There was a time in my life when I was a diehard NASCAR fan. I recorded races if I could not watch them live. I adjusted my schedule around NASCAR races, and I watched NASCAR racing shows when I could find them.
That has changed. In part, it changed because NASCAR changed. They took races away from some of the romantic short tracks like Hickory, and moved races to cookie-cutter tracks in Chicago, Las Vegas, Kansas. They raced on Mother's Day weekend which never happened before. They took the Southern 500 away from Darlington on Labor Day. They developed a "Chase" format in an attempt to make the championship more exciting. But they had to create their own hype to make the championship exciting. They did all kinds of things to make sure the winners were the eventual champion, when all they needed to do was give major points to each race winner. They could not figure that out! Duh! So simple. NASCAR became such a business they forgot their roots.
They are making some changes to get back to the sport they once were. They will never return to the NASCAR of old, but one change they made was to return the Southern 500 to Darlington, but on Labor Day http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/09/04/darlington-return-lady-in-black-back-on-labor-day/.
Maybe I can become a NASCAR fan again.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
I Want Something to Eat ...
But I don't know what I want. This is a common complaint from my cats. When they are hungry, and I am home, they come to me to tell me they are hungry, rather than check out what is in their food dishes. I leave dry food out so they can eat at will. I feed other food twice a day.
Tonight Haiku came to me because she wanted something to eat. When we got to the kitchen she found there was food out, already, that she wanted to eat! That is often the case.
I don't mind. I just wish I could tell what they want.
Tonight Haiku came to me because she wanted something to eat. When we got to the kitchen she found there was food out, already, that she wanted to eat! That is often the case.
I don't mind. I just wish I could tell what they want.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Marriage License? vs Criminal Record?
I have been following the struggle of Kentucky Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay couples http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-peron/stupidity-not-religion-pu_b_8086824.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063. For me, this article is a good description of what she has done.
Her mother was county clerk before her, and she knew the duties of the job when she was elected http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/09/03/judge-clerk-in-marriage-case-dealt-with-nepotism-charges. Frankly, if I was a voter in Rowan County, I would be calling for her impeachment. As a voter, I would have elected her to do her job, and spending time in jail, and preventing her staff from doing their jobs is not the reason she was elected. If she is earning wages while she is not doing her job, frankly, that is theft from the State of Kentucky, and the taxpayers of Kentucky.
I know that it is said that for every quote we recite from the Bible, in favor of our perspective, someone else will find a verse that supports their perspective. But I think Jesus was pretty clear in Mark 12:17 when he said "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." To me, this is a directive from the Bible to Ms. Davis that if she is the County Clerk of Rowan County, she has an obligation to comply with the laws that Rowan County are compelled to follow, even if and especially if, handed down from the Supreme Court of the United States. If she wants to serve God, then she should go to work for her church. Or, at the very least, she should not take money from an entity that has tenets and values that differ from her religion, saying she is working for the entity, when she is not. That is very deceitful! And very unchristian.
I understand that very religious people are often called upon to reconcile their religious beliefs with laws and government. I applaud someone who maintains the courage of their convictions, and does the right thing. In this case, the right thing for Ms. Davis is to acknowledge that her religious beliefs are in conflict with the instructions of her employer, and she should not in good conscience continue to be employed by that employer, and take money for a job she cannot fulfill. This then frees her up to campaign against same sex marriage freely, on her own time, and on her own dime, not that of the taxpayer.
Indeed, ultimately by fighting this law as a government employee, she has shattered the separation between church and state that our forefathers guaranteed us http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html in the Bill of Rights, or the First Ten Amendments to the United States Constitution http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html. Because, as a government employee, she is forcing her religious beliefs upon others in Rowan County, and the first amendment basically says the government cannot do that.
Well, I am not a religious scholar, a legal scholar, and most certainly, not a Constitutional scholar. This is my humble opinion.
Her mother was county clerk before her, and she knew the duties of the job when she was elected http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/09/03/judge-clerk-in-marriage-case-dealt-with-nepotism-charges. Frankly, if I was a voter in Rowan County, I would be calling for her impeachment. As a voter, I would have elected her to do her job, and spending time in jail, and preventing her staff from doing their jobs is not the reason she was elected. If she is earning wages while she is not doing her job, frankly, that is theft from the State of Kentucky, and the taxpayers of Kentucky.
I know that it is said that for every quote we recite from the Bible, in favor of our perspective, someone else will find a verse that supports their perspective. But I think Jesus was pretty clear in Mark 12:17 when he said "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." To me, this is a directive from the Bible to Ms. Davis that if she is the County Clerk of Rowan County, she has an obligation to comply with the laws that Rowan County are compelled to follow, even if and especially if, handed down from the Supreme Court of the United States. If she wants to serve God, then she should go to work for her church. Or, at the very least, she should not take money from an entity that has tenets and values that differ from her religion, saying she is working for the entity, when she is not. That is very deceitful! And very unchristian.
