Another year is fast slipping by. As we begin 2013, I wish each of my auld acquaintances the very best of all the new year brings us.
I can get quite melancholy on New Year's Eve, thinking of those that have gone before, along with good friends and good times. This year, however, I'm already seeing hints of good things in store for loved ones and friends during 2013. Hopefully, those hints will come to pass.
So my friends, let us take a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Evil Won't Be Legislated Away
Last Friday afternoon, as the details began to emerge about the horrific tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, I felt sick to my stomach. You see, I have 4 grandchildren ages 10 and below. Then, the following day as the photos of the victims of that senseless massacre became available...well, I just didn't know what to think or do. It just made me sick. How, how in the world could anyone walk into an elementary school and execute twenty beautiful six and seven-year-olds and the wonderful people that taught and watched over them?
I'm beginning to realize the answer to that question. Evil in all its ugliness and unbelievable horror, does exist in this world. Banning "assault" weapons and high-capacity magazines will make the legislators in favor feel like they've done something positive...but that will not stop the evil. Evil has been with us forever and we cannot banish it from our lives, as much as we'd love to do so.
Yes, I'm a Christian and I believe in a loving and caring God. No matter what the misguided idiots at the Westwood Baptist Church in Kentucky may believe, God did not cause this carnage to take place. But there is another side, one that has been present for millenniums and will be present until the end of this life and world as we know it. I believe it is a fact, a horrible fact that we don't want with us, but is true nonetheless. The devil, that fallen angel, and his ilk are real and they fight their battles using the most abhorrent means imaginable. We saw one of those instances last Friday, when beautiful, innocent young ones were massacred at the hands of one God-forsaken coward.
So, what do we do in our defense? In my case, I believe with all my heart that my God has given me the right to defend myself and my loved ones from this evil force when possible, and the second amendment to the Constitution reinforces that right. I do what I can to be prepared to meet that ugly force with my own force. I'm licensed to carry a concealed weapon...and I do. I've trained, I've practiced and I know that I am ready to do what I can to meet that evil force with the best I can muster; and I know that I will, should the unfortunate opportunity present itself. I'd be there for Jack and Emma, for Ben and Mitchell, as well as for myself.
So called "Gun Free Zones" are ridiculous. For those thousands of us that have taken the classes, done (and continued) the required training...are we different somehow if we enter the local grocery store than we are entering the local U.S. Post Office or elementary school? I think not. Had the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary approached the cowardly shooter with a loaded gun in her hand, I do believe things would have turned out somewhat differently. But, sadly, she could not have done that, by law. The carnage was over within ten minutes; how could the police department have stopped or reduced the 26 deaths?
We live with the evil among us; it is up to each of us to meet and repel that evil the best we can. It will not go away, as much as we'd like to think it will somehow.
Be safe, my friends, and be prepared to meet what will befall us.
I'm beginning to realize the answer to that question. Evil in all its ugliness and unbelievable horror, does exist in this world. Banning "assault" weapons and high-capacity magazines will make the legislators in favor feel like they've done something positive...but that will not stop the evil. Evil has been with us forever and we cannot banish it from our lives, as much as we'd love to do so.
Yes, I'm a Christian and I believe in a loving and caring God. No matter what the misguided idiots at the Westwood Baptist Church in Kentucky may believe, God did not cause this carnage to take place. But there is another side, one that has been present for millenniums and will be present until the end of this life and world as we know it. I believe it is a fact, a horrible fact that we don't want with us, but is true nonetheless. The devil, that fallen angel, and his ilk are real and they fight their battles using the most abhorrent means imaginable. We saw one of those instances last Friday, when beautiful, innocent young ones were massacred at the hands of one God-forsaken coward.
So, what do we do in our defense? In my case, I believe with all my heart that my God has given me the right to defend myself and my loved ones from this evil force when possible, and the second amendment to the Constitution reinforces that right. I do what I can to be prepared to meet that ugly force with my own force. I'm licensed to carry a concealed weapon...and I do. I've trained, I've practiced and I know that I am ready to do what I can to meet that evil force with the best I can muster; and I know that I will, should the unfortunate opportunity present itself. I'd be there for Jack and Emma, for Ben and Mitchell, as well as for myself.
So called "Gun Free Zones" are ridiculous. For those thousands of us that have taken the classes, done (and continued) the required training...are we different somehow if we enter the local grocery store than we are entering the local U.S. Post Office or elementary school? I think not. Had the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary approached the cowardly shooter with a loaded gun in her hand, I do believe things would have turned out somewhat differently. But, sadly, she could not have done that, by law. The carnage was over within ten minutes; how could the police department have stopped or reduced the 26 deaths?
