What if...(part two)

*This subject is broken up into two entries.* First entry is here.

Robert Kennedy is one of those 'what could have been' in politics. Granted he had a start on his career, but it could have been so much more. The greatest things that he did was as his brother's attorney general. From taking on Jimmy Hoffa and the teamsters to working with civil rights leaders and activists he was an active AG. More so than the AGs now. Who can name Obama's attorney general? I can't, but I'm not a big fan of politics.

He was on his way to being another Kennedy president and he would have been great. He held his ground on issues that he felt strongly about. His outspoken anti-Vietnam War view may have stopped the conflict four or five years before it actually did. By the time he was running for president, the war was unpopular and he could have had enough support from congress and senate and help from the overall populous to withdraw. On the opposite side of that, it may not have happened because it would have been seen as buckling to Communism. It's not like the Commies won that war. Besides, Communism didn't work out for anyone except Cuba and China, and who cares about them.

Let's assume (for the sake of argument) that he won the presidency in 1968 and got the United States out of Vietnam in 1971. The year is just one that I threw out there, it would be have been two years into his term, a good benchmark. That is four years before the fall of Saigon. Four years of fighting. Four years of lives not lost. That is one big what if. Looking up statistics, it is close to three thousand American lives between the years of 1971 to 1973. Three thousand! It was past the height of casualty rate (1967-1969), but still three thousand. That is a small town in Anywhere U.S.A. If he does that, he wins a second term for getting the country out of Southeast Asia and an unpopular unwinnable war (thanks Mr. Cronkite) and becomes more popular than his brother.

Not only is there an entire new outlook on the Vietnam War but if he was not assassinated, think of the political landscape. If he wins in 1968, you know who is never elected? Richard Nixon. Richard. Freakin'. Nixon. No Watergate, no resignation, nothing like that.

I just like to think about stuff like this and you can think of so many different people and what could have happened if they had never been born, or if someone died, or if they never invented what they invented. So many options and so many people to think about. Try not to stay up too late thinking about it.

End of year

If you're looking for a 'what I did this year' kind of post, move on. It works for some people, but not for me. Is it because I didn't have any milestones in my life this year? Not really. I just don't want to sit down and think.....what did I do this year?

It was a good year, there are still a few days left in it, and I look forward to next year.

Repost from 2008

*Author's note: I wrote this a few years ago and I have since made it my Christmas Eve or Christmas day post. It is simple and makes it easy for me to say that I at least wrote something for the holidays. Enjoy the day everyone. Be sure to keep the television off as long as possible and love being with family and friends.*

We are watching A Christmas Story right now, and there is nothing better in this movie than the nostalgic feel of the Christmas morning scene. More than the kids ripping apart the wrapping, it is the expressions on the faces of the mom and dad. Just the joy that they have watching their kids.

As much as people think it is all about the Red Rider BB gun, the movie is more than that. It's about family, more than anything.

• Idolizing the father
• Having a life long understanding with your mother
• And the fighting with your brother

And the final scene of the mom and dad relaxing with the Christmas tree alight and the snow falling at night. Magic.

What if...(part one)

*This subject is broken up into two entries.*

I've been trying to figure out the best way to write about this subject and haven't found the perfect way or the most intellectual way to go about it. I first thought about this subject because of the Marvel comic 'What if....' (weird, I know, but read on) which explores the comic world if different situations happened or didn't happen. So, I took this and thought about my schooling background. I took the the 'what if' situations and applied it to historical people. Most minds immediately go towards John Kennedy. What if he hadn't been assassinated. Same thing with Abraham Lincoln. I tend to think of different people throughout history. Personally, I think JFK would have faltered if he was not assassinated. He thought with the wrong head.

I want to explore two people. Robert Kennedy and Thomas Paine. Paine lived out a full life dying at the age of seventy two. Kennedy, obviously, did not being killed at the age of forty two. Buckle up people, this shit is about to get heavy.

