Ice Storm Trumps All Else

The week of January 25, 2009 was a very humbling experience. A disastrous ice storm ravaged many parts of the Mid-South and Northeast Arkansas was not spared. Power lines and trees were downed by heavy ice that began forming during Monday night, January 26, 2009.

Trees ripping apart under the weight sounded like shotgun blasts...another tree down. And there were many trees. Most were far enough away from our house that when they fell the only damage was to the trees themselves. There was only one large limb that managed to punch a hole in one end of the house. It could have been much worse. And for some people, it was much worse.

The two of us were without electricity in an all-electric house for roughly 48 hours. We stayed in the house and bundled up with multiple layers. Cold food (not hungry but had to eat) but no hot coffee, candles, flashlights, and, for me, lots of sleep as the best way to retain body heat was to stay layered and stay still. Thankfully, we did have running water (cold, not hot). It was probably the worst 48 hours of my life. Mind and body-numbing. And very, very humbling. Thousands of us in the same miserable ass boat. Incredible to think that things could have been even worse (we got power after only 48 hours). For some, their experiences were worse. I hope to not ever have another experience like it. Everything looks surreal and ugly, like a war zone.

I also thought about the weather ruling our lives during this. Before this happened, I had thought that if another ice age or cooling period began that civilization could probably survive quite well, what with all the current technologies. Well, I now think probably not if it happened suddenly. Technology has no match for it. Nothing. Anarchy would quickly take over as shelter, food and fuel supplies, and the all the other things we "need" would dwindle. We'd be killing each other for a bite to eat, a gallon of fuel, whatever: communications, transportation, power... I have noticed how much more anxious in general I've been since last week, thinking...maybe the power's going down again, or, what if it happens again this winter. Just the total lack of any control. I worked in 3-day-old clothes last Thursday just because the office had heat. I'm still shaken by the experience and feel pretty small and insignificant. Most food stores, fast-foods, quick-shops, gas-stations had no power and were closed, and the odd ones that did have power had very long lines. Wednesday night I went out at 1am and bought milk and car gasoline just so I could increase my chances of getting both. It was no problem at that late hour, thankfully. What if the roads had been snow and ice covered ruling out travel, and what if the temps had been much colder for much longer? What if it sleeted and snowed for a week, or more? What if it had been statewide, no, region-wide? What if, what if, what if? This storm kicked my ass out of its comfort zone and made me realize that if some kind of REALLY BIG SHIT (like another weather disaster) hit the fan that the populace would be on our own and we'd living or dying by our wits. It's not impossible. Last week still has my head spinning.

The So-Called War on Drugs (Cannabis)

WHAT A CROCK FULL OF ILLEGAL CRAP!

What Richard Nixon - who was more of a crook than most of us - called the War on Drugs (Cannabis) is really a war on all citizens of the U.S., regardless of whether someone "uses" drugs recreationally or not. Drug use is a victimless act. Prohibition of ingestion of any substance can be viewed as a violation of personal and civil liberties. But the continuing campaign to bring us all in line is much, much more than that. And now with our (your) new President, the Messiah, the Chosen One, the Anti-Christ Muslim, the Giver Away of Our Money, He Who Would Disarm America, who nationalizes banks and insurance companies, and auto makers, bringing us all in line is more of a reality. An ugly one. More than enough grist for another posting on his behavior, but on with the current show.

The most succinct statement I have found regarding the so-called War on Drugs (Cannabis) is this: Richard Lawrence Miller's Drug Warriors and Their Prey draws detailed comparisons of the War on Drugs (Cannabis) in the United States today with events in 1930s Germany that led to Hitler's Third Reich and the attempted destruction of the Jewish people. Miller writes that "authoritarians are manufacturing and manipulating public fears about drug use in order to create a police state where a much broader agenda of social control can be implemented, using government power to determine what movies we may watch, determine who we may love and how we may love them, determine whether we may or must pray to a deity. I believe the war on drug users masks a war on democracy."

