Killing is Killing

There hasn't been much going on with the blog for the last few weeks.  We went on a cruise from Sydney to Auckland.  Other than the long flights 'down under', it was an idyllic couple of weeks.  We've been on Viking river boats and decided to try one of their ocean cruises.  We are now committed Viking customers and I'm pretty sure we'll never go with anyone else.  That company has to be the best on earth when it comes to customer service.  The ships are superb.  They only hold 900 passengers, it's all adults, every detail has been thought of, and the experience just simply couldn't be more enjoyable.  As for Australia and New Zealand, they were great.  We've been to Australia many times so had some idea what to expect and weren't disappointed.  New Zealand was a delightful and magical place.  If it wasn't so damn far, we'd be going back soon.  Anyway, it was a great couple of weeks and we generally unplugged and tried to not pay attention to any of the news from home.  At least not too much.  The ship had strong WiFi and we got continuous TV from home.  However, we limited how much we watched, mainly because we were so busy having fun.

But now we're home and the news of the day continues to depress.  Although there is a lot in the news, the passing of a recent law in New York allowing abortion all the way up until birth caught the eye of many.  And today there was a story about Virginia considering a similar law.  Thankfully it died in committee, but that only means a delay.  We haven't seen the last of this issue.  You can read about it here. 

Now, there is no doubt that abortion is the most controversial and divisive issue of our time.  People have strong and rabid opinions on both sides.  I've always found myself somewhere in the middle.  I think I'm pretty intellectually pro-choice.  But I'm definitely emotionally pro-life.   I can see the need for abortion in some circumstances, but I think there should be some controls on it.  I would never condone abortion for birth control.  Bottom line is that I agree with Bubba...abortions should be safe, legal and rare.    

But now we have legislators and governors passing laws that allows an abortion right up until birth.    I have two beautiful Granddaughters who are 14.  They were born at about 32 weeks and weighed 2.4 and 3.2 pounds.  When I saw them I had two immediate and strong emotions.  The first was that they were beautiful.  The second was that their survival would be tenuous.  And yet...here they are.  Maybe it's just my age.  Maybe it's because I see all these beautiful children around me.  Or maybe it's because at some point someone has to say, "no more".  To me, allowing abortion right up until birth is not much different than murder.  In fact, I've known several folks in my life that I wouldn't mind "aborting".  What's the difference?  Killing is killing.  

Motivation Monday

The message here is FOCUS, DEDICATION and LOVE!

Role Models

It's been a few days since this Gilette ad called "The Best a Man Can Get" hit the airwaves.  Here it is.

There has been an avalanche of praise and criticism of the ad.  Of course the usual subjects in the #metoo movement and their sycophants on the left have praised it wildly saying that it's about time "toxic masculinity" gets it's comeuppance.  The best criticism I've read of the ad is an article in Daily Wire by Ben Shapiro.  You can read it here.  As usual, Ben's writing is clear, succinct and pulls no punches.

There isn't anything I can think of that irritates me more than lumping an entire population of people together and stereotyping them as all acting in lock step.  That's what this ad does.  It's deeply insulting and has only received accolades from certain quarters because it cowardly blames all men for the ills of society.  At the end it tries to show acts that boys can be proud of and model, but it's an afterthought and doesn't work.

Here's the deal.  The statistics say that over 40% of boys are being raised in single mother households.  In the black community it's higher.  Meanwhile the vast majority (almost 80%) of elementary teachers are female.  So a tremendous number of boys don't have role models.  They have difficulty growing into men and understanding what it takes.  It's not rocket science.  And so some segment of the population of boys act out.  But not all of them.  And not all men are misogynist assholes.  Accusing the entire male population of bullying, overly aggressive behavior, meanness, shallowness and the ills of society is quite simply a load of crap.

But of course there are problems.  And these problems should be identified and addressed, one kid at a time.  One of the best organizations I know of which is attacking this problem of no male role model in so many homes is www.boystomen.org.  Here are some statistics from their website:

• One in three children are born to unmarried parents. 
• An estimated 24.7 million children do not live with their biological father. 
• 43% of urban teens live away from their father. 
• 42% of fathers fail to see their children at all after divorce. 
• Since 1960 the rate of U.S. boys without fathers has quadrupled. 
• 1 in 6 black men had been incarcerated as of 2001. If current trends continue, 1 in 3 black males born today will spend time in prison in his lifetime. 