Thomas Paine is someone that I knew about while in high school and in college but I never really explored and looking back at it, I wish I had. It may have changed my outlook on life or certain aspects of it. I never really thought someone who was considered a founding father would also be considered a radical. Revolutionary? Yes, but a radical? Not so much. Radicals are usually thought of as 'bad guys'. Crazy people that live up in the hills of the country. Making moonshine. When talking about the forming of this country, what names come to mind? Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, (maybe) Madison. And those are just a few. Paine should be introduced early and often in schools. And maybe he is, but he just wasn't in my high school. Thomas Paine, to me in school, wrote a pamphlet or two. It was a historical footnote to me. Then I read his writings. Common Sense, Age of Reason, and Rights of Man are what he is famous for. They blew my mind. They rate up there with the Communist Manifesto. It is on that level. If he hadn't been born, what would our world be like? It may not be very different today, but when he was alive and kickin', that is a different story. He was the crazy guy writing above everyone else. He is the reason Deism even exists (in my opinion). He carried it on when other guys no one has ever heard of died off. Deism needs to become more prevalent in today's society. It can resolve some major issues (but this is another entry all together). I like the thought of Deism, but don't tell my mom (HI MOM!! :o))

Had he never lived or never written, I think that the world may be a little bit of a darker place. Even if you don't agree with what he stands for or what he has written, it is worth taking a look. At the least, it is enlightening. It is in no real way controversial. It was just his outlook on life. Had he not lived or written, I may not be the person I am today. Sure I would have the same thoughts and outlooks on certain things, but I could be less....thoughtful. I don't know if that is the word I want to use, but that is the word that came to mind. I wouldn't be as conscience of things.

His influences are far reaching. He delved into politics, religion, and daily life. Nothing was off limits. He influenced people like Thomas Jefferson. Abraham Lincoln. Even Thomas Edison. Who knew. His outlook on life and religion have even influenced me. There is a sentence that after I read it, I kind of adopted it as my life motto. It has worked out well for me living in the state of Kansas as religions as it is. Religion is a very volatile subject no matter who you talk to. I leave you with the sentence that really grabbed my attention to Thomas Paine and honestly made me rethink some aspects of my life:



'My own mind is my own church.' -Thomas Paine "The Age of Reason"

breaking point

Every holiday that I have worked, there has been a day where I just kinda give up and stop caring until after Christmas. It isn't anything major, it's mostly just a burnout on the dumb people, the dumb questions, and the pissed off people that forget that they aren't the only people shopping in the store. Today was that day.

It's a good milestone. Usually, it is way before the twenty first of December. I don't know what the difference is between this year and years past though. Such is life. I'll make it out alive. Just two more days then Christmas and it's all downhill from there. The next few months are quite and under control compared to what we deal with now and what we have dealt with the past month.

Holiday music

You know what is awesome about waking up at two in the morning and not being able to fall back asleep? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Am I having deja vu or have I written something very similar to this before? I'm really excited about being up this early because....because.....hmmm...I can't find the words. Oh right, there is NO REASON to be up this early. Bah!

Most people have a favorite Christmas or holiday song that they love to hear over and over again. Whether it is 'Silent Night' or 'Frosty the Snowman' everyone has that one song that they will turn the radio up for. That they will shut their family up for. Leave it to me to pick more than one and it's difficult because there are versions of songs that I prefer over others. For example, I love 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' when it is sung by Bing Crosby (granted, all his Christmas songs are great). Another song that I enjoy is 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. Now, when the Barenaked Ladies released a version of it, it skyrocketed to the top of my favorites for the season. Before then, it was in the middle somewhere stuck between 'O Holy Night' and 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. I think one aspect of the BNL version that puts it over the top is Sarah McLachlan. I just enjoy her voice.

