WAYNE DYER

One of my semi-heroes died. Wayne Dyer. He wrote this really good book, "The Erogenous Zones." People thought it was some sort of sex Manuel but it wasn't; basically a very readable and practical self-help book on living your life better. 

What fascinated me about the book and Dyer is that the book hardly made a ripple in the publishing world. Dyer was not to be deterred, he loaded the trunk of his car with books and anywhere a crowd was gathered, he hawked the books. His temerity made it into a "best seller." Whether or not this is myth or not, a good story. God bless him on his way. 

You are doing a good job, Brownee (Michael Brown of FEMA and Katrina fame)

                   George W. 

THE DONALD

Trump is an egomaniac and as my bud said, "he is brilliant in the limelight." The real story is about us; My fellow "Mericans" as the NASCAR types say. In my opinion, when we support a certifiable arrogant egocentric MFer like  Trump, it says more about us than it does him.  

Of my father's children. I love myself the best. If the Lord provides for me, the devil take the rest.

A self-made millionaire who interviewed 1,200 wealthy people noticed one behavior they all have in common. My wife read the story in "Busness Insider" and challenged me to guess what the trait was. I couldn't. She gave me a compliment: you are too idealistic. SELFISHNESS. I hate to think that. The full article is here. http://www.businessinsider.com/rich-people-think-selfishness-is-a-virtue-2015-8

I tell you what I do encounter lots: in TV, various news stories and reading: a type of value system. You can call it selfish as it often has to do with material issues. The haves, the have nots. But, it is a type if cynicism. The characters in novels are often the worst types, not real heroes, mostly everybody is on the take. . To me, this is why the "breaking headline" of the three Americas subduing the terrorist is so appealing. We want heroes. When I see TV and movies or read novels, I am looking for the hero. The guy or female who goes above and beyond, who puts other interests above their own--Not usual cynicism, and I am going to get my own first. Sacrifice, commitment, choosing the hard path. Is this impossible? No, but it is hard.

 

The Course of History

Jimmy Carter. The guy is 91 but still going into treatment. Very interesting. Someone asked him about "regrets" and he said something like, "well, if he had sent in two more helicopters and rescued the Iranean hostages, he would have been reelected President. I think so. 

Had that happened, the course of history would have been changed. 

Treatment, guess he still has some things he wants to do. Hmmmm.

GOD BLESS HER ON HER JOURNAL

She passed away yesterday. She brought me the cake on my birthday. 

TOBY

We are sending good thoughts and prayers Toby's way. Toby is still in a coma: run over, she is the best friend of my granddaughter. (High School classmates)--Toby's birthday is today(20). My granddaughter will probably take it pretty hard. Toby, like Lupe, would have been preparing to go back to college (Johns Hopkins). Very sad. Life can change in an instance. 

The Donald

Eventually, HBO will do a movie about this election. Who should play you?

Donald Trump says, "Somebody really, really handsome. That's the only thing that matters. I don't care if he can act well. He's got to be really, really good-looking. OK?"

What this reenforces to me is that we have a country where you can even get a voice if you are stupid. Not meaning Trump but the voter. Trump is an egomaniac, plain and simple; and those who subscribe to his "show boating" extremists views are part of our America who are allowed to be stupid, in my view. If it were me, I would be embarrassed to let anybody know I followed a certifiable egotistical idiot's view. This is a time when I really miss your my brother. I'd love to hear his comments. He was really passionate. I mainly am running my mouth and looking for blogging material. 

COLLEGE

EVERYBODY SHOULD GO TO COLLEGE. It should be part of the National Psyche. No ifs, ands, or buts.  I constantly hear the "so called" experts talk about college in terms of careers, getting a job, the right majors to be more competitive. College isn't just about  going to classes, it is for the socialization process: the people you meet, the friends you make, opening your mind to new ideas. To me, it is the EXPERIENCE.  

POVERTY

Poverty looks the same. Makes no difference if you are black, white, red, purple, makes no difference. Poverty is colorblind. 

WHAT IS YOUR RELIGION

In San Francisco, if somebody asked you, "Are you a Christian, they are asking you 'what is your religion?' " (Rarely would someone ever asked you that anyway but I want to make a point). In the "South," if someone asked the question, "What is your religion?"They are asking, "What is your church, are you saved," (Christian idea). What got me to thinking about it was an encounter recently with my acupuncturist. She is the cutest little Asian type. I love her. As she is filling me with needles, she said, 

"Do you have a religion?" 

"I am a Christian." 

"Oh,  (genuinely surprised) 

And, yourself? Mostly Buddhist but more spiritual."  AIN'T LIFE INTERESTING

MILITARY KIDS MORE PRONE TO RISKY BEHAVIOR

Big article in WSJ about this gigantic study of military kids in America and Israel? Over 50,000 sample. "Military Kids More Prone to Risky Behavior." I was amazed as I always thought military kids were more disciplined and controlled by parents. Plus military kids more prone to suicide. 

NC GOAT ROPE

Watching Repub Presidential candidates  is like watching a slow motion NC goat rope: confusion, ignorance and "The Donald. " 

CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP

A story in the San Francisco Chronicle detailed the plight of several elderly citizens being evicted from their apartments. Many of them have lived there for years. If you have ever thought that mankind is pretty selfish, this is the example. 

