Club Astarte

"Welcome, Friends. Welcome, Brothers. Welcome, Sisters." almost shouting, George was greeting the newest visitors in to The Church. George is a great greater, a large man, though vertically challenged, he has a presence of warmth and welcoming that works very well as a greeter slash usher. "George, Please start encouraging patrons to visit the private sessionals." comes an anonymous voice through his government issue look-alike ear piece. With a scowl, followed quickly by a smile and fake cough behind his hand, George turns away from the procession of guests to mutter into his wrist cuff. "I know, I know. I'm getting there. Now back off, Cheryl, and let me do what I do." "BEEEEEP" was the only and very loud response George got back. "Welcome, Brother, Welcome! How have you been, Brother Shawn? We have not seen you, here in The Church, for a long time. Have you been well?" George picks up, choosing a complete stranger. "I'm sorry, I'm not this 'Brother Shawn' you mention. I've never been here, before," stated the stranger. "Oh, My. Oh, uhm, Sorry about that, Brother. You could be the twin for Brother Shawn. I could have sworn to Aphrodite, herself that you were Shawn. Well, Welcome! Welcome to our House of Life and Love. Tell me, Brother, Shawn is a fighter, a Warrior Of Life. Are you a Warrior Of Life, too? Or perhaps you are a Lover Of Life? How can I guide you, today, my friend?" George starts pressing this new comer to The Church. With a wave, another Greeter takes over for George, as his other hand goes across the shoulders of the new comer, getting a grasp of physical condition, feel of the cloth of his jacket, and an opportunity to get in close and smell the man. All important aspects of judging which celebration the newcomer would be most comfortable in. "Uhm, uh, I .. uhm. I don't know. I was told be a friend to come here. He told me that I should visit here. He told me I'm too up tight. Stressed. And visiting here would do a great deal for me. Or so he said. I'm not sure what this place is. "That is great! We do have many ways to help the trodden stand taller. Relaxation is a critical part of any stress management program, and we have many programs here. What is your name, Brother, and what do you do that has you so stressed? Perhaps I can help you locate the correct Acolyte or Trainee to get started on your path to happiness? And I'm George, here. Call me Brother George, or just George, if that makes you more comfortable." George says in a silky warm and flowing manner. "I'm Alan. Alan Zimmerman. I'm a computer programmer. I spend all day in a cubicle programming ATM's for the new retinal scanners the Government has required to cut down on fraud. What is this place?", Alan says with both pride and then fearful curiosity. "This" states George with a grand sweep of his hand, "is our Church of Aphrodite. You remember how things were, just a few years ago? How the whole world was in a mess? Iran and Israel about to turn each other in glowing glass parking lots? How the Conservatives were taking the country away from the Liberals? America's Ambassador's being killed off in foreign lands? Former President Obama's plans to unify the people of our nation under a Socially Correct banner for happiness and survival? Well, that is when Aphrodite came back to us. First, here in Las Vegas, of all places. Then, she started reaching out to other cities. Now we have over 300 Member Community Churches across the nation. We are giving a focus for those who would fight, giving them a vent for their anger, aggression and even skills. And for others, like you and I, we have the love of others to help us, support us as we support others through the day to day mundane." George starts in, gently, compellingly bringing Alan into the fold. George is nothing, if not a top-rate con-man. "I remember something about you guys doing something with the old MMA and wrestling shows. Taking over and combining the two sports into one ... what? I never really understood that." Alan asks, humbly and uncomfortably. "Always the engineer, right, Alan? Always with questions for all the little queer things that just don't fit?" George says, again smiling brightly and widely. "It is questions that like that which lead to your stress and tension. I think I know just who you need to speak with. Let's see if you can find Acolyte Nicki. Though only an Acolyte, she will be taking her vows, soon, she is one of our best emoto-counselors. I'm certain talking with her will help you relax. I believe her study room is just up here and around the corner. Shall we go meet Nicki, Alan? I'm sure she will be happy to meet you." George redirects the conversation, again ...

Dreams are for children

Another realization: Dreams are for children.

My dreams of happiness and success are empty and hollow. My wishes and desires for the heart of another person, now lost to me are but ash in the wind. Gone much like the magician's flash paper.

As I have been reflecting on the changes I need to make in me, and through me to the world about me, I've come to the edge of myself, and the empty darkness is there.

