MONDAY MORNING BLUES!

MONDAY MORNING BLUES! (Frazer Chronicle)

Monday morning.....not much good can be said about the day, my wife goes back to work, and she doesn't want to. She is however "short," as they would say in the military, she has less than 60 working days before she will retire, so hopefully I won't have to walk on eggs every Monday after that joyous date.

I watched the Pro Bowl yesterday and once again was put to sleep because of the game rules and the effort by the players. I understand that to be injured in an all star game would be the height of stupidity, but gee, why not just announce the Pro Bowlers and be done with it, I can't believe that 50 thousand people paid to watch a bunch of grown men run around a football field playing "patty cake and grab ass."

I read with detached interest this morning some of the nation and world headlines, and although they didn't put me to sleep, I was put into kind of a stupor, which, according to some people, I'm close to most of the time. But come on, let's get real. I submit the following as examples:

IS SENEGAL SLIDING INTO CHAOS?

Come on, who cares, I'll be way more than half the people in America don't even know where Senegal is, and of those that do, half of them could care where the country is "sliding" to.

IS SYRIA DESCENDING INTO CIVIL WAR?

"Gee, I hope so," seems like every country in the Middle East is descending into something, why not Syria.

PARK SERVICE TO CRACK DOWN ON "OCCUPY" D.C. CAMP.

Thank God, have you seen pictures of these poor protesters, where they have been sleeping, and with the no shower or rest room facilities, ugh, the smell alone must be criminal.

OCCUPY OAKLAND DIVERTED POLICE FROM 911 CALLS.

I'll bet drunk driving, bar brawls and donut shops do the same and they don't make headlines.....can you beat that.

FAT DOCTORS ARE LESS LIKELY TO HELP PATIENTS LOSE WEIGHT.

My doctor is fat, I never made the connection.

ROMNEY KEEPS HITTING GINGRICH ON EVE OF FLORIDA PROMARY.

I hope so; Mitt has been missing so often, he needs all the extra shots he can take, for a fat guy, Newt moves pretty good. "I wonder who is doctor is?"

FDA STAFFERS SUE AGENCY OVER SURVEILLANCE OF PERSONAL E-MAIL.

When are people going to wise up, everything while you’re working is not, and I repeat, not personal or private. Employees don't own the computers, don't own telephones and don't own issued cell phones. Employees have little or no rights, get used to it.

A TOUGH WORD, LEGACY!

A TOUGH WORD, LEGACY! (Frazer Chronicle)

I'm reading an article from FoxSports.com with regards to Joe Paterno, the legendary football coach late of Penn State and I wonder, I mean, I really wonder what some people are even talking about. A processional to honor "Joe Pa," a fired and humiliated 85 year old man who didn't know when to quite and keep his mouth shut.....and when to shout, to let people know of an injustice.

Legacy is a word like many in the English language with different meanings from gift, to computer science, to jurisprudence. The word can be comical to bizarre to completely misunderstood and can be used to briefly explain a person's life and their deeds and miss-deeds.

It seems as if, to some, Joe Paterno, head football coach gave off the impression that "all was well with the world, and that everything was just fine and dandy in Happy Valley." People fed off of that perception, that gift that Joe Paterno had. I never met Joe Paterno in my life, yet I know this about the man, he was positive, in his profession, he had to be.

I also have absolutely no doubt that Joe Paterno, the football coach, helped hundreds of student athletes gain a foothold on becoming a fully developed person.....not a man, but more important, a person. That to was a gift and one I'm sure he gladly shared with every player he came into contact with.

I have heard that Paterno was also a caring and sharing person who, during his time at Penn State donated millions of dollars to the institution. That also was a gift that he had, and that he shared with the college and the people in his life.

That is all part of the Paterno legacy, but like I said at the beginning of this blog, "legacy is a  word with many meanings." Sadly Joe Paterno the man, the football coach couldn't live up to his own standards, and in 2002, after a period of silence, Joe Paterno the man, the father needed to go over everybody's head and talk directly to Jerry Sandusky and give the man 24 hours to turn himself into the authorities for what he had done.

