Post-election Musings

For over forty-five years, I have shared Dr. Kings dream of seeing the time when men would be judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. Many people seem to think that was acheived in 2008 because the U.S. elected a man who is half Black to be our next President. I vehemently disagree, because a large number of the electorate voted for him simply because he does have black skin. As for his character, time will tell. I hope and pray for the best, however, I don't hold out for much, given his associations. But, unlike some of my conservative friends, I don't think this presages the end of the Republic [That is much more complex and too involved for this discussion, but look to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire for hints.]. We made it through the 90s with one of the most morally bankrupt couples ever in the White House, and we'll survive the Orgasma reign, which I predict, like the Carter administration, and for many of the same reasons, will last only four years.

I was extremely disappointed that the Republicans offered the liberal John McCain. When he brought Sarah Palin on board, a big deal was made of the fact that they are both mavericks. But there is a huge difference. Her maverickacy [I think I just made up that word] entailed taking bad Republicans to the woodshed while his involved sleeping with the enemy. From day one, I did not feel that I could vote for him. Any thoughts that I might went away when, a few days before the election, he reported with pride that he had voted to confirm Justices Souter and Ginsberg.

I was pleased when Bob Barr announced that he would run for President on the Libertarian ticket. I thought that this might be just what is needed to spur the Libertarian Party toward being a seriously viable option in the future. But, alas, as far as I know, all he did was announce, raise a little bit of money, and give me a box to check on my ballot. So that was another disappointment.

I am somewhat of a news junkie. The 2008 election, though, started so early and lasted so long that by the end, I was really tired of it. I sincerely hope that it did not set a new paradigm for future campaigns.

The Bush Presidency has been very disappointing to me in many ways: The non-military spending spree, failure to activate the veto pen, the naivete of thinking that being nice and accomodating to liberals such as Ted Kennedy would win their cooperation and friendship, his soft stance on illegal aliens. I appreciate, however, that he has stubbornly pursued the war on terror, enhanced the mechanism that has kept us free from attacks on our own soil, and daily sought God's counsel. I have been surprised and dismayed by the hatred and vitriol directed against President Bush by the media and some liberal politicians. It is my fervent prayer that conservatives do not follow a similar pattern against the next President.

Addendum to "Not All Expiration............"

Few products meet my expectations. Fewer still exceed my hopes. The Debbie Meyer Green Bags, however, are an example of the latter. I am amazed at the amount of time that they extend the useable life of vegetables.

Not All Expiration Dates Are Created Equal

Near the end of 2007, I used the last aspirin tablets from a 500 count bottle that had an expiration date in 2002. They, just like the previous 497, alleviated my headache. Some weeks later, I finished off a 150 count bottle of Rolaids which had a similarly old expiration date. They relieved my heartburn. Though I don't specifically know of any, I think there probably are some prescription drugs which do lose effectiveness with age.

I have seen people discard milk on the date stamped on the container. But that is not an expiration date; rather, it's a "sell by" date, and is directed toward the retail seller. If it is kept refrigerated between 33 & 40 degrees F, milk will usually, though not always, remain good for a couple of weeks beyond the sell by date. Leaving it out at room temperature for extended periods of time will hasten spoilage. Meat which is cut and wrapped at a supermarket also has a sell by date, but, even when kept properly refrigerated, will usually start to go bad within two or three days after the sell by date. So, if you can't use it quickly, freeze it. When red meat turns brown, it doesn't mean it has gone bad, merely that it has been exposed to air. With meat and dairy products the best test is still the "smell" test. If it has a disgusting odor, throw it out. However, remember that fish will always smell fishy. It's the rotten fish smell that should be avoided. I have, on occasion, found a really good sale price on eggs and bought three or four dozen at the same time. I've kept them properly refrigerated, and used them five or six weeks beyond their "Use by" date.

As with so many things in life, common sense is a better guide than prescribed guidelines. Unfortunately, many people are sorely deficient in this attribute.

Physicians

I have come to the conclusion that there are two basic types of practicing physicians. There are also those who only do research, but of doctors who interact with the public, there are treaters and there are healers. Treaters see patients. Healers treat people.

Treaters view a set of symtoms, reach into a figurative box, and pull out a diagnosis which seems to be indicated by said symtoms, then give the patient presciptions and prosciptions. If these solve the problem, the treater has done his job. If they do not, the treater has done his job, and it may be the patients fault that they didn't work, probably due to ommission or commission; or the problem is an anomaly which cannot be diagnosed or corrected.