And there begins the nightmare. Control the nightmare, stop the fall into nothing, and find your way. Nightmares are for adults.

Idealistic dreams are for children and those with no responsibilities.

Aspirations are based on an attainable reality. Aspirations helped man fly, made the telephone a reality and put an end to Hitler. Aspirations are the antidote to the blackness of the nightmare.

P.Blacksmith

To be or not to be

“To be or not to be.” The eternal question posed by Shakespeare so many years ago is rather poignant, tonight, for me, personally.

The last few months have been a bit difficult for me. I've left a good job, left loved ones and moved halfway across the country to tend to family. No discussion, no thought to much of anyone but my own selfish desires. I don't believe I was wrong in my decision, but definitely wrong in the execution. The manner in which I did certain things left people hurt and alone and unsupported.

In one review, it was an escape from a situation quickly going askew. A relationship that was changing in a way I did not feel ready for, but needed to go into, if I stayed. A relationship I sincerely wish I had had the foresight to better protect. Because of this failure, people I care for have been hurt. And I now wish I had nurtured the situation, because I now know, one is never ready, but simply must do. I wish I was doing so, now. I feel I have a lot left to give this world, and my heart is a good place to start sharing.

In another review, I wept and wallowed is misery on how I was again alone, and on and on. All so bad for me, always so bad,my life sucks, etc. A self pity party of near colossally epic proportions. During which less than nice things were said or written. Childish temper tantrums were sent through the postal mail, and I regret every word of it.

I know it can't be done overnight, but how does an adult, finally, grow up?

And that brings us back to the beginning of this post; 'To be or not to be', that is my question to myself. One I finally understand and answer “Yes, to be. To be the grown up I should be. That is what I wish of myself.” But how to get there, from here?

P.Blacksmith

Mia Culpa time

There is nothing quite as painful as having messed up, and hurt someone else in the process.

This past weekend I realized how much I cared for someone. This loving and tender person has never done me wrong, but I hurt her, repeatedly, emotionally for over two years. It was never my intent to inflict such pain on her. And because of this, she no longer trusts me. Which I can fully understand.

I have no right to request forgiveness, but I will, and I do ask it. I ask to be given a chance to fix what I have broken. I ask for the chance to make right the things I have done wrong. I ask that at some future time, I may be forgiven.

I do not know what 'love' means to me. I've never really known it, myself. I've seen it in others. I've been able to identify it there, recognize it, and wish for it. But I've never known that truly open and honest and golden warmth of welcoming someone inside my heart. I've never felt comfortable opening up that much to anyone. and so I don't know how to. I hope that someday I will understand this, because right now, I don't.

I'm not even sure I'm human, without this ability to love or to accept being loved.

P.Blacksmith

My Heroes

I recently stumbled across a question on onioning.com that I felt compelled to answer. The question was: your parents are strong [or] cool people consider!!?

I thought I would share my answer here, as well. There is much more to say on the subject, but I think little more need be said than this:

I believe my father to be a strong person, because of who I am. He helped mold me into the person I am, today. He tried to teach me right versus wrong, but also gave me the freedom to make mistakes, as long as I accepted the responsibility for the mistake and learned from it.
My step mother contributed largely to this, as well. If it were not for her, probably would never have learned to read or to dream.
Yes, they are both strong people.
They are my heroes.

Thanks, Mom.
Thanks, Dad.

P.Blacksmith

The Angel of Death has Come for a Friend

Last week, my mother-in-law passed. We had a memorial for her on Tuesday.

Paula was a wonderful woman, full of praises. Always with a quick, meaningful smile and a word of support. As a school teacher, she touched and supported the little town she lived in at a level politicians could only dream of. Former students (and their parents) were always speaking with her, when she was out. I swear she knew EVERYONE in that little town.

She will be missed by many, but those that knew her best, knows she was in a terrible fight with ALS (Lou Gherigs Disease). Unlike most cases, ALS started in her jaw/throat. In late January, she fell, breaking an ankle. While in he hospital, after surgery for the break, she quietly went to sleep and stopped breathing. It is believed the ALS started effecting her diaphragm and she quietly passed.