"Joe Pa" never did that, nor did the graduate assistant coach who first told Paterno of the incident. In the Happy Valley world that Joe Paterno helped create, that emission would never have happened, would never have been tolerated. The Jerry Sandusky's of the world simply did not exist in Happy Valley, according to the "Book by Paterno."

But they do exist and did exist and it is painfully clear now that Joe Paterno, the man was ill equip to deal with the situation in any way. He simply told a superior and walked away, this man with the power of  a God, this man among men, he walked away.

In so doing, "this walking away," he allowed a scum bag to carry on his vile activity with young boys, to virtually destroy the lives of countless others. Legacy.....ya, it's a word with several meanings and the final chapter of the "Book by Paterno" stinks with the odor of decaying unkempt principles that were not kept since 2002. Legacy's aren't supposed to sink and the man associated with the stench is not supposed to be honored. 

REFINE THAT RESUME FOR 2012!

REFINE THAT RESUME FOR 2012! (Frazer Chronicle)

In Sunday's Green Bay Press Gazette, 1-22-12,  I read with a growing sense of humor an article by Kaitlin Madden on how people should "refine their resume for the new year."  If you are "resolved" to find new employment in the new year, "start off on the right foot lie," that would be my advice.

That's right, lie like an S.O.B. about recent job achievements, your position and your accomplishments, if your lucky, you'll slid through and hook that cherry job, the one with decent pay, nice benefits a title and cushy surroundings. You may last as long as 6 months if your lucky, long enough to snag unemployment benefits and even a buy-out of some sort.

And the best part, these companies won't protest, they'll just want to sweep their mistake under the rug and move on, with stronger resolve never to make the same mistake again. There will be a revamping of the Human Resource Department, a head or two might roll, but in the end, the company will move on.

As for the fired worker, well he'll be back on the street, "fake looking" for new employment and spending his new found unemployment wealth. Don't worry though, his search for another job will not be very extensive, nor will he spend much time at the search.

It is an excepted complaint that is voiced almost daily by somebody that our government representatives are completely out of touch with what is going on in everyday America, and I agree. Elected officials with very few exception have little or no understanding of what goes on in the real world of employment in today's world.

You now can add to that list the name of Kaitlin Madden, writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, TheWorksBuzz.com.  Look, I understand that Ms. Madden is writing from a perfect world mentality her opinions on how people can better themselves, and for that I salute her.

But Green Bay Wisconsin is at best a blue collar community, and the most important things a prospective employer wants to know is if you speak English, can read and write it, can get back and forth to work, and can lift a 100 pounds repeatedly.

That's 60 to 70% of the working class in Green Bay, Wisconsin, medial $8 to $12 an hour jobs for men, and minimum wage to $10 an hour for the women. Supervisors don't care about reading a list of accomplishments, key words from the job description that you are applying to, or to worry about your "social media profiles," or how your answers on an application answered, or the grammar used. H.R. officers in the low end job view the hiring process as a pain in the butt, and anyway, need to get back to their other job, checking quality control on an assembly line down on the floor somewhere.

Many, many jobs that are available in today's work world are manned by unprofessional that were hired by unprofessional. It is and always had been the nature of the beast, don't make any mistakes, as with high end job searches, the searching process is a game, sadly one that has to be played and one where the rules favor the hire-or.

The rules change from job to job, business to business, and interview to interview. Confidence is probably a key factor, but not an intimidating confidence, knowledge of many things but master of few, if any. Be able to bow your head, to avoid eye contact, to have a firm handshake, but not one that is challenging. And always, always be puckered up, ready to kiss ass. All employers like that attitude.  That said, good luck in your search.....and may the power be with you.

PENN STATE'S PATERNO NOW A 4TH. PAGE NEWS ARTICLE!

PENN STATE'S PATERNO NOW A 4TH. PAGE NEWS ARTICLE! (Frazer Chronicle)

It's true, "fame and fortune are fleeting," legendary football coach Joe Paterno can attest to that, given the drop in his news importance. One year ago Paterno was regarded as a coaching legend, 6 months ago his future was unlimited, 3 months ago, his Nittany Lions were contesting for the Big Ten football title, all of these things achieved by a man who was approaching his 86th. year.