Healers take the same initial steps, but they have a scientific curiosity, and often a sympathy, that kicks in while the problem remains unsolved. But if standard protocol doesn't produce the desired results, they explore other avenues, and don't give up easily.

I prefer healers, don't you?

More Quotable Quotes

"When a man finds no peace within himself, it is useless to seek it elsewhere."
French Proverb

"The smallest good deed is greater than the greatest good intention."
Anonymous

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion."
Henry David Thoreau

"I tried but it didn't work is a lot better than I wish I had tried."
Source Obscure

Police Blotter

Every year Abilene Christian University [College when I was there] has a musical revue called Spring Sing. In 1966, curfew for dorm dwellers was 11:00 p.m., except on special occasions such as Spring Sing when it was changed to midnight.

A group of us freshmen boys who didn't have dates went back to the dorm after the event. While sitting around talking, we devised a plan to have some fun, and, perhaps, mess up the final make-out minutes of those who did have dates.
We gathered the necessary props for our little drama: a white cane, a pair of sunglasses, and a blanket.

About 11:45 we piled into a car with our props and drove to the street where the two girls dorms housing the most socially elite were located. If memory serves, it was Danny [remember Danny?] who was the designated blind man. We let him out, and he hid between two parallel parked cars. We drove slowly around the block, and turned back onto the street at 11:55. The goody two-shoes were standing around the front doors of the dorms, while those with a normal hormone level were still in cars trying to eke out as many final hugs and kisses as possible. Just before we got to the gap where Danny was crouched, the driver stomped the brakes, screeching the tires. I was sitting in the passenger seat and, as the car came to a stop, I slapped my hand loudly against the outside of the door. Danny jumped out with the shades askew on his face and laid down in front of the car, dropping the white cane to his side. We all scrambled out of the car, acting panicked. I bent over him, then looked up and yelled, "Call 911. Does anyone have a blanket?" The driver said he had one in the trunk, and promptly retrieved it. Danny lay silent and motionless. We covered him with the blanket and hovered around him so that others couldn't get too close. People came down from the dorm steps. People came out of their cars. Within a few minutes, a crowd had gathered, completely filling the street. Per our plan, I leaned over and whispered in Danny's ear, "One, two, three." He sat up, then sprang to his feet. We gathered the blanket and cane, got back into the car, and drove away through the parting crowd.

As we pulled back into the parking lot of our dorm, we heard sirens coming up the hill toward the school. And in the next day's newspaper, the event was listed in the police blotter.

Quotable Quotes

"Kindness is a language the mute can speak and the deaf can hear."
Christian Bovee

"Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself."
Richard Nixon

"Jogging is for people who aren't intelligent enough to watch television."
Victoria Wood

"He who never walks save where he sees men's tracks makes no discoveries."
J.P. Holland

"Rather than praying for a change in circumstances, pray for a change of heart."
Source Unknown

Simple Pleasures

If one leads a simple life, he can find pleasure in simple occurrences. I had that experience last weekend. It was a time of finding things which I had missed.

I had missed a Thermos travel cup and had asked people at the only place I could think of that I might have left it. I save aluminium cans for a friend who recycles them for cash. I called him and made arrangements for him to come by and pick up a collection last Saturday. He said, "And, I'll bring your cup." Mystery solved. He had taken me to the airport last July when I flew to Rockford for Mom's birthday party, and I had left it in his car.

I had missed a ballpoint pen that I keep near the door to stick in my pocket on the way out, if I think I might need it. Last Sunday morning, I took a shirt from my closet to wear to church. I stepped in front of a mirror, started to button it, and what do you think I saw sticking out of the pocket? I'm confident you guessed correctly. Mystery solved.

There was a small flowering tree in my yard that I thought had been killed by the cold. I dug it out, and realizing that the roots still had life, I potted them to try to get new growth. When I retrieved my watering can, I couldn't find the sprinkler head for it, because dusk had encroached. I figured it was somewhere nearby. I turned on the light and looked; I got my flashlight and looked from different angles and under tables, all to no avail. A couple of days later, in the daylight, something white and familiar looking caught my eye hiding behind a can. Eureka!

I like having a place for everything, and everything in its place. I said I like it. I didn't say I live it. Someday I'll find the missing cap from one of my gas cans.

Things to Ponder

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

The things that come to those who wait may be the things that were left by those who got there first.

I wish the buck did stop here, as I could use a few.

Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular.

"I tried but it didn't work" is a lot better than "I wish I had tried."