Saturday, October 07, 2006
DAMAGE CONTROL There seems to be a special opportunity for young people who are seeking an opportunity to enter a field of business where a lucrative future seems to be assured. How about training to become an expert in the constantly expanding field of "Damage Control"? It is now being used in practically every occupational area, too...and perhaps any self-confident, naturally domineering, intrinsically stubborn, tenacious, cantankerous individual can rise quickly and even excel in a specialized field in which good qualities can be set aside and bad ones made to appear as being made to appear to be replacements as good, enduring, proper and undisputed merit in whatever you wish to call "all". The initial problem to be solved is yourself. Obviously, you can't stand yourself or you would not be so eager to change. You've come this far! You know this is an opportunity! Are you going to chicken-out again? Or, are going to out-macho today's finest; place your noble profile in the bright rays of enlightenment and revel in the absorption of glory of wearing the laurel wreath of pure intelligence - knowledge of one's self! You have a world of new clients! You have, for instance, a member of one of the largest and finest legislative bodies who was caught exchanging sexy notes with young boy "pages" of his office domain. His former co-workers say he needs to undertake some serious "Damage Control measures. They need some such treatment themselves to restore a more pleasant aroma to their occupational area. The boy or boys, DC, as well to learn not to trust adults indiscriminately, or E-mail or Instant Messenger addicts need for companionship. The need for expert damage control is always in the Presidential office because most presidents have host of things they have to keep quiet about until the right time. Scandal has come to the White House in a visible entity and large chunks of of fix-it materials had to be applied to keep classic case under control during the Clinton-onian Error Era. Occurrences of a that caliber are rare, but one has be ready for whatever might strike without any real alerts being sounded. Why not establish an office or department of accountability wherein professional Damage Control Ph D's or better would be in charge to mend such things as they happen rather than wait for years until they fester into festivals of shame and disgrace. After all, we Americans seem to want to feel our elected official to be "a regular feller"..."one of the boys" -"just like you and me....like so many of the rest of us." Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-7-06 [c-456wds]
Friday, October 06, 2006
FOR BETTER OR WORSE The lasting harm which comes to a nation when leadership lapses into a time of wanton disregard of moral standards upon which we like to think the nation was originally founded. Common sense tells us that our forefather were not perfect nor should we we expect out current leadership to be without flaws. We are rather socked when we find one of our chosen political personages turns out to be "despicable in every way". The immediate action taken is to "get rid of him", "kick him out of office", or threaten to imprison him . Much of that relates more clearly to us than to the associate we have now set apart as being a criminal. We are, today, saying that "former" Congress person is no longer, a part of that governmental maze. He resigned before he could be fired. He then consigned his physical person to the care and confinement of an alcohol control rehab center. A few people praised him for such action saying he was "getting at the real cause of most of his troubles." Others were quick to state an opposite view suggesting that self-commitment concept was created to ward off some of unwanted media attentions which were bound to haunt his every step. There is a understandable tendency of many to look at this entire Foley Affair as something which will restyle the Congress and even switch the leadership to the Democratic party. Unless it is heavily hyped it will not last until election time as a serious threat in such a massive manner as is being anticipated by Bush-bashers. By that time,however, there will, most probably, a few more incidents about which we can construct schemes and trouble making to distract election plans. One scandal seems to breed others, so don't be shocked if a real capper comes barreling along at any moment. We mentioned the problem of ultimate form of danger which are done by the governmental scandals encourage. None of us can continue go see wrong being added to wrong and maintain our confidence in the form of government we profess to trust and obey. Think of it if you cannot trust a public servant to use his e-mail properly how can we expect to handle our "first-class mail" properly? Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-6-06 [c-397wds]
Thursday, October 05, 2006
