that the R & A had unfairly made the course harder--I don't see how they can do that--in an effort to penalize the players.
Here was my response:
"These professional golfers need to just keep their opinions to themselves and play golf to the best of their ability. After all, they're supposedly the best golfers in the world, right? So start playing like a pro and stop expecting the perfect course every time they tee off. There are hundreds of regular R & A members who play this course every week who likely have no problem whatsoever with the hole setups. What makes the pros so special that they need to have an easier course to play on?
I used to work at a course that was a stop on the Senior PGA Tour. The course was very difficult under normal conditions. Without exception, every year a majority of the players would whine that the setup wasn't easy enough, as if they expected the easiest pin placements, optimum watering conditions, etc. I played that course hundreds of times, and rather than whine about it, I worked on bettering my game to try and beat the layout.
Why pros like Mickelson think they have the right to complain about a course rather than improve their game is mystifying. These guys just need to suck it up and perform their job better. To do otherwise only decreases my respect for these supposed professionals."
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Fourth of July
Due to having dialysis today, I just want to sat to everyone,
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
237 years ago, this great Nation was formed; and the world was forever changed by its inception.
I hope that you can take just a few moments to quietly ponder on those incredible events and offer your supplications of thanks to the brave men who risked their very lives in order "to form a more perfect Union."
Have a fun, safe Fourth of July!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
237 years ago, this great Nation was formed; and the world was forever changed by its inception.
I hope that you can take just a few moments to quietly ponder on those incredible events and offer your supplications of thanks to the brave men who risked their very lives in order "to form a more perfect Union."
Have a fun, safe Fourth of July!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Violating Bolivia's Sovereign Rights
Earlier today the plane carrying the President Evo Morales, of Bolivia, was illegally detained and searched by Austrian authorities for fourteen hours in the search for US fugitive Edward Snowden, the man responsible for NSA leaks that show a covert, and illegal surveillance of US citizens by the NSA (National Security Agency) and other Federal Law agencies.
When I read this I immediately responded with the following:
"A Head of State's plane was searched?
What happened to Diplomatic protocols? How would the US Govt respond if a nation decided to search Air Force One on suspicion of espionage or whatever else? There would be outrage! It would be a major international incident. But because it is just the President of Bolivia, it's OK? Seriously?!
How is searching the plane of a Nation's President any different? Protocols were breached, basic respect of a Head of state was missing, the Sovereign rights of Bolivia were violated, and the commenters on here can only make fun of Bolivia and condemn Snowden. President Obama went way beyond his Office by seemingly strong-arming other governments into joining this witch hunt and ignoring the sovereign rights of another country.
How does Congress stand by and watch this abuse of power and not say a word?
I just don't get it."
I posted that commentary earlier this morning and hours later, there isn't a single comment to what I wrote. How can people fail to understand what happened today? If I were the Bolivian Ambassador to the United Nations, I'd be throwing a fit to any other Ambassadors who would listen. This breach of Sovereign rights is outrageous! President Obama has gone too far in his ridiculous quest to "bring to justice" the man who revealed to the American people that they were being implicitly spied on by order of the current Administration.
I am appalled that Congress says or does nothing to reign in this President from his constant abuse of Constitutional protections and international law, let alone international diplomatic protocol.
We have no right to violate the sovereign rights of any other nation. The President has numerous diplomatic tools at his disposal in order to find and detain Snowden. Strong-arming other nations to commit unlawful searches definitely isn't one of them.
When I read this I immediately responded with the following:
"A Head of State's plane was searched?
What happened to Diplomatic protocols? How would the US Govt respond if a nation decided to search Air Force One on suspicion of espionage or whatever else? There would be outrage! It would be a major international incident. But because it is just the President of Bolivia, it's OK? Seriously?!
How is searching the plane of a Nation's President any different? Protocols were breached, basic respect of a Head of state was missing, the Sovereign rights of Bolivia were violated, and the commenters on here can only make fun of Bolivia and condemn Snowden. President Obama went way beyond his Office by seemingly strong-arming other governments into joining this witch hunt and ignoring the sovereign rights of another country.
How does Congress stand by and watch this abuse of power and not say a word?
I just don't get it."
I posted that commentary earlier this morning and hours later, there isn't a single comment to what I wrote. How can people fail to understand what happened today? If I were the Bolivian Ambassador to the United Nations, I'd be throwing a fit to any other Ambassadors who would listen. This breach of Sovereign rights is outrageous! President Obama has gone too far in his ridiculous quest to "bring to justice" the man who revealed to the American people that they were being implicitly spied on by order of the current Administration.
I am appalled that Congress says or does nothing to reign in this President from his constant abuse of Constitutional protections and international law, let alone international diplomatic protocol.
We have no right to violate the sovereign rights of any other nation. The President has numerous diplomatic tools at his disposal in order to find and detain Snowden. Strong-arming other nations to commit unlawful searches definitely isn't one of them.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
The Supreme Court Overturns DOMA
This morning, the United States Supreme Court ruled in a divided Court to overturn The Defense of Marriage Act, the Federal Legislation, passed in 1996 and signed into law by the-President Bill Clinton, which mandated that the Federal Government only recognized marriages that were between one man and one woman, and supporting the definition of a traditional family. DOMA was endorsed by numerous churches and other national entities.
