Saturday, November 18, 2006
CURRENT EVENT The first weeks of this month saw a marked change in the political portion of the Way of Life for all of us. Just how the other aspects of our living will be modified - and to what possible extremes - remains to be seen. The predicted changes of election campaign days will fade a bit and blend with existing regulations with minor modifications which will likely be more cosmetic in nature than structural. The main difference will be another set of political persons will, at first , receive plaudits and praise for have brought about changes and, then, in time, be on the bad side of criticism. Essential groundwork which must be undertaken when new owners take over the controls which guide the Ship of State along dangerous courses through oft-troubled political seas. It is not going to be easy for either Democrats or Republicans to always do that which will always please Polosi. The naming of Nancy Polosi as Speaker of the House, I would predict, some interesting circumstance which will offer a diversionary sideshows - plain politi-foggery. Twelve years is a long time be out of intimate touch with those things which actually work. This may well be the initial year of feminine control of House actions. It seems also like a prelude praising or promising the placement of a "Hillery' in a nearby associated round room. To please Polosi could become a pattern; "Go Tell Aunt Nancy!" - could the theme song of a tight operation. Nothing of any real consequence is likely to take place until the two natural holiday periods of Christmas and of getting our New Year of '07 under way. There are, however, new notes in the back of our minds - the distinct possibilities of natural disaster of some kind hitting us with little of no warning, and you may have noticed we are getting more suggestion that we become aware of the possibility of overt Terrorist acts of violence here at home... any day now. It is time for us to get busy and get this Washington Re-Do finished and out of our way. It is dangerously obvious that we have more urgent things to get done. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 11-17-06 [c376wds]
Thursday, November 16, 2006
GONE“I have never taken any exercise” much quoted American humorist Mark Twain is said to have said, “except sleeping and resting." Twain was kidding, of course. Some would contend that we have too much foolish talk such as that in America today. It is evident Mark Twain that he outdid himself at least two times each week (weekdays and weekends)in writing all that stuff about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer and other notable figured in his clime,instead of using a keyboard. In spite of all the flatboat, river-talk background we enjoy he did much of those works a a cabin retreat in upstate New York's "Finger Lakes" region. The walk up the mountain side daily was more walking than I get in a month. I did something last I have never done before. I spent the night at a local Sleep Studies facilities. It was a first-time experience and, for that reason alone, it was of special interest and concern. A bright cheerful Sleep Technician showed us - my wife and one daughter in attendance for the event, we relaxed and watched the Finale of "Dancing With Stars" which they would have missed if I had sent them home. That set the scene for a good, homey setting for the patient. When they departed Technician Tara started getting me "ready" for bed. That placed pajama-clad me on the the edge of the wide, inviting bed having electrodes goo-glued and taped to my head. Then, "lights out" and I was ready to enter dream land having been told o eliminate. It made no difference whatever to me that I was on mike and on camera and on camera from that point on because I had been told to eliminate my afternoon nap. I was ready to sleep in my nest of many colors of electric cords. There was six questions in an audio quiz - repeated word-for-word the next morning concerning my sleep habits. Then,I think,I went right to sleep. I went in to this test thinking that I would "beat". The rest of the night I remember now as a bad dream. Tech Tara Evy's smiles and assurances that all was well made it durable. Throughout the restless hours I came too feel "guilty" of all charges brought against sleep deprived persons. Itching everywhere, movements constant in efforts to scratch,or at least to touch or press each affected area, snoring, twisting, turning, kicking, mumbling things, asking permission to go to the bath room or bed-wetting, wondering if sleep-walking could possibly be a part of my seemingly semi-secret life as a unconvinced sleep lab patient. I counted my attached lines -thirty -four and I lost count; I wondered what Twain and others may have written about "sleep". It was a hap-hazard night and the report is going to make from some interesting reading. One can not expect everything to "come up roses". It is, I think, better just to be glad certain unpleasant moments , necessary as a part of living, can come to a point when they are spoken of and seen as "past". Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 11-16-06 [c-536wds]
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
FEARS WE MUST FACEEmerson once said: “What I have seen readies me for those things I have not seen.” That can still be used as a valuable point of reference by us today even when compared with the relative calm conditions his rather staid New England area personified. Our proper point of judgment concerning our future, then, must be seen in the manner in which we think of our past. We start our New Year off with high-sounding “Resolutions” steeped in the sweetness of sauces which we concocted to make the recent holidays memorable in pleasant ways. Some of those self-made promises are wishes and special plans whereby we hope we might forestall or , at least, soften some of the less enjoyable events which may oud our immediate future. In one sense, some of them may be seen as prayers for a bright, more cheerful future when peace is more than just a wordy decoration. Older folks tend to resolute in more-and-more complicated forms as they get really old they realize are again. The opposite view holds for young people,of course. They think of having a great deal more permanency about their lives but they do look ahead with friends and fellow worker. They realize that we each have have a future of an unknown nature. No knowing, of course, is a blessing and a reason for planning. Many have a fear of disaster;others fear social losses - even physical ones - hearing, seeing, hair loss or posture. Some center on petty little nothings. Study history! Yesterday is you. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 11-15-06 [c275wds]
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