We live with the evil among us; it is up to each of us to meet and repel that evil the best we can. It will not go away, as much as we'd like to think it will somehow.
Be safe, my friends, and be prepared to meet what will befall us.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Band...Take the Field!
I've been a fan of University of Michigan Wolverine football since the late 1960s. I've attended dozens of games and have never ceased to be amazed at the way they've packed over 100,000 fans in their stadium, The Big House, for every home game since 1975.
I love the football, but there's more to an afternoon at The Big House than a game. Seeing one of the finest marching bands in the country is worth the price of admission alone. It all begins ten to fifteen minutes prior to kickoff when the stadium announcer blasts over the PA system:
They coming pouring out of the eastern tunnel entrance to the field, knees kicking high as they form the big block M and play the greatest fight song ever written, The Victors. If you've not been fortunate enough to witness it in person, the video below will give a pretty decent idea of how majestic it really is. Every fan with maize 'n' blue blood will feel the excitement and experience the goosebumps by this, in my opinion one of the greatest moments in sports.
I love the football, but there's more to an afternoon at The Big House than a game. Seeing one of the finest marching bands in the country is worth the price of admission alone. It all begins ten to fifteen minutes prior to kickoff when the stadium announcer blasts over the PA system:
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the 235-member
Michigan Marching Band
B-a-a-a-a-n-d, Take the Field!
They coming pouring out of the eastern tunnel entrance to the field, knees kicking high as they form the big block M and play the greatest fight song ever written, The Victors. If you've not been fortunate enough to witness it in person, the video below will give a pretty decent idea of how majestic it really is. Every fan with maize 'n' blue blood will feel the excitement and experience the goosebumps by this, in my opinion one of the greatest moments in sports.
Go Blue!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Our Home from Space at Night
This image of the United States at night is a composite of data taken by the VIIRS instrument aboard the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012.
Pretty cool, isn't it? Learn more directly from the NASA site: HERE
Wired.com published a nice series of these photos HERE which show more areas of the planet at night.
So, where would you rather be living: in the midst of bright lights or in the relative darkness?
As for me, I'm glad I'm in one of the "dimmer" areas, not dark just dimmer.
Pretty cool, isn't it? Learn more directly from the NASA site: HERE
Wired.com published a nice series of these photos HERE which show more areas of the planet at night.
So, where would you rather be living: in the midst of bright lights or in the relative darkness?
As for me, I'm glad I'm in one of the "dimmer" areas, not dark just dimmer.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
A Blog Vacation and Special Music
OK, I know, shame on me; three weeks since my last blog post. No excuses, just this 'n' that going on, including my "milestone" 65th birthday, which came and went with a whimper. After these many, you're just glad to have made another. Accept my apologies for being missing in action for a time.
What inspired me today, though, is that I opened the iTunes program and began to listen to Christmas tunes for the first time this year. The first one to play, Jo Dee Messina's A Joyful Noise, immediately grabbed me by the throat...
Then, Celine Dion came along next blasting O Holy Night, as only she can blast it. Ah, the music of Christmas...joyous, beautiful, and full of memories. Even the more modern Chip Davis and his Mannheim Steamroller group takes those old time classics and makes them into extraordinary, synthesized, New Age wonders that help you to "see" the horse and sleigh prancing through the new snowfall, or the Christmas star shining over that stable in Bethlehem.
Our eclectic collection of Christmas tunes ranges from the piano of Jim Brickman, to Reba, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Vince Gill and others. Each of them bringing their own flavor to add to the magic of this special season.
Merry Christmas, friends.
What inspired me today, though, is that I opened the iTunes program and began to listen to Christmas tunes for the first time this year. The first one to play, Jo Dee Messina's A Joyful Noise, immediately grabbed me by the throat...
Indeed.
Somethin' 'bout December
Gets me thinking of the past
How the child that I was
Grew up so fast
But I still remember getting caught in the thrill
In the magic of the season, and I know I always will
Make a joyful noise
Send it out across the sky tonight
Send it racin' through the cool starlight
Let it fall on Heaven's ears
Then, Celine Dion came along next blasting O Holy Night, as only she can blast it. Ah, the music of Christmas...joyous, beautiful, and full of memories. Even the more modern Chip Davis and his Mannheim Steamroller group takes those old time classics and makes them into extraordinary, synthesized, New Age wonders that help you to "see" the horse and sleigh prancing through the new snowfall, or the Christmas star shining over that stable in Bethlehem.
Our eclectic collection of Christmas tunes ranges from the piano of Jim Brickman, to Reba, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Vince Gill and others. Each of them bringing their own flavor to add to the magic of this special season.
Merry Christmas, friends.
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