I understand that very religious people are often called upon to reconcile their religious beliefs with laws and government. I applaud someone who maintains the courage of their convictions, and does the right thing. In this case, the right thing for Ms. Davis is to acknowledge that her religious beliefs are in conflict with the instructions of her employer, and she should not in good conscience continue to be employed by that employer, and take money for a job she cannot fulfill. This then frees her up to campaign against same sex marriage freely, on her own time, and on her own dime, not that of the taxpayer.
Indeed, ultimately by fighting this law as a government employee, she has shattered the separation between church and state that our forefathers guaranteed us http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html in the Bill of Rights, or the First Ten Amendments to the United States Constitution http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html. Because, as a government employee, she is forcing her religious beliefs upon others in Rowan County, and the first amendment basically says the government cannot do that.
Well, I am not a religious scholar, a legal scholar, and most certainly, not a Constitutional scholar. This is my humble opinion.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Help for Substance Abusers and Police Departments
I watched this video and cried https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1084264371614420/?fref=nf. It is about the Gloucester, Massachusetts, Police Department helping drug addicts to get rehabilitation services instead of being arrested.
Why can't we do that everywhere? The money spent to incarcerate people would also pay for substance abuse treatment.
Why are we not thinking that way? What is wrong with us?
Why can't we do that everywhere? The money spent to incarcerate people would also pay for substance abuse treatment.
Why are we not thinking that way? What is wrong with us?
Drum Line
I love a marching band. I love a college or high school marching band. I love a brass band. I love a Drum Corp International band. I love a drum line. This drum line is phenomenal https://www.facebook.com/disturbreality/videos/1036266483084095/?fref=nf.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Treat Me, Treat Me
I was late getting home after work, because I had an errand I wanted to accomplish. But not that late: 6 PM compared to 5:20 PM. And, as always when I get home and it is cat feeding time, that was the priority.
But, I went out and returned home about 2.25 hours later. The cats thought they needed to be fed again. I did give them treats.
So, about 11 PM, the cats said again that it was treat time. I gave them a different treat. At first, they were not happy, but each cat did chow down within minutes of being offered the different treat.
I know I should not give in to their requests for treats. They have free access to two varieties of canned food, which I change out morning and night. They have free access to three varieties of dry food (a "gourmet" mix; a hairball mix; and an "indoor mix.") They are also offered "treats" at least twice a day, even if they do not ask for them (they usually ask.) I think I spoil my cats too much.
But, I went out and returned home about 2.25 hours later. The cats thought they needed to be fed again. I did give them treats.
So, about 11 PM, the cats said again that it was treat time. I gave them a different treat. At first, they were not happy, but each cat did chow down within minutes of being offered the different treat.
I know I should not give in to their requests for treats. They have free access to two varieties of canned food, which I change out morning and night. They have free access to three varieties of dry food (a "gourmet" mix; a hairball mix; and an "indoor mix.") They are also offered "treats" at least twice a day, even if they do not ask for them (they usually ask.) I think I spoil my cats too much.
The Poetry of Robert Frost
A short while ago, I do not recall when, I heard some lines from Robert Frost's poem "Stopping By Woods on A Snow Evening" http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171621. I do not remember the context I heard these lines, but I recall thinking that the context was a little incongruent with Frost's poem. I do know it was a commercial venture of some sort.
Tonight, I heard another Robert Frost poem "The Road Not Taken" http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173536. I paid attention this time. Two Robert Frost poems used for incongruent commercial advertising. The advertisement using the "The Road Not Taken" was a gloom and doom, doomsday type movie advertisement. Way out of context for Robert Frost.
So, what is it about Robert Frost's poetry that all of a sudden has made it so popular. And so badly used?
I am a traditionalist when it comes to poetry. I want it used in the context it was meant. Which, if you read Robert Frost, his poems are bucolic and idyllic. Not the commercial, violent context as portrayed tonight. How does this happen?
And yet, would he say that maybe his words can be used to challenge?
Tonight, I heard another Robert Frost poem "The Road Not Taken" http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173536. I paid attention this time. Two Robert Frost poems used for incongruent commercial advertising. The advertisement using the "The Road Not Taken" was a gloom and doom, doomsday type movie advertisement. Way out of context for Robert Frost.
So, what is it about Robert Frost's poetry that all of a sudden has made it so popular. And so badly used?
I am a traditionalist when it comes to poetry. I want it used in the context it was meant. Which, if you read Robert Frost, his poems are bucolic and idyllic. Not the commercial, violent context as portrayed tonight. How does this happen?
And yet, would he say that maybe his words can be used to challenge?
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