And many people have bought into the propaganda, the outright lies spewed forth by our own government. The War on Drugs (Cannabis) has imprisoned a generation who did nothing morally wrong. It's made criminals of millions. It has squandered national treasure, made international enemies, prostituted governments, and perverted law enforcement. Many, many more voices are now saying louder and louder and more often that it's past the time to stop the Marijuana madness that has been pushed by our employees in Washington, D.C.

The gubment claims that Marijuana has no medicinal value. BULLSHIT. IT DOES HAVE.

As medical Marijuana clinics continue to open and people find pain and nausea relief.

The gubment claims that Marijuana leads to Reefer Madness. BULLSHIT. IT DOES NOT.

Otherwise millions of us would try to rob you of your cupcakes and chocolate milk.

The gubment claims that Marijuana is a gateway drug. BULLSHIT. IT IS NOT.

Unless it's also claimed that drinking water is a gateway to alcoholism.

Let's Just Suppose You Have Very Bad Neighbors...

Just roll with this for a moment.

You try to mind your own business, rear your children properly, and just generally be a good and responsible neighbor. Your modest home "estate" is well kept and maintained in a presentable condition, surrounded by a privacy fence since good fences make good neighbors. It's everything you and your family have.

But you happen to live in an area with extreme, dangerous, and very bad neighbors like these two. You cannot just abandon everything you have worked hard for and move away. It's everything you have.

Every so often these very bad neighbors apparently get a burr up their asses and start lobbing grenades over the fence. Or they pretend to be making nice, come over to visit, then explode themselves at your dinner table killing members of your large family. Or equally terrifying, they fire rockets over the fence at your estate.

And when you have had all of this you can stand you retaliate in kind. In fact, you happen to have amassed a better arsenal than they have and you vigorously and decidedly defend your home and family. You can no longer simply turn the other cheek and have it smacked, as well.

Oh, the hew and cry from the very bad neighbors, the same neighbors who started all this, who now claim they are the ones being persecuted for some unknown reason. In my view this is exactly what is happening with Israel and their very bad neighbors next door in the Gaza Strip, Hamas.

Michelin vs Bridgestone Tires

Beginning in the 1960s I had (key word: had) been impressed with Michelin tires. But something in the quality changed. None of the Michelin tires I've bought over the last 15 years were worth the price paid. At every purchase, years apart, I just thought that the past Michelin purchases of bad quality tires were flukes. Then, in 1998 I bought a new Honda Accord LX sedan equipped with Michelin Energy MXV4 tires. The tires wore ok, but the car always had a very slight pull to the right that could not be corrected with alignments, rotating, air pressures, and what ever else I did. My wife didn't notice, but I did. The very slight pull was a very slight pain. The tires were also a danger on wet surfaces and easy to hydroplane.

I traded the '98 for a new 2000 Accord with the same tires and same pull problem. I went thru the same scenario. Alignments, rotating...nothing would stop the pull. Other Honda Accord drivers voiced the same problems in various forums, but no one had a definitive cause or solution. The wet traction on these Michelins was also nonexistant and easily hydroplaned.

I bought another new Honda Accord in 2004. EX-V6. Great car. Again, GREAT CAR AND A PLEASURE TO DRIVE. Again, essentially the same Michelin tires, updated to "Plus". And, yes, it pulled to the right. My wife always said that she didn't notice the pull on any of the Accords. In addition to the pull, the Michelins on the '04 Accord developed bulges without any insult of our making to the tire. At about $196.00 per crappy tire, I was done with Michelins and could hardly wait to change tires. But, I had to get some value out of them, so they stayed on for a bit longer. Also no wet traction and hydroplaning.