MORE BRANCHS Too many branches would seem to be wrong for most trees. When many are added, the various, individual trees all begin to look like common bushes. When a field gets "bushy" we grub 'em out and start over once more. Wouldn't you agree we should have about as many branch bank as we need? Certainly, by his time, every major bank in the nation has had its chance a cornering all the vast sums of money we pass around of printed, minted , electrified, or plasticized form. The Direct Mail side of my information and edification concerning world banking tells me that more and more banks are seriously considering any new, truly innovative ways by which they can serve new customers or regain former ones. Trends of recent years have become a bit worn largely from overuse by too many of them. There was a time when Branch Banking made good sense. As our cities grew they spread out along the main highways in the shopping centers, Malls - both general and specific by occupational interests or of a special "way-of-life" mannerism. The public watched with approval as branch banks were opened between fast food spots or, even, next door to each other. Banks, it appears, do not follow the general rules other businesses need to remain viable. In a nearby city there is a block long assembly of such banks and it is easy to see just by watching the visitors lines that several are barely making expenses - if that. Yet none of them have closed. Two had name changes because of corporate shifts in ownership far, far away. In our rural town, all of our banks are "branches". Our only locally owned and operated bank was absorbed by a large bank and then, in turn, they were absorbed by one in North Carolina. That, I suppose, made us the branch bank of a branch bank, and before too long they closed our location as one being too small afford a bank. Within a week or two we found we would have two new banks in our town plus a money-change machine which appear in the local, super-market food store the night after we were told we were too small to support even a small branch. Some banks are said to be trying added on-line banking facilities to avoid expense of building and staffing branch h banks. Another reaction to current events is that robbers prefer branch banks. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 11-14-06 [c426wds]
Monday, November 13, 2006
"SCOUNDERELS" OF SORTS
One seemingly sure way to make a fine fortune quickly is to learn early in life to get especially good a being very bad. You, if you make such a choice to become an actor have to realize you will always be the "heavy" and, the "hero". Part of making such a deliberate adjustment is a honest realization that without "villains" no "heroes" exist. Which, then would seems to be most important? Think about that if you have to make such a decision. Actors who depict a flaw in a character real or imaginary have more materials with which he can work to give his study remarkable qualities - contrasts and comparisons - make his study more beneficial,. accurate and more worthy. We have an electoral procedure in this country which calls upon citizens to vote at regular intervals. The nature of the balloting depends in who is up for re-election or replacement with new office holders. The offices voted upon are scattered and less controlled than our major presidential elections held every four years. The system as evidenced by last weeks action is in dire need of reform - in depth. Many current practices simply do not meet common sense requirements needed to maintain honesty. Many current practices simply did not do so. Misuse was common in all parties. Excellent television coverage this year revealed may changes are badly needed - much overdue in most areas. We can not fight in foreign lands while letting own systems rot from within. The "Deep Throat" has never been settled. The men who stole "the Pentagon Papers" and others and led us to believe they came from the highest government officials, did wrong. An aged clerk character seeps out of a darkened garage setting to gossip with nosey news persons. C'mon, now! Grow up! The recent election as seen and heard world wide. You will. I am as sure as I am sitting here writing this, that we will - in some way - be told - even shown - some thing about their feelings. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 11-13-06 [c-351wds]
Sunday, November 12, 2006
cs span style="font-weight:bold;">THE WAY OUT Now is the critical time during in which often capable people were discharged from Federal jobs simply because they are members of the "other" political party. What a senseless waste of talent, training, experience and valuable time! There was such a time and well within my memory span, when anyone with work with even a small connection with any part of the federal government knew their continued employment depended almost entirely in maintaining the proper political party in power in state and/or federal offices. This was a sobering fact of-life with entire families. So, the arrival of each Election Time was area of intense concern. In communities where each of the political parties had large memberships election time became a family affair - man, woman and child. In former day every little village seems to have had its own post office. That visible wing of the federal government may have been just a few square feet in installed in a of corner of a local grocery store, filling station, bus or train station, but it was the town's best known address as well. The post office remained where political support was most dependable. It with 12 small-sized dialing-style three drawer across then base. Then middle drawer was used for the local lumber, paint and building supply firm because they received a great many catalogs and other out-sized items in their mail. The other two drawers were used as "Postmaster-Storage-Private" contained such objects as several red, crepe paper Poppies to be snapped in one's lapel and worn early in the morning of Veteran's Day every November. The postmaster's job was subject to change, but it was usually pretty well set with the "better families". The offshoot, known as R.F.D mail carriers , however were usually changed as a part of any election day win. We will see very little such changes until the first of te year. Our Defense chief has already been eliminated, the political axes are being re-honed and made sharp and shiny to get rid of our present, and best ever,. Ambassador to the U. N. Democritics are asking what in the world former Senator Allen could possibly do now that he has been pushed aside by newcomer Jim Webb. He could run again for his Senate job lost by such a small number of votes. Much depends on how many voters stick with Jim Webb now holding his first elected job. We voters can be a fickle factor. Don't expect any wholesale firings to take place. They will be needed to implement the "new and improved" plan for running the war in Iraq which is ,one assumes, a being prepared somewhere. Exactly where and by whom is to be a "secret" - a term we have heard questioned in recent months. Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 11-12-06 [c484wds]
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