Though she and I disagreed on beliefs, we did agree there was room in the heart of her God for all persons who worked to bring peace and good to all, regardless of what paths. So, Paula, I sit here, at my desk, nearly 1000 miles from your final resting place, before a lit candle and a Holy Bible, wishing you well, wishing you peace, and hoping someday we speak, again.

P.Blacksmith

Slump Fighting

WOOHOO!

Thank goodness for Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, John Jameson and our many other friends of sour mash origins!

NO, I'm not intoxicated, nor am I even tipsy. I've had a single drink, this afternoon, of normal size and proportions for an American Legion post's bar. The good of this is not from the fact that I had a drink, nor that I had a drink with a bunch of old drunk farts. Instead it is in the fact that one of my fellow legionnaires recognized I was a bit 'down' and started a conversation with me. He sincerely wanted to know what was going on. This in turn lead to other conversations about business and such. So, NOW, I have a former sales guy for an Indianapolis area technology services provider digging out his old phone book and will start making introductory phone calls, tomorrow.

This is really promising news on getting my business off the ground. I'm hoping he can pull it off.

More to follow, when I know more. As it is, I need to get some fliers, etc, together so when I do face-to-face visits with these fine people, I can leave them with something to contact me through.

P.Blacksmith

Depression sucks

I’m serious, it really does. And I recognize that fact. Everyday I sense the sliding and the slipping into a deeper state of apathy. I’m in the house, alone, no job, diminishing fiscal statements and I’m having a hard giving a damn about it all.

This is what it comes down to: I need to get off my ass and DO something. But I have no energy or desire to do anything. And this just makes the apathy even deeper. This is when the muscles start to ache, the eyes start to burn, the head starts to pound.

And this is just the beginning of depression for me. I’ve got to make the changes, now, to keep from getting any deeper. Fight through the apathy and struggle beyond it. I just have no energy for the fighting, internal or external.

I’m so tired, I could go back to bed and sleep another 6 hours, maybe more.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

P.Blacksmith

Mis-daventures at lunch

So, here I am, in Franklin, Indiana. A small town, where as a young person I was taught the variances of 'right and wrong' behavior.

Today, I witnessed, and humbly admit to participating in, poor behavior. The type of behavior that would have had my backside spanked to a light cherry red color and other forms of punishment.

Here is the story of today's events:

About 11:30 AM I decided I would step out for lunch. A working lunch, I decided. So I went to the local dining hall of a national chain of pizza's, one that has a lunch buffet. I'm thinking it is quiet, here. A week day, not many young people will be here from the high school, because it is closed for a false holiday. And the usual lunch crowd will be smaller, because so many people will be at home with their progeny, because, again I state, the schools were closed in observance of a false holiday.

I'm at a booth, having quietly enjoyed a salad and a soda. I've been entertained by the actions of a small girl, 3 or 4 years old, quiet, but active. When she spoke with her parents, she used a soft voice, barely above a whisper. She was polite, at one point apologizing for bumping into me, at the salad bar. When asking for more 'Sprite' she said 'please' and 'thank you' upon delivery. Shortly, this family left. Having my laptop out, and staring intently at the screen, the 'father' interrupted me and wished to apologize, if his daughter had interrupted my work. A nice, and completely unexpected gesture, especially in this day and age. I let the young man know that she had not interrupted me and I was quite appreciative of how well behaved she was, using 'please' and 'thank you'. I told him we needed more young people like her to set the example for other children. He smiled, beaming, and went to the register to pay his bill. As they were leaving the building the girl stopped, smiled and waved at me. This brightened my day. I started thinking, even though this is Monday, it is going to be a wonderful day.

And there I sat, nibbling on pizza slices, and typing away on a Linux article for a magazine. I was happy and content with my day.

Then hell spawn heathen children arrived. Two young boys, two young girls and two women, apparently the mothers of these children. At first the kids wanted to sit in the booth behind me and were bouncing up and down on the seats, until the mothers took a firmer voice, explaining that not all 6 could sit in the booth. One even stated that the bouncing was disturbing the "nice man trying to work on his computer".

With this, they then moved three smaller tables together, the young boys, in their effort to be 'big boys' and help do the heavy lifting, dumped of the tables over, salt and pepper shakers and well as parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes flying under my table, bouncing around, breaking and just in general making a large mess. The store employee was at my table, in a hurry to clean up the broken glass and other mess. One of the mother's told her boy to settle down, after a 'see what you have done' accusation.