Today, Joe Paterno has observed his 2nd. month into forced retirement brought on by the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal, and Paterno's caviler approach to information that was given to him by a graduate assistant. Instead of confronting Sandusky like 99% of us would, Paterno casually relayed the information to superiors

In an article which appeared in the U.S. Today dated January 20, 2012, a school trustee stated that "Paterno failed to do moral duty." That's the headline,  short and to the point, but definitely not simple, the wire service story left out a whole bunch of stuff.  And guess what, so did the Penn State trustee's, the Penn State Athletic Department, the Penn State administration, the media and the alumni as well. 

Everybody caved into the "family" atmosphere and the layers of protection that Joe Paterno had created. The atmosphere, the attitude and the protective layers all helped to protect a pedophile, a molester of young boys, a monster, Jerry Sandusky.

Jerry Sandusky probably couldn't help himself,  Jerry Sandusky is a sick man who needs help. However along with that help comes some sort penalty for his vile activity, included in the penalty portion of this despicable saga in life are those people with knowledge of the acts.

Am I getting through to anybody.....the gloves are off, niceties are at an end, no prisoners will be taken. Every time since 2002, when Sandusky either did, or attempted his disgusting sexual perversion, each and every person who knew about him, "Sandusky," is guilty of the same heinous crime.

Joe Paterno failed to do the moral thing, "his duty," and he held a position of trust, not only at an institution of higher learning, but throughout the country. Is Joe Paterno to blame, absolutely, each and every mention of Paterno needs to be erased from Penn State.....just for starters. The silly atmosphere of "family" needs to be gutted, not only from Penn State, but from every school in the entire country.

How dare you attempt to lay that weak crap on us, you school administrators, you athletic directors, you want-a-be alumni, you local and state legislators and you fans. College athletic programs are "either or," there either school amateur programs, or minor league's  for profession teams.

Every professional baseball team in America and Canada has at least 5 minor league teams that helps to hone the abilities of "their" players. The players, managers, coaches and administrators are paid millions of dollars each and every year in the effort to promote new talent to the big league level.

The National Football League does next to nothing to cultivate talent for their teams, they draft college players that have come through the ranks to the day that they can possible be drafted. Even from high school, players are evaluated by professional scouts, and once they have chosen a college program, their almost every move is recorded.

There is talk of paying college players to play, talk about the proverbial "can of worms," wait and see what happens if that ever comes to pass. There isn't any pay for college players now, "wink wink," but go ahead and approve pay and you'll see a whole different set of problems come down the pike.

Joe Paterno, Jerry Sandusky and the rest are very, very sad commentary not only to college athletic programs, but to people in authority. There can be no "different set of rules" for those in authority, especially when the question involves kids. Action needs to be swift and complete and in the Penn State event, neither happened. Sadly Penn State's Nittany Lion has been neutered

SOPA AND PIPA!

SOPA AND PIPA! (Frazer Chronicle)

Wow, looks like I miss-spelled the heading of this blog at the most, or maybe I miss-understood some of what I read in preparation. Either way, bare with me, the message is strong and important, and actually a conservative view. Yesterday, during my driving adventure around the city of Green Bay, the front tires on my truck almost got the wobbles, you know, just like when a motorcycle is about to lose it, and crash and burn.

I was listening to the local N.P.R. talk show and kept hear these 2 terms, SOPA AND PIPA, and of course I thought that the talk was about 2 chicks named Sopa and Pipa. Foreign yes, interesting, probably, sexy.....well sure, with Spanish names like Sopa and Pipa. Imagine my shock and disappointment when the next thing the N.P.R. guy says is "computer," and what SOPA AND PIPA really meant, I was "wobbled," almost!

I watch those bicycle or motorcycle videos at least 3 or 4 times a week, when, traveling at high speeds the front wheel starts almost a death knell wobble, the driver is powerless to correct the wobble, and the bike either flips, ejects the driver, or runs head-long off the road. For me, the wobble wheels ranks 2nd. to somebody getting tased, Tru-T.V. is by far the best trailer trash channel on television, great fun.

Anyway.....back to the "meat and bones" of my blog, SOPA and PIPA and how they could  effect the lives of many, many U.S. citizens. I always get nervous whenever I read or hear that technology experts are discussing any kind of proposed legislation to either stop a much used process, or to protect the users, or simply to poke their nose into an issue to usually secure or put limitations  on the service.