After the ruling was announced, the message boards were aflame with support (by the gay community) for the decision. Anyone with the temerity to disagree was attacked with voraciousness, vehemence, intolerance and hatred; as if having a contrary opinion was a horrific and unconscionable thing.
Here's my response:
"According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to decide this case. The SCOTUS was created and designed by the Founding Fathers to interpret the law ONLY, then to send to Congress their ruling; and Congress would then draft and legislate the law to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court. That's it. Unfortunately, Lawyers and Special Interest groups have changed the basic role of SCOTUS into the law-making entity it is today.
Justice Scalia was entirely correct when he stated [in the dissenting opinion], "We have no power to decide this case. And even if we did, we have no power under the Constitution to invalidate this democratically adopted legislation. The Court's errors on both points spring forth from the same diseased root: an exalted conception of the role of this institution (SCOTUS) in America."
Right, or wrong, the issue of gay marriage is an issue that should be up to the people as a whole to decide. Let Congress fight it out--as it should! Legislation through legal action only undermines the Constitution and the foundation of democracy that the Republic of the United States was founded upon.
Today's Supreme Court decision will forever alter the check's and balances system that was designed to assure that our Government never had too much power to dictate how Americans should live. Instead, the Supreme Court, the top-tier of Constitutional interpretation, has literally stripped the checks and balances system and bypassed Congress, the law-making entity of the United States Government. And ultimately, that is just plain unconstitutional."
*As of about one hour after posting my opinion, the only comment I had was related to a single typo I had in the text; a single apostrophe placed where it shouldn't have been. There was no addressing my opinion, just an attack because I had an apostrophe in the wrong place.
I love it when I can state my point well enough that no one can tear it down!
After the ruling was announced, the message boards were aflame with support (by the gay community) for the decision. Anyone with the temerity to disagree was attacked with voraciousness, vehemence, intolerance and hatred; as if having a contrary opinion was a horrific and unconscionable thing.
Here's my response:
"According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to decide this case. The SCOTUS was created and designed by the Founding Fathers to interpret the law ONLY, then to send to Congress their ruling; and Congress would then draft and legislate the law to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court. That's it. Unfortunately, Lawyers and Special Interest groups have changed the basic role of SCOTUS into the law-making entity it is today.
Justice Scalia was entirely correct when he stated [in the dissenting opinion], "We have no power to decide this case. And even if we did, we have no power under the Constitution to invalidate this democratically adopted legislation. The Court's errors on both points spring forth from the same diseased root: an exalted conception of the role of this institution (SCOTUS) in America."
Right, or wrong, the issue of gay marriage is an issue that should be up to the people as a whole to decide. Let Congress fight it out--as it should! Legislation through legal action only undermines the Constitution and the foundation of democracy that the Republic of the United States was founded upon.
Today's Supreme Court decision will forever alter the check's and balances system that was designed to assure that our Government never had too much power to dictate how Americans should live. Instead, the Supreme Court, the top-tier of Constitutional interpretation, has literally stripped the checks and balances system and bypassed Congress, the law-making entity of the United States Government. And ultimately, that is just plain unconstitutional."
*As of about one hour after posting my opinion, the only comment I had was related to a single typo I had in the text; a single apostrophe placed where it shouldn't have been. There was no addressing my opinion, just an attack because I had an apostrophe in the wrong place.
I love it when I can state my point well enough that no one can tear it down!
More Border Fencing?
An article in this morning's MSN Homepage tells of additional funding for another 700 miles of US Southern border fencing. The 1500 or so comments were all predictable in their pro and anti rhetoric. Here was my response:
"With as much $$ as the illegals pay the coyotes (guides), they could be applying for and securing legal green cards, then cross the border without endangering their lives. Why isn't the Federal Government pushing programs to emphasize this avenue for those wishing to come to the US?
As a result, there would be fewer deaths, fewer illegals, and the drug cartels would have fewer unwilling and very reluctant drug mules with which to smuggle drugs across the border.
Instead, we erect an [ineffective] isolation fence costing billions of dollars, increase border security which costs billions of dollars, and fill our prisons with illegals which costs the American taxpayers billions of dollars. Anyone see the pattern and insanity here?"
*I literally just posted the comment on MSN, but if I get any responses, I'll add them below:
In the hour since my post, I have gotten zero responses. What a surprise...
"With as much $$ as the illegals pay the coyotes (guides), they could be applying for and securing legal green cards, then cross the border without endangering their lives. Why isn't the Federal Government pushing programs to emphasize this avenue for those wishing to come to the US?
As a result, there would be fewer deaths, fewer illegals, and the drug cartels would have fewer unwilling and very reluctant drug mules with which to smuggle drugs across the border.
Instead, we erect an [ineffective] isolation fence costing billions of dollars, increase border security which costs billions of dollars, and fill our prisons with illegals which costs the American taxpayers billions of dollars. Anyone see the pattern and insanity here?"
*I literally just posted the comment on MSN, but if I get any responses, I'll add them below:
In the hour since my post, I have gotten zero responses. What a surprise...
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