With the mess cleaned up, the tables moved around and the kids seated, the mothers decided it was time to hit the buffet, so they both left the table to get food for the miscreants. And once their back was turned, the kids started getting loud, finger shooting each other and getting into arguments over whose finger was stronger than the others 'force shields'. This went on, and continued to grow in volume, until the mothers returned with plates for the four children. They then went to get their own food, which let the kids replace finger guns with tomato and cucumber pieces. One of the mothers turned in time to see me wiping ranch dressing out of my ear. As she was trying to get the kids under control, the other mother came over to me, I assume to apologize, until she saw the mess on my laptop. I made eye contact with her, very briefly and went back to cleaning myself and my equipment. She moved on, without a word.

I shut equipment down, and packed to leave.

As I was passing their table, I stopped, and very strongly suggested that in the future, they should consider taking their kids to a place such as McDonalds or Burger King. "A place that provides a separate play pen for the kids. The kind of place few people will go to for a sit down meal and a working lunch. An even better place for those children would be to KEEP THEM HOME. Until you can teach them how to behave in public, you have no reason to BE in public. Responsible children are the by-product of responsible adults. Please get yourself sterilized, TODAY, so the world will not have to suffer through your indifference."

Other patrons applauded. The store manager comped my buffet and gave me a gift card to return again. I advised him that he require the 'mothers from hell' to be held accountable for the loss of business and positive customer support and return. When he asked how to do that, I simply gave him the bill from my table, and suggested he require them to pay it.

He grinned, widely. "I like that idea. I like that idea, A LOT!"

I left.

And these kids are the future? Imagine who those little monsters will be, when they get old enough to understand that THEIR parents saddled them with the legacy of 'Universal Health Care'. Maybe it IS a form of justice. I need to give that avenue some additional thought.

P.Blacksmith

Long time gone

Well, I've done it, again.

I left this blog un-updated for several months.

Last August I took a vacation. On this vacation I stopped by to see my family, on my ride to the Smokey Mountains. This is when I learned how ill members of my family are.

So, in October, I moved from OKC to a suburb of Indianapolis to help. I left my good job at Dell, sold off or gave away a lot of what I owned, and put my blacksmithing equipment into storage.

Here, in Indiana, I find myself lonely, but not alone; unemployed, but working; broke, but surviving; depressed, but fighting it.

So, in light of the limitation of decent jobs in the area for a person with my skills, I've started my own IT services business. I'm even offering remote services, at this time. So, if you have needs, or know someone who does, please feel free to let me know. Mention this blog to get a discount.

My 'corporate' website is 'http://www.L4SMB.com'

P.Blacksmith

"When will it END?" cried a mother, for a TV news crew.

"When will it END?" cried a mother, for a TV news crew. "When will the government take the guns off the streets?"

What a GREAT soundbite and video clip that was for the local TV news station. A impoverished woman of color, with a quietly sobbing child on her hip gave the camera her all. Really superb opportunity to get that personal community touch. But how about some truth?

Item 1. That mother on the TV was crying over the loss of her teenaged ( 20 years old is teenaged?) son.
Item 2. That same son was shot by police.
Item 3. That same son shot and killed a 16 year old (white) girl who was (allegedly) pregnant with his child.
Item 4. Before killing the girlfriend, that same son shot and killed the girl's father who was trying to keep them apart.
Item 5. Earlier the same day that same son was bonded out of the local lock up for rape charges. She was only 15 when they had sex, at a party, where he provided her with drugs and alcohol.
Item 6. That same son was a 'good boy' and did not deserve to be 'shot down like a dog' by police.
Item 7. Police fired upon that same son, after he shot at them while running out the door of the house where he murdered the father and girl. The responding officers were men of color.
Item 8. The gun that same 'good boy' son used was reported stolen from a house 4 months prior. That same 'good boy' was a questioned suspect in the burglary.

OK, so here we have a scum bag, getting a 15 year old girl drunk/drugged. Having sex with her. Creating a child. Accused of raping her. Arrested. Bonded out. Retrieves a stolen weapon. Kills the protective father. Kills the pregnant girl. Shoots at police while trying to avoid arrest. And is finally shot down by the police.

Yet he was a 'good boy'?

Yet the government needs to take guns off the streets? Stolen guns, no less.