The Aunt left the property to a niece who works for UC Irvine studying people older than 90 — what the university calls “the oldest-old” — and what types of food, activities or other lifestyle choices allow them to reach that age. Really. Hello!   Get this, the researcher evicting the elderly from her inherited apartment building is throwing out the types of people she is researching.  The niece is even evicting the elderly woman who looked after her Aunt in her last days. As I said, you can't make this stuff up. 

AMY

Saw the movie, "Amy" yesterday. Amy Winehouse, unbelievably talented. Wonderful voice: blues, jazz, sounded like an African American ( Ella Fitzgerald). The movie was shot with all these home videos. She was young; doing dope, also booze.  

Eventually got her. Oh, also bulimic. So sad. Here is an observation. Many of these talented people often go this route. Usually marries someone who gets them into this destructive lifestyle; think, Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston. She gets involved with him doping. Brown shapes himself up but she continues to  spiral down, sad. Winehouse had unbelievable culpable parents. Get this: at one point, Amy says to her Mom something like she has found great system for staying thin. She eats what she wants and then throws up. The mother is like twilight zone. Yes dear. WTF. The father is a money grubbing MFer. 

Lesson for us: let's stay on top of the people we meet and jump in if we see them destroying themselves. Pretty naive. Of course, like we could do something. 

Who knows. Here is a question that always bothers me. Why the f..k do all these who are not going to use this great talent, often go this route. An aside. As a person "of faith," one more example of why God is not involved with us down here. If He is, why the f..k would he give this great talent to people who were going to destroy themselves. GdA

HILLARY and Classified Documents

I am the last one to defend Hillary. However, I think it is disingenuous that she is persecuted by f..king "low lifes" who don't know S..T from Shinola. about how documents are "classiified."

Who classified? More likely than not, it is some government employee who followed some set of rules on what should be classified without any real knowledge of the importance of a document. He/she slapped a secret or above on it, just to move on. When I was in the Army, at one time, I had a security clearance as high as it could be. What they called "black ops" classification. For my three years in that command or on a "need to know" basis, I would always think, what the f..k is this? Here is what it is, mostly BS. 

This is very important to know. The enemy, whoever they might be, already knows anything the vast majority of us might be privy too, anyway. 

FLABBERGASTED

In a real sense, I don't know why I should be surprised. F..K. By way of explanation, I am in an email group with several guys who served with me in the military. We've been together for years. Most are very conservative but their comments will give you an idea of what we are facing  in out country. Here are a few of their comments. Edited for brevity. 

Personally, I thought it was the best and most productive political debate that I have seen.  Almost, without exception, the candidates did really well.  With the exception of a couple I could vote for any one of them.

I am particularly high on the Governor of Ohio, John Kasich, Huckabee, Rubio, Cruz, & Carson.  I am hoping that whoever, Gets the nomination will select Dr. Carson for the VP Running mate.  believe he has brought several subjects to the table that may have been neglected by other candidates.

Walker ---a very good man, but probably didn't help him self at the debate...not sure.. Has done a great job in Wisconsin.

There must be huge interest in this upcoming election since 20 Million viewers watched the debate...largest ever.

Bottom Line;  I think it is going to be an exciting campaign/election.

REBUTTAL 

Thanks for the cogent comments about the debate. I watched a little just to see "the Donald" as he is the only one with any color and just to see his hair was worth it. And, let's face it. Fox News! Give me a break. They don't have anything but beautiful types like the one the Donald called hormonal.  And, Mike Wallace has got to be turning over in his grave at Chris, his son in with Fox. 

I really think most of the debaters could be president. The Holy Spirit would have to write me a personal letter to get me to vote for a Republican, however. I like best Bobby Jindal and he can't even get out of the train station. 

We have so many problems in our country and it is "whistling Dixie" to think any of these could solve them. They know how to go after the "wedge" issues and that is about it. 

I think our system is broken and there's nothing we really can do about it. We keep electing the same people. I think the Republicans would basically tear down our social structure with what they are always talking about. Reduced budget, taxes, zap the poor, reward the rich, go to war. The Democrats aren't much better. We have enormous problems that need to be tackled : race, income inequity, RIFs, (reductions in Force, etc.) All the candidates were simply a chorus of the same old tired stuff. Maybe Rand Paul, at least he is different. 

I surely don't support Hillary. She and Bill are tainted or at best, so divisive that nothing gets done. I like Bernie Sanders, even though he is a Yankee. 

To be honest, I don't know what the future holds. I see lots of poverty around me in certain areas. The homeless population in the Bay Area, people begging, etc. has drastically increased. The Repubs would say, they just need to get a job or why don't we defund Planned Parenthood, that will solve the problem. 

Five million kids go to bed hungry every night. The "haves and have nots" make up a large part of America. And, politics ain't going to solve it. I think that we'll have a Republican Congress for a long time but the Repubs are not going to win the presidency as the same group that elected Obama are still in play. 

One of the hopes for us Democrats/Independents and a long shot, is social media. If we could get the millennials fired up, they are mostly open to possibilities but they don't vote yet. The party that corrals them with real substance could make a difference and make all the political money, mute. But, in my opinion, they are a long shot at best. 

Personally, I am not going to give much attention to politics, I am much more interested in baseball. Go Giants. 

EVERYBODY NEEDS A GROUP

Recently, "I spent a week in Toledo one night." OK, you don't get it, no sweat. It was a combination social and business meeting. Most of the attendees were millennials that I immediately concluded, didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Unfair but when I wanted to compete on commo
with these millennials, I would preface the comment with, these old guys I hang
out with would say...