A LOST ART You can't find many people today who can tell you exactly when a watermelon is ripe and ready to be eaten! There are no college courses in the school catalogs I see, not even diploma mills on the Internet, TV or printed come-ons offering crash courses in melon-whiffing, rind-rational reasoning, or melon-knowmah karma. It is what they call a "lost art. There was a time when every American melon-lovin' family had at least one member who knew all about perfect melons. The more I think about it, however, I remember that the individual who had that particular talent was always an Aunt or an Uncle or distant cousin, twice removed. They had the reputation but were , as I now recall, not being present-or- accounted for during melon sharing time. Anoher reason for our melon mannerisms concerned economics. We did not plunk down $7.50 each for melons each for melons purchased and a roadside stand, a store or selected from those piled on an overweight watermelon truck parked at the corner of our street...a common site when the melon patches were drooling out some real beauties. You cut a melon. If it did not look right - into the nearby barrel for the hogs. You selected another and another as needed. Seriously, I know of several good way to be assured of a tasty melon. The experts say look for a flat, yellowed area on the bottom of the melon. That's a good 'un! Check to see if the vine was torn away from the melon or if it was carefully cut about two inches out; the stub still there - dried and withered. That's a good 'un, too! Either way! I've had "experts" tell me each way is best. The way we always did was as youngster: take a small knife and plug the rascal's green hide Maybe an inch or so squared plug cut out. We usually bought that one anyway. You eat watermelon either to enjoy doing so or to have the right to complain about having done so. To me, one of the best things to come from a watermelon is the fine pickles which can be made with the rind. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-5-06 [c-385wds]
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
SLY STEP You can accept Jerry Springer's reason for being a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" if you like. He says he wanted so very much to be able to dance with his daughter, Katie, during her wedding in December. I am one of many who see his appearance on the dance show as a carefully planned promotion orchestrated with much skill to put the Jerry Springer name before the American people once more. Sleaze watchers of yesterday have fine memories of his hosting of one of TV's loosest and most bawdy TV "talk" shows. Few people realize that all of this fal-de-ral of ballroom dancing is sheer rigged publicity - subtle and well done - is for the purpose of getting us ready to accept the Broadway Grand Opening of the latest musical production about his life and times! It was written in England, enlarged from some seaside skits about the man British newspapers advertised as the host of "America's leading TV show!" In case you missed seeing the new stage show at the "National" in London, or at any of the road tour locations,it's on the way. The Broadway opening was originally set for October but that seem so close. This Fall, anyway. The play - titled in England as "Jerry Springer The Opera" is a wild, incoherent display of materials designed to downgrade an obsolete garbage dump site. Those of you who read this column during the time of the English road showing will recall the smutty content not unlike his old TV shows. The staged appearances in most areas gathered two groups - one outside in the street protesting the performance. Thus far, I have heard no mention of The forthcoming opening of "Jerry Springer The Opera". Springer and is partner Kym Johnson have been voted again and again by the three judges as being among the poorest dancers in the competition, but the nation 's television viewers, with exceptional devotion, constantly redeem them. No one seems to be wondering why this happens. We are being "took". Wait just a bit longer and see if someone happens to mention, by pure chance of course, that the Broadway musical "Jerry Springer The Opera" will open plus the date and where.We are supposed to be surprised, too. So...we go along with the scheme. They have done better than I though they might. And, let in become a memory in your mind showing how easily we can be duped. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-4-06 [c424wds]
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
AS THE ROMAN'S DID. I have never been able to agree with those who say that present-day America is "going to total ruin just like the Roman's did!" The older folks used to say: "Going to Hell in a hand basket." The comparison doesn't seem valid in so many ways, but it is given another round when any sex-oriented scandal gains headline status in D.C. governmental areas. We have such a situation now in the actions of Congressman Mark Foley (R), Florida who has been exchanging explicit, sexy letters with a fifteen year-old former page boy. The big difference this time around is that since this is a time in which we are heading into mid-term elections. the important thing about it all is that if the Democrats can keep them causes on the Republican party rather than on just one of their number, it could be the lever needed which might change the election to Democratic advantage. "They have been in power too long....stagnant, rotten to the core!...despicable conduct! Replacement! " Voters have been known to respond well to such accusations - and if they b e true or false seems to make very little difference as long as the scandal background remains intact. Foley has resigned; consigned his bodily self to an alcoholic treatment center to avoid on-camera encounters of the least kind kind and to lay claim to the common "drink made me do it" placard he can now show. That is about the sum and substance of what we are now seeing and hearing. Precedent in such cases urges that such affairs be forgotten as soon as possible lest they stir up others like it. This one seems to be tagged to continue a bit longer than usual. This sex offense can bed classed as being rather "mild" when compared to others which have existed or are extant within the District area including northern Virginia and the edge of Maryland as well.' The whole thing doesn't even come close to the fall of the glory that was ancient Rome, does it? By his time, they would have worked in several murders, a suicide, perhaps a sedition or two, and a seduction as well. Infidelities would have, at least, been mentioned. Some few critics have far more severe views than I. Each newly revealed case - as they continue to happen - might lead me to accept their harsher version of the era in which we live. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-3-06 [c424wds]
