Trying to Get Over the Rainbow: Commentary

Showing posts with label Commentary. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Commentary. Show all posts

My State Has a White Elephant, Does Yours?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

You all know I’m from Kentucky, right? Well I am and did you also know we are the self-proclaimed horse capital of the world, we are. So today I sit here just totally teed off, why? We are about to host the World Equestrian (FEI) games. What, you don’t know what the FEI games are?

Allow me. This is an equestrian event, which until now, has never been held outside Europe. The competition in many ways is similar to the Olympics but also includes reining, Para dressage, vaulting and driving events. People from all over the world will be here and I’m not happy about it. Why am I so unhappy?

They painted our bridges blue. Not UK (University of Kentucky) blue but some weird sky blue that relates to nothing. Must have been a Louisville Cardinal fan on the color selection committee.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: My Version

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

We all know about the military policy of “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” but have you ever thought of it on a personal level? Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had a personal “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy. Well, it got me to thinking and I have decided to invoke my own “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy.

Don’t ask me why I have a notebook instead of a to-do list taped to my refrigerator and I will not lie to you about needing room for larger print and pictures. It has nothing to do with procrastinating and now a notebook is required to hold the to-do list.

BP's Alternate Solutions: Just Another Day at the Beach

Sunday, May 16, 2010

I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news but it seems BP has failed another attempt to stop the oil leak. I guess this means they are back to the other two back up ideas, siphoning and clogging this so-called leak. Exactly how are they planning to do this and what are the future implications?

First let me start by explaining this is neither a leak, nor spill. A leak is what I have in my bathroom sink where the drip, drip sound keeps me awake. A spill is something a kid does when trying to run with a glass of juice. As you see neither apply here, so what about the siphoning and clogging theories?

Women's Lib: Don't Forget to Pass It On

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Growing up in the age of women’s lib I was part of a sisterhood, a sisterhood that was for all women. A movement where women ban together, stood up for other women and fought for any woman that was wronged or oppressed, what happen? Have we skipped some generations?

In the past several years I have been exposed to the next few generations of ladies to join this sisterhood and I have a fear. A nagging suspicion someone forgot to explain this sisterhood and what these women did to achieve it. Someone forgot to tell them female injustices still exist and the future is up to them. Young ladies allow me explain this sisterhood, as apparently someone has failed to do so.

Elena Kagan: Supreme Court Nominee

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

So the President nominated a woman, Elena Kagan, for the Supreme Court, what’s the big deal? I would think the Dean of Harvard law would be an excellent candidate’ after all she has transformed legal minds into the attorneys we know today. So who is the first person I see questioning her ability? Why of course my ole buddy Mitch McConnell.

Kentucky Derby, Think of it This Way

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Saturday as I watched the Kentucky Derby at home alone, no fan fair, no parties, just another stormy Saturday afternoon. I settled in to watch all the media coverage and it only made me wonder, what is the real attraction here? Could it truly be a horse racing around an oval track that captures our interest? Perhaps the real reason is that we have more in common with those horses than we dare to imagine.

Think about it. Thoroughbred horses are breed to race, trained to perform, sent to a breeding facility and then hopefully will retire on some great bluegrass farm in Kentucky. Should they fail to perform, all sorts of gimmicks are employed and when that fails they end up at some rescue facility.

What Would Our Grandparents Say?

Friday, April 30, 2010

Last night as I lay in bed watching the late news on Fox I was struck with a sudden realization about our great nation and its allies. The realization was that our allies and us have advanced so far we now have forgotten where we have been. Can you imagine what your grandparents would say should they be here today? Do you really think they would be proud of us?

As I listened to the announcer bombard me with the rhetoric of the day my mind wandered to stories I was told as a child. Stories that at the time were used to either make me behave or put a fear in me regarding something I knew not to fear. What I would learn later in life amazed me; one I had paid attention, I retained those stories and two, they were not stories at all. It is the lineage we all come from, it was the thread in our global fabric we seem to have unraveled.

Federal Debt Commission: Here's a Cheat Sheet

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Have you heard? There is a new Presidential appointed commission whose task is to recommend ways to lower the deficit. Though this commission is newly formed I fear it has already gotten of course. I must say it is hard to stay on course when you are allowed to spend the first four hours of the workday viewing porn.