SOPA or Stop Online Piracy Act and a sister bill, PIPA, Protect IP Act would seek to minimise the dissemination of copyrighted material online by targeting sites that promote and enable the sharing of copyright-protected materials like The Pirate Bay. While there is validity to the thinking behind the acts, entrepreneurs, legal scholars and free speech activists worry about the consequences of these bills for the architecture of the Internet.

I simple laymen terms, "I'm all for simple," what this legislation would do, is to make it easier for the Federal Government to monitor users and in fact reject some of the access to  Internet information that users now enjoy. Any blunting of information, any dilation to the access for knowledge that we now enjoy is a feeble attempt to control by government.

There are 2 things at work here, an inability by Internet users to police themselves and an ever increasing desire by the federal government to control. Look, the Internet, the information gained, the effect it has on people's  everyday life is invaluable. If knowledge is power, then a person's computer, and the access to the Internet it gives the user must be left basically unfettered.

I am in no way advocating that I have the answers, in fact any answers to the problems that I see just around the corner with regards to access on the Internet. I do know this, the copy write laws in the United States are a travesty, just a few years ago, the copy write law went from 75 years to 125 years. What.....how can that be, most writings from a hundred years ago don't even apply today, and are used basically for research.

When I research for a book, I always use 3 sources  before I will add an content into a book, yet I can only use 25% of what was said in a paragraph. I write history, so all of the authors I might quote are dead, some as long as a hundred years. Trying to track down descendants for a signature from them, so that I can freely use information is sometimes worse then the research.

The same thing will happen with the Internet, if we, as users do not monitor what government is contemplating. Look what is happening and has happened in China.

CLASSIC CASE, "RAHTER BE PISSED OFF THEN ON!"

CLASSIC CASE, "RATHER BE PISSED OFF THEN ON!" (Frazer Chronicle)

I don't know the particulars, don't know the participants and it's damn sure I don't know the victims, although I feel for them, "victims" I just can't reach em. Look, war is hell, there are casualties, people get hurt, shot up, damaged and are never the same, these things are a given as a result of war. Whenever you get a bunch of young people, basically set adrift in a country, with little or no supervision, with live ammunition and a loaded gun, "huh," what do you expect, bad things are going to happen.....and they do, we just don't know about it.

A bunch of American soldiers, little more than boys, many away from home for the first time, given the immense power of life or death based on judgment calls, what do you expect? Mix in a bunch of unbridled testosterone, and you got a brew made at the Pentagon, a good soldier, ready, willing and able to protect truth, justice and the American way. I really can't believe that the Pentagon doesn't simple issue "T" shirts with a big fat S on them, you know, for "Superman."

What these jerks did was deplorable, stupid and unforgivable.....but let's move on; they didn't want to go to some hot, cold, dry country where the people speak a "clickety click" language that sounds something like a person speaking through a mouthful pebbles.

Sure they volunteered, sure they had an "idea" of what they were getting themselves into, but they really didn't. Nothing prepares a person to get shot at, unlike the opening segment of Gunsmoke, were Matt Dillon faces down the bad guy on the streets of Dodge City, gets off the second shot, and still wins the duel, most in today's U.S. military duck instead of returning fire.

The war in Afghanistan is George W. Bush's "long war," it's lasted for more than 10 years and realistically, there is no end in sight. The war is way too much of a "cash cow" to end suddenly, any time soon, companies have been created, decent paying jobs have been established, and the "big boys" aren't done playing with their toys.

Did you ever watch one of those "hearings" on Capitol Hill, where congress questions U.S. military generals, generals that are all decked out in complete military garb with their medals hanging from their shoulders to their belly buttons. My my, what an impressive sight, these men are in charge, these me are used to being in charge, have craved authority all their lives and now that they have authority, do you really think they would give it up.

These men would sooner whip out a weapon and shoot the crap out of the hearing chambers to safeguard their position, believe it, it's true and they have the guns to prove it. What’s wrong with these American soldiers, nothing, they are just living out the dream that probably their grandfathers and fathers had.

It's not good to urinate on people, living, or dead, it's disrespectful, shows a total lack for human rights, and makes laundering next to impossible to be complete. What needs to be done, in the illustrious words of Ron Paul, "Bring the troops home, every swinging pisser of them."