Both of those songs are fine no matter who sings them, I just prefer those versions over the other ones that are out there. There are fun holiday songs out there as well as the traditional ones. 'Christmas Wrapping' by the Waitresses (you know them for singing 'I Know What Boys Like') makes me smile. I hadn't heard it until last year, forgot about it, and then heard it again this year. Another fun song is 'I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas'. Another song I hadn't heard up until last year, and another song that just makes you think...well, okay then. It sounds a little creepy when you first hear it but it grows on you.

There aren't too many holiday songs that I really don't enjoy. 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' and 'Jingle Bell Rock' are the two that I just don't like. They are too poppy. I was going to go with too modern, but songs that were written in the fifties don't exactly qualify for modern.

MAGGS!!

The Detroit Tigers re-signed Magglio Ordonez today to a one year contract. The (Tigers) national nightmare is over. It's a little hefty for my taste, especially for his age. He is thirty six right now, he is going to be another year older by the time the season ends next year. The other part of it is that the contract is worth ten mil. Yeah. Ten million dollars. For one year's worth of work. I wish I had that kind of ability. It is great that he has been resigned, but is it worth it? Are we going to deal with this again next off season? Are the Tigers just going to let him walk after this year? There are still some questions that I have.

For the time being, I'm happy. One thing that is great about this signing is that there are stories that there were teams that were offering Ordonez two year contracts and he chose to resign with the Tigers. That shows appreciation towards your organization and for the town you have spent the past few years playing in and for. Most players would go for a team that was offering a longer contract and some more money, but Magglio I would like to think is a different kind of player. He seems to love Detroit and I know that Detroit fell in like with him when he signed in 2005 and fell head over heels in love with him when he knocked the greatest home run in Tigers modern day history. If you don't know what home run I'm talking about, you aren't a true Tigers fan. Be gone!

The Tigers are set to make some more noise in the AL Central and they matched the signings that the (hated) Chicago White Sox made, I think. Is it Spring Training yet?

Snow already!

Ten days before Christmas, and there has not been any snow on the ground in the ICT. The first year we spent down here for Christmas it was a green/brown Christmas. It was one of the most depressing days mainly because we weren't use to it. We can count on one hand the amount of Christmas days where there wasn't any snow. The past three years, there has been snow on the ground, so it has been festive when we woke up in the morning to open presents. It just adds that much more to the day. It makes it feel like winter.

This year, however, we are in danger of having another green/brown Christmas. We have not had any snow this year. No, scratch that, we had some snow mix in with some rain at the end of Novembeard, but it didn't count because it was in the air for a split second. Anyway, we have had no snow. We seem to be the only place in the country that hasn't had any snow. I have a friend in Atlanta, GA that has seen snow. ATLANTA!

There is a slight slight slight chance of snow a few days before Christmas, but even then, it is a few days before and if it does snow, there is always the possibility of it melting away. Worse case scenario is that it doesn't snow and we leave the blinds closed and crank the Christmas music.

State of Detroit sports

I was really excited when I turned on the t.v. this afternoon to see the Detroit/Green Bay football game. This year, I have seen four Lions games and I haven't even had to go to a bar to watch them. It's not that they are a winning team, they just play teams that are winning. It makes me think of how the sports franchises of Detroit are doing.

The Detroit Pistons. Well, basketball sucks. The Pistons suck. Let's move on.

The Detroit Lions. Their record doesn't show how well they have been playing. They have only won two games (I thought that they would win four this year) but they have been in the majority of the games that they have lost. They are having problems in the secondary and having problems stepping on their opponents throat when the game is on the line. The offense is there, the front seven is set up for a great run, the coaching staff is great. The secondary is the only facet of the team that needs a complete overhaul. I have great hopes for the team in the upcoming future, as long as Matt Stafford realizes he isn't made of glass.

The Detroit Red Wings. The one constant in my sports life. Granted, growing up they were not the best team, but when I was young I didn't much care because it was hockey and was fun to watch. It is great to be surprised by a loss, much like it is great when the Lions win, it is a great surprise. Always in the hunt for Lord Stanley's Cup, I feel disappointed when they don't bring it home. When they do lose, I just want it to be a close series. They went out quietly last year, but they pushed through the tough season. Lots of injury and some growing pains for the younger players. They are on the top of the league now and it doesn't seem that they are going to slow any time soon.