Enter Bridgestone

A few months ago I began web researching tires, looking for ones with high marks in tread wear, handling, wet traction, and good reviews from tire owners. I found the solution. Bridgestone Potenza G019-Grid tires. A set of four ended the problems I'd been having. My wife then said she could perceive a difference. Aha! That's what I've been talking about. The Potenza G019 Grid is Bridgestone's High Performance All-Season tire. I now have about 3,000+ miles on these tires and they have been worth every hard-earned penny at HALF the price of way overpriced Michelins. Great handling, no pulling to any side, and no hydroplaning, even at interstate speeds. The difference is amazing. BRIDGESTONE!

I Got It from a Toilet Seat! Honest! No, you did not. And quit blaming the toilet seat.

I've never known anyone who admitted to "catching" some dread disease from a toilet seat. However, I have met plenty of people who think that the lowly toilet seat is the world's repository of all manner of sexually-transmitted-diseases (STDs), bacteria, fungi, viruses, and, well, just anything else that can eff up a good day.

I have one son in particular who seems quite proud of the fortress (his word) he constructs between his precious butt, and the evil and unhealthy forces waiting for it on the toilet seat. He uses a half roll of paper before he even sits. Squirming all the while, hurrying, so he can get down to business. If he really wanted to keep other butts off the seat he should replace it with one of these.

Now I have read that certain organisms can live on surfaces other than our bodies. Some live for seconds, some live for hours - depending on the story. Some harmful bacteria probably are on the toilet seat, but no STDs live on them (so I've read). If STDs lived on toilet seats and were dependent upon a fresh butt sitting on them for mobility and eventual motility, then they would be called TTDs.

One of the best defenses against toilet seat critters is our skin...our unbroken, healthy skin. But, if you have scratches, sores, or any open wounds on your bottom, by all means keep them covered as these kinds of openings do invite invasion that you could truly say you got from a toilet seat.

Having lived for more than a half century, and once being a European traveler of sorts, I have used toilets - actually sat on toilet seats - in places from Little Rock to Luxembourg, Memphis to Munich, Benton to Berlin, Amsterdam to Zurich, and dozens of other places. I have yet to be able to honestly claim that, 'I got it from a toilet seat'. If I had any luck at all the only thing I ever got was relief. Mind you, I have papered the seat first, if there was enough paper for after, just so I could keep the bigger chunks off my bottom. But other times have simply been 'commando'. The undeniably worst thing I ever saw lurking on a toilet seat was the thing to the left...

Once, just outside Paris, France, I pulled into a gas station to do my duty only to find that there would be no sitting. Standing Room Only. This was the only place I ever saw one of these, although I'm sure I just missed the others.

The more important question than what is lurking on a toilet seat is, how dirty are your shoes? Pretty damn dirty it turns out. Think about it. You walk through all kinds of yuck, in and out of restrooms, clinics and hospitals, your workplace, where the dog did his duty...and then walk into your home. Your shoes have enough filth on them to make a toilet seat cringe. And you're worried about the crapper? The crap's on your shoes...and everywhere else...all the time. Just click the link above and see what ABC News found.

One last thing on this. WASH YOUR HANDS, OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE DRYING TOWEL, YOUR HANDKERCHIEF, OR YOUR SHOE (see, your SHOE again).

Is There ANYTHING To Help My Sanity?

HELP! I need somebody. HELP! Not just anybody. HELP!

I Need A New Drug!

...Am I Stepping Into the Twilight Zone...

I Go Crazy, Crazy, Crazy...

Imaginary Lover

I Need a Lover That Won't Drive Me Crazy

uh huh, uh huh, uh huh

If there were, say, five things that could help save my sanity, I'd be crazy not to try them.

Obituary of the Late Mr. Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain

Why the early bird gets the worm

Life isn't always fair

Maybe it was my fault

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies: Don't spend more than you can earn.

And reliable strategies: - Adults, not children, are in charge

His health began to deteriorate when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Tylenol, sun lotion or a band-aid to a student but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when it became punishable for you to defend yourself from a burglar in your own home but the burglar could sue you for assault. He began to lose ground rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6 -year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his Daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To blame, and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.