In an individual effort to make up for our commissions lost time each morning I’d like to submit the following list of recommended cost cutting measures. Commissioners feel free to use this as cheat sheet; I will not be offended if you do not mention my name.

Earth Day: Oh, I’m Exempt

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Did you know Earth day is Thursday? Did you know you too, can be exempt from participating? Well, you can because I just found out I became exempt the day I became unemployed. If you visit the international web site on celebrating Earth day you will find a checklist of behaviors you should pledge to change. This is where I found I would be exempted from participating.

The first suggestion to pledge was “be more aware of what you buy.” This one was easy, no job, no money, no purchase. However, I have made a habit of wearing shoes and a shirt just in case. Though I do think they meant buy more local and that is really hard when all of Wal-Mart is now produced in China.

Keeneland: It’s a Circus

Monday, April 19, 2010

Apologizes to the few readers I have but I took the weekend off from blogging. I choose to spend the weekend with some close friends watching the ponies run at Keeneland race track. What a mistake! Not the friends but choosing to visit Keeneland.

Everyone who comes to Kentucky feels they must see the horses; people either want to visit the Kentucky Horse Park or Keeneland. My friends and their guests had timed their visit to attend Keenelands spring meet so the day had been planned, Keeneland it was. Saturday we would spend watching the ponies and enjoying each others company, catching up on time gone by; not!

Senator McConnell and I Understand the Tea Party Now

Monday, April 12, 2010

Senator Mitch McConnell does respond to emails. He does want to support unemployment benefit extensions, he does appreciate our comments and yes, he will even thank you for them but he will not go much further. I say all this because I received such a letter; I voiced my opinion via email to the Senator and got in return a six-paragraph campaign ad.

Let me digress and explain that I had during the filibuster regarding the extension of unemployment benefits sent emails to Kentucky Senators, Bunning and McConnell. Basically what I sent them electronically was the proverbial southern hissy fit, but let me condense the six paragraphs I received in return.

Dixie Carter, Tiger Woods and Liz Taylor

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Usually when I select a topic to blog about it is an event or random comment that strikes a nerve or an emotion from within. Today however as I scanned the web a disturbing pattern started to emerge, there were way too many nerves being hit upon. For this reason I have chosen to provide you with my synopsis of what struck my nerves this morning.

Let us start with the passing of Dixie Carter, the woman who made it fashionable to be a southern woman. She showed the world that southern woman could have a hissy fit, politely put you in your place, point out exactly why you were wrong, and all the while look oh so elegant doing it. She allowed us to see humor in the southern ways while her sister Susanne showed us pigs could be pets. In honor of Julia Sugarbaker I will find a plumber with the stereotypical low riding pair of pants, rear crack fully exposed and decorate it with a bouquet of daisies.

Virginia Nude: Parade or Fashion Show?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Virginia man acquitted of indecent exposure; did you hear about this? Six months ago this man was arrested because in his own home he felt the urge to parade around naked, problem was two women had pulled a seat for the parade, one with child in tow and did not rate his display as favorable. The entire case was based on intent to expose not the right to bare arms in ones own home.

While both women felt this met the definition of an emergency and dialed 911 only one lifted a pre-selected finger to give the gentleman the lowest of ratings. Makes you wonder what did they really expect looking in their neighbor’s house so early in the morning? This poor man has spent the last six months of his life, not to mention the money, to clear his name, all because two women choose to peek in. The entire article reminded me so much of my great aunt and her knowledge of the exact happenings of her surroundings it made me laugh.

Hutaree: Lord I’m Not Ready

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Fanatic social groups have been around for as long as this country has been here but this new one takes the cake. Calling them selves “Hutaree” or god warriors they believe the end of the world is here and that there is a real need to prepare. Doesn’t that seem like an oxymoron to you or is it just I?

If it were the end of the world do we really need to prepare and didn’t we wait a little to long? I guess what I really should be asking is, are we going to truly need AK-47’s in the afterlife? If so I’ve been left behind, I merely own a pump shotgun and I now fear I’ll be out gunned when I get there. Not to mention I have no concept of how to make a homemade bomb; nor would I want to learn. I’m way to accident prone to be playing with the mixing of toxic chemicals. I do however, know how to make a homemade blowtorch. Again, it was an accident I had while visiting a friend. Never smoke around aerosol hair spray can, that’s all I’m saying.