So instead of wringing your hands or blaming all men for the sins of a few or believing that some hashtag will solve problems, get involved with an organization that is actually making a difference.  Oh, and don't buy any Gillette products in the future!

It Didn't Take Long

As soon as the mid-term elections were over and it was apparent that the Dems would control the House, there were predictions that Trump would come under unprecedented attack.  Well, I wonder if anyone knew how swift and widespread it would be.  The Dems and their attack dog media lackeys are pulling out all stops and it's only January 15.  We started with the pissing contest between Trump and Pelosi which resulted in the government shutdown that gets uglier by the day and now are hearing that Trump was really a Russian agent running for President.  All this uncorroborated seamy bullshit has convinced me that it's going to a long, tough two years.  Trump is a really tough guy, but I'm not sure he'll be able to withstand it.  We'll see.  So far he seems to be giving as good as he gets but not sure how long that'll last.  Expect more "revelations" that will be portrayed as "proof" of his crimes.  Here's my take.  Be skeptical.  Be very skeptical.  Anyone who is pedaling this crap has an agenda.  And the sad thing is that their hatred for Trump has overcome whatever love and respect they have for the country.

But here's the good news.  We're on a Viking cruise out of Sydney headed for New Zealand.  The connectivity on WiFi has been pretty good so that we can see the major news channels.  But somehow being on a cruise ship in the Southern Hemisphere makes one have a different perspective.  And it's funny...that perspective quickly becomes I don't really give a shit.  At least for 2 weeks.

Friday Funnies

 I'll probably get in trouble for this one...

Motivation Monday II

It's pretty rare to have two MMs, but I saw this little story over on FB and thought it worthy.  A lot of good advice in here.

Steve Gouves dies a billionaire, with a fortune of $ 7 billion, at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer, and here are some of his last words:

In other eyes, my life is the essence of success, but aside from work, I have  little joy, and in the end wealth is just a fact of life to which I am accustomed.

At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death.

You can hire someone to drive a car for you, make money for you - but you can not rent someone to carry the disease for you. One can find material things, but there is one thing that can not be found when it is lost - "life".

Treat yourself well, and cherish others. As we get older we are smarter, and we slowly realize that the watch is worth $ 30 or $ 300 - both of which show the same time.

Whether we carry a purse worth $ 30 or $ 300 - the amount of money in the wallets are the same. Whether we drive a car worth $ 150,000, or a car worth $ 30,000 - the road and distance are the same, we reach the same destination.

If we drink a bottle worth $ 300 or wine worth $ 10 - the "stroller" will be the same.

If the house we live in is 300 square meters, or 3000 square meters - the loneliness is the same.

Your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you're flying first class, or economy class - if the plane crashes, you crash with it.

So, I hope you understand that when you have friends or someone to talk to - this is true happiness!

Five Undeniable Facts-

1. Do not educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. - So when they grow up they will know the value of things, not the price.

2. Eat your food as medicine, otherwise you will need to eat your medicine as food.

3. Whoever loves you will never leave you, even if he has 100 reasons to give up. He will always find one reason to hold on.

4. There is a big difference between being human and human being.

5. If you want to go fast - go alone! But if you want to go far - go together!

And in conclusion,

The six best doctors in the world.

1. Sunlight 

2. Rest

3. Exercise

4. Diet

5. Self-confidence

6. Friends

Keep them in all stages of life and enjoy a healthy life.

"Love the people God sent you, one day he'll need them back."

Motivation Monday

Friday Funnies

Sage Advice

A friend posted this over on FB (hat tip to SC).  If you're of a certain...ahem...age, you'll find it at least useful.  And maybe inspiring.  From my perspective it's all pretty on target.

Many of us are between 65 and death, i.e. old. My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . and I have to agree it's good advice to follow. The guy who sent this hi-lighted #19.

1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.

3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.

4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together

5. Don’t stress over the little things. Like paying a little extra on price quotes. You’ve already overcome so much in your life.You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”

7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.

9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.

10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.

11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.

12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.

14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.

15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.

16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.

17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone - apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.

19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.

20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.

21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!

REMEMBER: “Life is too short to drink bad wine and warm beer.”