I think someone is in for a rude awakening. Provided she has the intellect to actually, you know, UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF CONSEQUENCES FOR ONE'S ACTIONS!

Obama Called a Liar

During the President's presentation, tonight, he was called a liar by South Carolina's Joe Wilson. (http://www.examiner.com/x-15870-Populist-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Joe-Wilsons-apology-is-meaningless) Mr. Wilson's outburst came while President Obama was stating that the Health Care Reform would not insure illegal aliens.

Mr. Wilson's political career is probably over. And this is a shame. He has apologized for his emotional outburst to Obama and to the joint House and Congress. This, also, is a shame.

Even if this was just an emotional outburst, it still took a spine to call out the President in such a fashion. And being called out in such a fashion, emotionally, loudly and publicly should happen to them all, MUCH more often.

I've made no bones about it, I disagree with this healthcare bill. Yes, I agree healthcare IS too expensive. And I agree that there are many who don't have healthcare and need it. I do not, in ANY WAY consider good health or healthcare a RIGHT. That is like saying a good salary or income or college degree is a RIGHT. People need to EARN what they have and what the get. Healthcare is a business. A very lucrative one, at that, as shown by the balance sheets and shareholder reports of insurance companies.

The healthcare I have is paid for by me and my employer. It is something I have EARNED and becuase I have earned it, I respect it. I don't abuse it. I don't go to the ER for splinter in my finger or because I have a flu bug with a fever. Instead I see a doctor. Those that use the ER's as their primary care physicians are a very large part of WHY healthcare IS so high. Those same ER's have to be resupplied and continually staffed but not everyone that goes there pay for their services received. So, when you or I go, we end up paying for them as well as the services we need.

This evening I was asked WHY those people are not paying and I suggested a list of possible (probable) causes. They ranged from the homeless who have no other means of getting medical care to those people who CHOOSE not to work and live off the goverment's hand-outs, instead. This is just another symptom of the entitlement generations that have been created in our society in the last 50 or so years. More and more people, every year want more and more for 'free'. It is free to them, because they believe they are entitled to it. It is not free to me, because I have to work to pay for their freebies.

And Joe Wilson had the strength of character, if only for a moment to call it as it he saw it. Granted, it would have been MUCH better if he had run down front with the pages of the bill the proved Obama was a liar. Healthcare reform would then be dead. But unfortunately, he caved, he apologized and fell back into lock step with the regime. He was re-educated. He was corrected for his errors in a swift and very Orwellian manner.

P.Blacksmith

There are times I DO enjoy a good fight!

3 months ago (June 12th, 2009), there was an explosion in the laundry facility of my apartment complex. This explosion, caused by a faulty, coin operated, gas drier, damaged the building and the centralized water heaters That provided water to entire complex for all tenants. Electric water heaters have been installed and are not functioning, correctly (they were not designed for this type of load!). Electric water heaters are being put in, because the gas company will not turn the gas back on, until the building as a whole is fixed! Also, the boiler system for the entire complex is in this same building. And it runs off of gas, as well.

Because of this, I have been taking my daily showers at a truck stop at the cost of $10.00 each and a 20 mile round trip.

So $10/day + (20 miles/day at $0.55/mile) is $21.00 a day it costs me for personal hygiene. At 30 days a month, I am paying $630.00 for access to a service required by the Oklahoma State Tenant and Landlord laws as being available at all times in reasonable volumes. My rent is only $610 and month!

So, tomorrow I deliver the below message to the office manager as well as put a copy in the post, signature receipt required. I have pulled the names out to keep the guilty from getting spammed and slammed. I want them to be able to continue conducting business.

----

I have thought long and hard on what to say in this message. And everything I have come up with is so negative, so harsh that I have continually decided to not deliver it, until today. Today I have had my fill, and it is time to deliver this information to you. I will provide a copy to the local office manager, and also send a copy, via USPS mail to the corporate offices. These are the actions an attorney friend agreed as reasonable and qualify as good faith efforts as I attempt to rectify these issues. Sending a letter with my grievances and proposed resolutions, before engaging in legal recourse is a sign of positive cooperation.