Monday, October 02, 2006
SOME TRICKY WORDS It is only a test, but try to say this line several times without worrying about that which so often happens to people who say it do so.. Try saying the following sentence three times, rather rapidly, as through giving instructions to another person: "There is only one way to say "only" and that is the only way to say it. Remember to say the word "only" that way; always say "only" and never slip into "olny" as some people do. The only way to say only is "only" a that is only true, it is said, of the term "only." In have known a number of people who have trouble every time they hear the tense sound of a siren on an emergency vehicle - near or afar. Be it a klaxon horn blast or the shrill moaning of the siren type they say: Uh-Oh! Musta been another car wreck! There goes another "anvilance"! I have heard that word used more often by people in the Rockingham County section of Virginia. It may be a Shenandoah Valley-ism. Anvilances are seem frequently on the roads there, either in long, limo-car-ish versions but more often as sturdy, truck-like models which are amazing well-equipped and staffed by volunteer Rescue Squad members from about every community. Pronounce it anyway you like; it is always properly said to be one of our greatest community blessings. We have several communicates in the Shenandoah Valley area which ,for me, give new radio and TV personalities some trouble until they get The town of Crozet is a more obvious one and they quickly get use is soften it a bit for a gentle "Cro'-zaay". Some newcomers, however, can be here for years but still insist of adding letters in the middle a town's name. The village, named in honor of original settlers in the area - the Stannic family. The community in which they lived became "Stannadsville". But it is not unusual to hear it and to see it printed as "Standardsville,Va." Most first-timers call it "Staughn-tun" just as they do some streets or section back home. Others come closer by thinking "stan", and adding "ton", but doesn't quite hit the mark. Think English. Think how softly Lady Staunton said her name...easy, relaxed, smoothly...it came forth - not "Stan'-ton ", but rather more delicately, even flowing as: "Stant'on". It is never "stan+ton." It is "stant+on." - Staunton, Virginia Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-2-06 [c425wds]
Sunday, October 01, 2006
DO I DARE? I have the greatest possible degree of trust in my personal physicians. I think most people do so, and if you happen to have experienced several close encounters of the wrong kind which took you right up to where you could reach out just a bit and actually touch the garish door-knocker on the front door of Death's dark house. Anyone who has had that portion of life's possible termination so graphically depicted is going to believe just about anything a doctor might suggest in order to avoid such an end. That's good. It is best that we learn to trust and obey persons authorized to assist in maintaining our good health. We have government standards by which we further seek to control the proper use of the medication prescribed for our use. None, it seems, is without potential hazard -especially if improperly used. With that in mind, printed instructions and a detailed analysis of possible ill effects are printed in in uninspired black and fliers - sheets folded ingeniousness inside the carton i n which the medicine is usually distributed. Do you read these informational sheets? Most people do not. They can undermine confidence you have in the preparation which is supposed to cure your particular malady. The required information page is found with every box of a particular spray medication I use. It, for instance, urges me to: "rinse your mouth after using the inhaler to help prevent dryness and relieve throat irritation." I am urged to "clean the inhaler at least once a month." "This medication may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, runny nose or irritated throat. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely side effects occur: fast heartbeat, difficulty urinating white patches in your mouth or changes in vaginal discharge. If sprayed in the eyes, pain occurs." It may be a symptom of narrow-angle glaucoma. Get immediate medical attention. Rarely may cause worsening of breathing problems immediately after use. Contact your doctor at once." There may be allergic reaction, as well, but I think that's about all I care to know about the inhaler I'm using daily. Side effects listed for a pill, I take include fast/pounding heartbeat, nervousness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, headache dizziness, anxiety, shakiness, pale skin, chest pains and irregular heartbeat, fainting, vision changes, seizures and confusion or "other effects not listed above. " Enough, once more! I do not enjoy reading such "helpful" information. I realize they must be included with all drugs we buy, in accordance with laws of our land, but I have strong feeling urging that a family member of whomever is caring for a patient read the lists of possible things which could or might happen, rather than the patient. I want to get well - not worse. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-01-06 [c479wds]
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