THE SILLY SEASON!

THE SILLY SEASON! (Frazer Chronicle)



Okay, so it's the silly season, some of us are watching, some of us searching for a responsible guy, others are already "locked-in" to a particular political persuasion, and yet others approach the "season" attempting to keep a clear eye and an unbiased view of the unfolding activity that the season brings. The spectators are all basically honest people, U.S. citizens, hoping for the best in a political system lauded throughout the world in unbelievably different ways.



Seems as if every year or so the United States is inundated with a bunch of sophomoric rhetoric that keeps many on the edge of their chairs, add agencies running to their banks with huge deposits and the smile of a well satisfied lover on the faces of the American television and radio executives.



Have you ever wondered, somewhere in the inner reaches of that lump that sits atop your body, you know.....about 3 ft. from your ass, posed the question, "why." Why elections on the local, district, state and federal levels every year? Of course it's not really that way, "dog catcher this year, mayor next year, then finally the Governor and the president to round out a four year cycle that starts right back up in a never ending soap opera of political "he said, she said" crap.



It's the longest running show in the history of mankind, it's theater, opera, it's what some people need to make themselves whole, is sustenance to others, and predator grounds for the political hunter that resides in some. The media waits on their haunches for wanna-be politicians to utter catch phrases that will last forever, or at least through the current election cycle.



First it's Iowa, then New Hampshire and the idiotic idea that either political event will dictate who will be a candidate for the president's post. All the hub-bub, all the breathless activity means absolutely zero, history proves the point.



Do you really understand who is running for the office of the presidency, can anybody comprehend the amount of money that will be spent, the bucket's full of effort expended. As one political "expert" put it, "money is the mover and shaker" in American politics, "it's the way it is." Hum, I don't think so, more than money, it's the press.



Did anybody ever hear of Stewart Alexander, Roger Gary, R.J. Harris, Fred Karger, Kathyern Lane, Andy Miller or Jimmy "the rent’s to damn high” McMillan? Of course you haven't, but they all have announced their candidacy for the office of the president of the United States. I ain't kidding, if you don't believe me, look it up for yourself. Do they have a chance, well, er, ah.....no, absolutely not.



In all, at the present time, 25 men and women have declared that they "are the best person for the job of running the strongest country on the face of, and in the history of the world," past, present and future. I for one figure that I'm "kind of smart," but am in no way shape, or form capable of running one of the most "discombobulated" countries in the history of this world, or for that matter probably any other world in the universe.



Each of these people has a "camp, or a team," a core of backers who believe in their "choice" to lead the country. Thank God most won't see the "light of day," or for that matter any other light, and will fall into the candidate grave-yard within weeks of the New Year, 2012. Don't get me wrong, I say "bless em all," I wish more of these odd balls would run. What the hell would people like me write about?


Where would we be without "Newtered" Gingrich, "the rent’s to damn high" McMillan, "Tricky Ricky" Perry, Michele "Boom Boom" Bachmann, or the "Cain Train"? I've waffled, flip-flopped, been weak on defense, eliminated jobs, created jobs, and shot Osama bin Laden so many times, I think I'll take a nap, you take care of this election.

TEXTING MY WAY TO THE PEARLY GATES!

TEXTING MY WAY TO THE PEARLY GATES! (Frazer Chronicle)

It must be the battle cry of some of the idiot drivers on the road today, or "give me texting, or give me death," "I swear to God." I'm 68, and with but a handful of cell phone messages, I can recall few that we important enough for me to use my wireless device while driving, and I used to drive for a living.

I racked up half a million miles over the last six years of my driving "professional" life, and with little exception, a trained eye could detect a distracted driver. From the "perch" in my Freightliner I witnessed all sorts of driver distraction, reading a book, the newspaper, brushing teeth, make-up, shaving, "both electric and shaving cream and razor, changing clothes, eating, drinking, reading a street map, and the occasional sexual act(s).

Several states and the Federal Government are attempting to address some of the stupidity on the public roadways today, but in my opinion, don't go far enough. I'm adamant in my belief that nobody needs to use a hand held communication devise during the operation of a motor vehicle, IT'S NOT SAFE.