Item one: I have been accused of owing back rent. I have one payment to make of approximately $400.00. As I have told the local office person, I am uncomfortable paying on any supposedly owed rent from before the first of the year because of a lack of evidence. I have been informed of several issues with the 'books' of CDV, and their lack of accuracy because of misuse or mis-management. With this level of mis-management of funds, I'm not even certain, beyond all doubt, that I owed the back rent I have agreed to pay for the year 2009. At the time I spoke with the local office manager, I agreed I had probably missed a few payments and agreed to pay the reported back rent of 2009. Discussion of any fees and charges due for 2008 was had, but no unquestionable proof has ever been provided, just changing numbers.

Item two: For the last THREE MONTHS we have not had hot water.

Item three: For the last THREE MONTHS we have not had an on site Laundry Facility

Item four: For the last THREE MONTHS, the only information about the situation has been rumor and word of mouth between the tenants. Management is NOT keeping us informed about what is going on. To management this may be just another property, it may be just a a job they are at for less than banker hours every week. To me, this is my HOME. I LIVE here.

Item five: For the last THREE MONTHS, I have been driving 20 miles round trip and paying $10.00, every day so I can take a shower at the truck stops west of town. I have not asked CDV or Vanguard to cover these costs, because I have tried to be patient. That patience has now expired.

Item six: For the last THREE MONTHS, I have had to have laundry done elsewhere. The on-site laundry was an amenity that permitted me to still do other things while the laundry was being done. Now I'm paying considerably more to use a laundromat facility AND get nothing else done, during the process.

Item seven: From the Oklahoma Bar Association Web Site (http://www.okbar.org/public/brochures/tenbroc.htm)
Q: What services am I entitled to?
A: (1) Except in the case of a single family residence, your landlord must keep all common areas used by more than one tenant safe and clean.
(2) Your landlord must keep your premises in a safe, liveable condition.
(3) Your landlord must keep all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and other facilities and appliances in good and safe working order, unless otherwise agreed to by a "conspicuous" writing independent of your rental agreement.
(4) Your landlord must, if your dwelling is other than a one or two-family residence, provide trash receptacles and frequent removal, unless this is provided by a government entity.
(5)Your landlord must supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat, unless you live in a single-family dwelling or have a separate metered utility connection for these services.
(Italic emphasis is mine)

Item eight: Again from the from the Oklahoma Bar Association Web Site (http://www.okbar.org/public/brochures/tenbroc.htm)
Q: What do I do if my landlord does not make necessary repairs or provide necessary services?
A: You must give your landlord written notice of any needed repairs to keep your living quarters safe and healthy (It is recommended that written notice be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, when possible).
Your choices (if the defect affects safety or health):
(1) You may tell your landlord in the notice that if repairs are not made in 14 days you will move out in 30 days after the notice and your lease will be over.
(2) If the repair costs less than $100, you may tell the landlord that you will have the repair made yourself and subtract the cost or value from your rent if the landlord does not repair in 14 days.
(3) If an essential service fails due to the landlord's fault or willful act, you can, at your option, by giving written notice:
(a) End your lease and move immediately.
(b) Move somewhere else temporarily. You will not owe the landlord rent while you are living in substitute housing.
(c) Sue the landlord for damages based on the difference between what the apartment or house is worth without the essential service and what you are required to pay under the lease.
(d) Make your own arrangements for the service and deduct the cost from your rent.
(4) If the conditions are so bad that there is an imminent threat to health or safety which is not remedied as soon as conditions require, you may give written notice of the problem and end your lease immediately.
(5) If a fire or other emergency makes your living place unsafe, you may end your lease by moving out and giving written notice within one week.
None of these rights are yours if the damage is caused by you or your family or pet, or a person or animal on the premises with your consent.
(Again, italic emphasis is mine)

For the last three months, I have tried to be patient. There has been no formal communications regarding the 'missing' services. There have been no formal, proactive communications on when the services will be restored.
Given these options, through lack of action and communication, I here by, formally, exercise my rights as listed above.

June saw 18 days without hot water.
July saw 31 days without hot water.
August, another 31 days without hot water.
For September we are at 9 days and counting. At the current expectation, as set by historic precedent, neither hot water nor lease covered amenities will be returned and functional by the end of the month. The same calculations will be used at the end of September to determine rent payment due for October.