The Detroit Tigers. After making it to the World Series in 2006 and collapsing to the St. Louis Cardinals, the fan base has been hungry to get back there. Slowly but surely, they have been building. The offense has been keeping up and some of the starting pitchers (Justin Verlander) are doing their best to keep the wins coming. The problem lies in the bullpen. It has been shaky ever since Joel Zumaya hurt himself playing Guitar Hero, no seriously, look it up. And then he hurt his shoulder moving stuff out of his house to avoid a wildfire. Then he broke his elbow. He isn't the only person in the bullpen, but he is a catalyst for it. The long relief is a soft spot.

The sports have an upside in the state the Pistons notwithstanding. I put up an argument that the Lions are the best 2-10 (record as of 12 December 2010) team to ever play the game. The Tigers have potential this year but they have a tough division and that is the only way they are making it to the playoffs. The Red Wings I never have to worry about having a good season.

Mugs and football

As I was enjoying some coffee on my day off, I thought about the collection of coffee mugs we have. Coffee mugs are something that you should never buy for yourself. They should be gifts. Who wants to go out to the store and purchase a coffee mug? Everyone that we own are gifts, either from our wedding registry or were given away. I have a few from work, a few from when I work on Mackinac Island and were given away at the end of the year, and some from my family that were given as gifts. All the rest? Part of our wedding registry. Just something to think about.

This afternoon, the college football game with the most history behind it is going to be played. Not Michigan/Ohio State. Not Notre Dame/USC. Not Texas/Oklahoma. Not even Harvard/Yale. It's the Army/Navy game. As far as relevancy on the whole scheme of things, not so much. These football programs have not been a deciding factor for college football since before I was born. This game is significant for anyone that enjoys thinking about history as it pertains to sports. It has been played since 1890 and although it is not the oldest rivalry, it is significant because of the institutions that play the game. With few exceptions, those who play this game, a professional sports career is out of the question. The future for these young men is in defense of the country (make note that this is about as patriotic as I get) and that is more important than any other profession out there. At the end of it all, it's all about their service to the country.

I love that at the end of the game, both teams show respect towards each other as their alma mater song is played and sung by the student body. Both teams travel to the respective ends of the field and stand quietly while the other institution's song is played/sung. It shows solidarity and respect that they have for each other. Something you will never see in any other rivalry in college or professional sports. Perhaps it should be, no?

As of late, the rivalry has been slanted in favor of Navy (they have won the last eight games), but it is still great to watch and think about the history of the game and the rivalry.

'Successful' blog

I have often pondered what a successful blog was. Is it how many people read it? Maybe. Is it how many comments you get per post? More than likely not, because then you would have to read them all and may need/want to respond to them. For me, it has always been writing just as many or more than the previous year. Of course, there has to be a limit. I could not find myself writing each day, that would be too crazy. Last year, I wrote and published about one hundred and twenty times, a decent amount. It's ten times a month average. At the beginning of this year, I was thinking close to one fifty, but then thought better of it and just decided to aim for above last years total. So if it was one more or twenty more, I would be satisfied with my efforts.

I have never really written in the hopes of tons of people reading this. I started because...well....I can't remember. Probably because it was the 'cool' thing to do. Just like now it's trendy to tweet. Thinking about that makes my stomach churn a little, but that's how it goes. Now, I write for me. I enjoy the fact that I write down what I feel and what I think. It's a twenty first century journal, granted I still have one that I write in occasionally, but it is not as frequently as this is.

I once asked a friend of ours, Spacefem, her thoughts on it because she too blogs. To paraphrase her answer, just write what you feel is a good amount. In retrospect that doesn't seem like the best answer, but at the time it made sense. IF you feel that a 'successful' blog has two hundred posts a year, go crazy and IF you feel that it would be a 'success' to write once a month, so be it.


