On Friday, August 10th, 2007, Lt. Col. James Henry Ayres will be laid to rest in Pampa, Texas. What makes this special and of note are the circumstances behind this. Lt. Col. Ayres was born on June 30, 1937, and was commissioned into the US Air Force on Jan. 25, 1960. on January 3, 1971, his plane went down over Laos during a night time strike. Last Friday, the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office positively identified the remains of Ayres and Lt. Col. Charles W. Stratton of ...
Early on in my JU experience, I wrote a blog on hate, and how I refuse to hate. The Emperor of Ice Cream rebutted me, saying that we all hate, and that I should embrace it (rough, ROUGH paraphrase!). As with many of Emp's views, it was cynical, but had a ring of truth to it. Because if you believe in an absolute good and an absolute evil, then there are things that it is virtuous to hate. I try to define myself as a man of peace for many reasons. I've seen more conflict than most, and I've se...
As my thoughts have centered on the health care debate, they quickly return to the role of government and how our perceptions have changed toward that end. From the frontiersman who ventured deep into the hostile territory of foreign nations (Indians) and expected the government to provide protection in the form of forts and stockades for his own reckless behaviour to our current demands that the government provide "free" condoms, healthcare, education, and everything else we might dream up, we ...
While I disagree with much of Michael Moore's philosophy, one of the things I will credit him with in the movie "Sicko" is bringing the health care debate to the forefront of discussion. While there are those on this site who will characterize me as a greedy, heartless individual, those who know me best know that it is not only an untruth, but a slanderous LIE! I won't get into the things I've done, because I don't do them for credit, but I will say there's a lot about me you don't know. I've...
I recently criticized Michael Moore. Apparently I pissed off the church of the bleeding heart by attacking their high priest, because I have gotten a few comments that referenced the anger of the particular readers that I dare attack one of their own. Moore is a holy man to them, whether they admit it or not, his opinion is infallible, and his facts are irrefutable. And anyone that dares refute them risks the wrath of the membership of the church of the bleeding heart. They deny Moore is out ...
I marvel at the definition too many people have of hard work. They look at the construction worker, the roofer, the plumber, mostly blue collar trades. And to so many others, they turn their nose up at what they're doing. Doctors, lawyers, and white collar workers are often loathed because people see the fine trappings (the nice clothes, houses, cars) as evidence of a life of leisure, a life they somehow didn't earn. And don't get me started on the attitude towards our athletes. Yet, who work...
I detest abortion. I think it is a disgusting practice, and I think it is a damning indictment on our society that we accept it as casually as we do. But I do not believe it should be made illegal. I believe there are better solutions. See, according to the data I have read, there are situations where an abortion may serve a medical purpose. According to what I have read, these instances comprise the minority of cases, but I do not feel when these cases exist that a doctor should have to c...
OK, despite the fact that I am not convinced that mankind (especially in the United States) is the significant cause of global warming, I am among those who take environmental stewardship seriously. So I decided to check out yahoo!'s new "green" category, and take their little carbon footprint calculator ( http://green.yahoo.com/?q=calcResults ). What a load of baloney that was. In the first place, I've taken other, better carbon footprint calculators, and the difference between theirs and ya...
Late last night I wrote up a song about a homeless man I had met some years back, and his vision. Today I premiered it to a few people, to mixed reviews. Basically the people who appreciate folk music appreciated it, those who didn't did not. I played it at the Guthrie Center, and one of the ladies who started the Guthrie Center in Pampa, complained that it was "the same monotonous tune" (meaning I was playing the same chords; ironically, I was NOT, by the way). I grabbed a Woody Guthrie song...
Right now, I'm a little overwhelmed. Want an analogy? OK, I feel like a pitcher with a career 6.00 ERA suddenly throwing back to back no hitters. Like a career third string quarterback suddenly winning back to back Superbowls. OK, I'll back up a little bit. See, last week a friend I met in Okemah came out to Pampa to visit. He left today, but over the week I found a person that has fueld my creativity to a point where I am genuinely overwhelmed. In the past 48 hours, i have produced 4 ...
(should be posted in "Writing", but nobody actually READS those posts!). Backstory: My song "Easy Annie" opened up the floodgates. I put together three songs in the last 24 hours. These are still "baby songs"; they ain't learned to walk yet, but I'm proud of them. This is the third of that series (I'll post the second if this actually gets read). For those who don't know, Okemah, Oklahoma was Woody Guthrie's birthplace: I was just 18 years old On a hot and dry Kansas road Carrying a heav...
This one needs a little background: A friend of mine came over to see the Woody Guthrie Center. It's been a great week on the creative front, being able to work together on artistic ideas. We collaborate well together, which is something I have needed for a long time. Someone to drive me musically, to feed my muse. The other night we headed out for drinks. Being how yet another friend was buying, we drank red bar (which, we decided, only needed cheese to suffice as "liquid pizza"), and san...
OK, I'm tired of this. Sometime ago I was challenged by a certain individual on the text of the second amendment. I contend that it reads as follows: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. This particular individual contends that it is much longer, and that all texts available on the Internet are wrong and that we have been duped by a government that will not allow us access to o...
Last October, when we re-upped our cell phone contract, we opted for the emergency roadside assistance on one of our phones. We figured that it was worth it to have that extra safety net when we are on the road. This past weekend, we went to Okemah, Oklahoma, and the big Woody Guthrie Festival there. On the way home, we were stricken with a case of car-wouldn't start-itis. First in OKC, but as we lumbered out, the alternator was working, albeit intermittently. We were hoping it would be just ...
Well, I'm back, from a long weekend which I will relate as soon as my thoughts congeal properly. One of the stories I couldn't tackle in my absence was the story of the Hindu prayer offered up in the Senate. I wanted to start the article by saying unequivocally that I don't like it, that it didn't belong in a government institution, and that those who are offended have every right to be offended. In short, I'm saying what every evangelical Christian is saying right now on the subject.
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