Any transportation official, any political official, any beat cop, and every driver needs to understand that driving distraction is dangerous.....to other drivers and their safety. I could care less what happens to those drivers who use hand held devices, I'm worried about the drivers who don't recognize the dangers by these "hand held devise morons."

Even Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood-Ornament doesn't get it, he thinks that the focus by law-makers should be on hand-held cellphones, not the fast-growing new technology that allows drivers to talk while keeping their hands on the wheel.

Look, here's the deal, distraction of any kind while a person is driving is.....well.....just what he word implies, "a hindrance to the task at hand." What is so important that it can't wait until a driver either pulls off the road, or waits until he's home, I don't get it.

And these guys who figure that they can "multi-task" are so full of crap it's unbelievable, talk about people who need an adjustment, wow, a good swift kick in the ass.....and then continue. Nobody, absolutely nobody operates a truck or car with the same attention when distracted, so get over it, you jerks aren't as important as you think you are.

And these "grace periods," where a driver is given a warning instead of a ticket, forget it, "when you violate, you get the ax," you get the full priced ticket. A grace period is like allowing drivers a chance to familiarize  himself with the new laws, kind of like a gun purchaser a chance to know that if he points at a target and pulls the trigger, something bad will happen to the target.

Forget about the estimated 3000 people who lost their lives from distracted driving auto crashes in 2010, understand that as a "people" it appears that we need  to be cared for like a parent would watch over a child. We are why we have government, we are why, as a people, we know we need to be protected from ourselves, we are pathetic.

Some people argue that the use of hand held devices is almost a "God given right," and I agree, just as long as those who use a hand held device, or use a conversation device while driving are in a big field, surrounded by a 20 foot high  fence made of re-enforced steel, so that the only people that they hurt are themselves.

Even emergency responders and roadside assistance workers are often distracted drivers, but I see no way around allowing those people use of their communication devises. After all, they are safer then some "twit" talking about a new outfit, or some macho punk explaining his next conquest. Why oh why can't we be more responsible for our actions.

GNAW ON THIS PEARL OF WISDOM!

GNAW ON THIS PEARL OF WISDOM! (Frazer Chronicle)

I used to write  weekly articles for several down-state Wisconsin newspapers and never thought that they were more then that, "articles," I never figured that they were published, protected for me, because I happened to put my ideas down on a piece of paper. I did however figure that they were the property of the newspaper, and with my approval could be reprinted by the newspapers.

Now it seems as if everything is referred to as "published," not posted like I figured my articles were. Hell I wrote baseball game reports for 5 different newspapers, and felt "tickled" when my wording or story line wasn't changed, "I felt that my prose was finally catching up to those sports writers that I respected for the job that they did.

I say this in response to an "article" that appeared in the Washington Post yesterday, "published" by Robert Barnes. Now I respect Barnes, and read with interest his opinions on situations or instances that continually happen in Washington D.C. But published, come on, that's a streach, opinions can't be published, only stated. With few exceptions, everything that I have written can be used any way that people might deem honorable.....however, keep it clean.

The article in question was titled "Roberts defends Supreme Court colleagues on recusal issue." Chief Justice John G. Roberts defended the court as "jurists of exceptional integrity and experience." Now exactly what is the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court supposed to say, "my colleagues are dogs, and can't be trusted."

That attitude needs to include a word that most people have a problem with today, that word, "trust." Come on Mr. Chief Justice, nobody knows what's going around in somebody elses head. Hell maybe one or two of the Justices dig porn, or like to watch animals do it. Each of us has some deep, dark secrets we don't want anybody knowing about.

Exactly what does the Chief Justice "think" that he is telling us, like the Supreme Court is above reproach, is some sort of  squeeky clean institution, above human feelings, wants, or desires, and worse, has no favorite groups, people, or issues.

I think everybody knows what the term "butt head" means, quite being a butt head Mr. Roberts, admit that you people are as "human" as the rest of us. In fact, maybe your more human then we are, after all, you were choosen by a sitting President and then confirmed by politicians who examined you all like pieces of meat.

Now exactly where does that process leave you in "exceptional integrity and experience." I'm glad that Bob Barnes "published" his article, but don't expect me not to use some of your "wisdon" to help me formulate my opinions, which I might add can change "from day to day."