Death Threats on Congress: It’s Just a Playground

Thursday, March 25, 2010

In the midst of all else that is wrong with America right now it seems we have let the kindergarten kids run wild. We have all sorts of negative issues right now; unemployment, homelessness, depression and the elderly still being fleeced to the point they are forced to be Wal-Mart greeters. Now we have Americans threatening Senators and Congressmen. I feel like for the past couple of days I have been watching recess antics for a local kindergarten.

On one side of the playground you have the older kids (the Senators) arguing, name calling and who generally insight chaos among the playground participants. They gather in groups like picking sides for a kickball game; each wanting the strongest players on their side, even threatening to steal their lunch if they do not join their team.

North Dakota and The Moon

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Okay, I just read two news articles that I must say sent cold chills up my spine. We all have heard about the flooding occurring on the Red River in North Dakota and we all have heard of the moon. But did you hear FEMA is heading to North Dakota? Even more strange have you heard a group of California Preservations want to preserve the moon?

The idea of FEMA heading to North Dakota sends cold chills up my spine just like a used car salesman does when I visit a car lot. I lost all respect for the agency right after Katrina hit and it has done little to regain that respect. My fear is the used car salesman mentality FEMA sometimes projects.

Healthcare Reform: hum?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Today is the day, it is a sink or shut up vote for the Senate regarding healthcare. I am sure however, the average American has no idea what this vote is truly about, those opposing it have even less of an idea and those actually voting just do not have a clue.

I personally am having a hard time with taking a stand for either side. I agree we do need some form of healthcare reform but I’m not sure the proposed bill touches on what is really wrong with the situation. The amount of Lobbying money that is being spent on either side of this issue, seems to me, would go along way to pay for a good chunk of healthcare.

Road Rage: I Say Highway Commando Training

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Does anyone remember “Road Rage?” Well, yesterday I took a small road trip that on my way home got me to remembering this lost topic. It always amazes me that people think a steering wheel, four pieces of rubber and a ton of fiberglass gives them the right to become highway commandos.

I know you have experienced or even witnessed, maybe you even are one of these highway commandos, the ones the police never seem to see and you know have never read the driving manual. The drivers that perform such maneuvers that make the rest of us suddenly suck our bucket seat up into our rear end and in the same reaction completely deplete the oxygen from the car interior in one giant suck effect. Monday, I soon learned, must be highway commando training day.

March Madness: What Happen To Sportsmanship?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

As March madness begins to kick into full swing and the office pools start to form I sit here pondering the question of sportsmanship. Before we get into the frenzied muck of selecting teams and pounding our chests as to which conference is truly the best, let us examine the part of the game that is apparently slipping away, sportsmanship.

A little history first; I have actually played the game, I am no stranger to competition, I even coached junior pro for several years, so yes, I am a basketball fan that understands the game. I come from a state that has led the statistics in most basketball records including; the worst defeat (Duke versus Kentucky) and the one of the best come backs (LSU versus Kentucky). I grew up being taught basketball in the Rupp era and sportsmanship was part of the training. So where has it gone to?

Sportsmanship is excepting your opponent for just that, your opponent. I have always been coached that the stronger the opponent the stronger you, as a team, become. So the question here is why do fans feel the need to boo an opponent? Do they think it instills fear in the visiting team? I can tell you as an ex-player it does not, in fact it does just the opposite. I would suggest to you that it only pumps them up higher. A good coach already has his/her team ready for just such an act, so if you truly want to rattle a visiting team do the opposite. Next time try one of these; either sit there stone cold silent or applaud, the coach did not prepare the team for this I promise.

News Junkie’s: Change the channel

Friday, March 5, 2010

Today’s I have decided to discuss the news in general that we are all bombarded with on a daily basis. Who exactly determines what is news worthy and the length of coverage it should be awarded? Why is it we do not care enough to demand higher standards on what it is we are spoon fed? Exactly why is their cup always half empty? As a culture do we truly enjoy someone else’s pain that much?

Let’s look at these questions in reverse.Do we as a culture truly enjoy someone else’s pain that much? I’m afraid this may be the case. We as a culture expose our youngest members to some pretty graphic images and over a period of time those images start to lack effect, they become common place, the norm.

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