That is what I have been going with. If this year or next I come up a little short in the amount of times I write, that'll happen. As long as I know that I didn't let anything slip back into my mind and it all ended up on here, I will be happy. With that said, I'm going to bust my ass and my mind to try to top last year's total. I have ten left after this post in twenty two days to equal last year's output.

For those who can save rock, I salute you

As I was stuck listening to the radio at work yesterday morning, I tried to go to a happy place where music was played by real musicians. The days of auto tuning, repeated bass lines and lack of instruments need to be gone and gone in a hurry. Kesha, Justin Beiber, and Kanye West are useless and they aren't the only ones. I started to list a few people or groups that can save the music scene.

1.)Dave Grohl

• You know him from Nirvana and Foo Fighters
• You may not know him from Them Crooked Vultures
• Interested? Check out the track 'Spinning in the Daffodils' or 'Caligulove'
• Fun factoid: He looks like Animal from the Muppets when he drums
  

He can save rock by his ability to write songs, play with anyone (he is in a band with John Paul Jones from Zeppelin) play any instrument, and whatever he touches is heavy and driving. His music can make you bang your head or focus on the words.

2.)Jack White

• You know him from The White Stripes
• You may not know him from The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather
  
• Interested? Check out the track 'These Stones Will Shout' or 'A Martyr For My Love For You'
• Fun factoid: Was in a documentary called 'It Might Get Loud' with Jimmy Page and The Edge. An orgasmic movie for all those who enjoy guitars and rock music. His and Page's ability dwarf The Edge

He can save rock by his ability to play with anyone and anything. He produced a record with Loretta Lynn which was great. He hops from one band to the next and back again and evolves with each album making every release more interesting than the next. From rock to blues to country to alternative, he plays it all and plays it well. The White Stripes are heavy and rudimentary while The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather are more refined.



When all else fails, learn to love the classics. The Who, Zeppelin, the Beatles, et. al. What are you waiting for? Go out and learn!

Making the family proud

For my final beer of 2010, I wanted it to be memorable. Something that was cheap, something that I wouldn't want to drink a ton of at once to make it last for most of the month, and something that I could store outside. It is getting cold enough outside to keep beer on the balcony in the deck box. It makes me think of home a bit. Granted, it isn't beer stashed in a snow bank, but a close second.

I went out and bought some Busch Light. I know, I know. Why? Why in the hell would I do something like that? We drank it a ton in Seattle this past fall and I kind of fell in like (not love) with it. It's better than Bud Light, cheaper than PBR and not as trendy. Plus, I think of it as the family beer. Whenever we go home, that just seems to be what is lying around the some of houses when we visit relatives.



It makes me smile a little bit and it is the time of the year to be extra happy, what with all the snow and cold weather and whatnot....

Take that prostate cancer!

Art of Manliness raised quite a bit of money for prostate cancer research. A little over thirty one thousand dollars! People pounded the pavement for donations and that is quite impressive. I've said it before and I will say it again, I could not keep a moustache for a month. Ever actually. At work we had several men grow out their beards for Novembeard, which was awesome. I feel that next year it should be taken to the next level and get everyone on board to raise money for a local charity or for local research.

Coat weather

It is finally starting to get a little cool down here in Wichita. Yesterday when I went to work it was in the low twenties which begs the question, when is it time to bust out the winter coat? I feel that I can make it until the first snow, but there are days when it might be a necessity. I think that the benchmark may have to be when the temperature outside is below twenty, then I can get the winter coat out of the closet.

I hold off on getting it out for the main reason of not being outside for the majority of the day. I get in the car, drive to work, and stay inside for eight plus hours. By the time I leave for the day it could reach up to the forties or even the fifties, and if that is the case, who wants to carry around a heavy winter coat? Not I. For the time being, I have just been wearing hooded sweatshirts which have performed admirably.







I tend to go with the old adage, that if it is cold enough for a Kansan to wear a winter coat, a Michigander can wear a sweatshirt.