18 + 31 + 31 is days. That is $800.00 for showers, alone.
80 trips to the truck stops at 20 miles, round trip, chargeable at 55 cents per mile (http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/tax_calculators/rate_tables/standard_mileage_rates.html) is 80 trips times 20 miles times $0.55 per mile is another $880.00.
This brings a to date total expense to me of $1680.00.
I have no way of quantifying the expenses related to not having hot water in the kitchen for the purposes of cooking and cleaning. This has driven me to eating out more, rather than purchasing food at the grocery and cooking for myself.
Rents paid for June, July and August were paid in good faith that the services would be restored quickly. I now call those rents due for return to me as caused by breach of contract. As demonstrated above, the costs to me, excluding inconvenience, is $20.00 a day ($10 for the shower rental plus mileage). With a rent of $610.00 per month, I should owe no rent for the months of July or August and a pro-rated refund for rent of June.

My proposal is
a) All 'back rents', prior to the loss of services and other monies due are nullified and considered paid in full.
b) Rents paid in good faith for June, July and August of 2009 are refunded to me, immediately ($1830.00).
c) Reimbursement of the above documented out of pocket expenses related to the lack of hot water in the complex. ($1680.00)
d) Rents for September and months going forward will be considered paid in full, until such time as services are restored, because of the daily expenses I incur due to the lack of this critical service.
e) Amenities such as a working and viable laundry facility on property, as well as properly functioning dishwashers (which require hot water to work effectively) must also be restored to full functionality as they represent components of our contracted agreement and have been functional through precedent.

From my perspective, there is no room for negotiation on this. This is a breech of the leasing contract. I appreciate all patience that has been extended to me, during my time as a tenant at multiple Vanguard properties. I have been patient, and I am providing a reasonable response to an otherwise untenable situation. I have neither the funds nor interest in moving. If these services are not fully restored by the end of September and the property brought back up to the same level of service as when I contracted to living here, I will have no choice but to seek another location to live, and seek additional legal recourse for the relocation and related expenses. I will have to consider this an action forced upon me by Vanguard's inaction and seek legal redress of all related funds.

To summarize, any outstanding 'debt' CDV/Vanguard state I owe is considered paid in full. Rents paid for June, July and August are to be refunded, in full. Reimbursement is to be made of the above calculated expenses incurred. Rent for September and months going forward will be waived, in consideration of the daily expense of alternative solutions required for personal hygiene.

Should you determine CDV and Vanguard no longer desire my business, all above mentioned funds become due upon notification of such desire. This refund will be required to secure other living arrangements and cover deposits and other relocation expenses. Failure to provide this refund while attempting to force me out will result in my seeking legal recourse as the only avenue available to me.

The situation with the lack of required services must be addressed. The tenants and governmental agencies providing for the residents on assistance should receive weekly updates as to the progress and expected return of required services (hot water) and the previously provided on site laundry.

If you have any questions or need to speak with me regarding this, please leave a message at (phone number removed to protect ME). I will return your call to schedule a meeting at the Vanguard offices with members of Vanguard management that fits my availability.

Sincerely,

----

I sincerely doubt I will ever see that $3510.00 I have demonstrated they owe me, but I WILL fight for it. I will fight VERY hard for it!

Family comes first, but keeping a job makes it A LOT easier to do!

While on vacation, I visited family. Primarily my Dad. His best friend, came over that evening and we had a great visit. Discussing politics, society and computers. I really love that type of visit. The next day, Dad and I went to his parent's house. While he was doing other things I sat chatting with my grand parents. Both are in their 80's and having issues. My living so far away, I don't see the gradual progression, I get the big shocks when I visit. This was one of those times. My Grandfather was telling me that I should stop by his sister's place in Kentucky. I had not seen her for over 20 years so I was a bit uncertain. But my Grandmother, whom I can not disobey, told me to go there. Then she started telling me how to find it. We sat there and visited, discussed the placed in Kentucky and so on for a good while. Then she turned and asked me who I was. This devastated me. It took me a few moments to understand her question. When I did, I realized it was the Alzheimer's. As GrandDad was telling her who I was, and I listened to them talk about me, my lineage and history, it dawned on me, I no longer knew these people. And they knew more of me, than they actually knew me. And it was too late to change that. However, what I could do was to be there and learn who they are. Speak with them, support them and so on.

As I continued my vacation, I did stop in to see my GrandDad's older sister. Myrtle. Myrtle is a little spit fire rolled up in live TNT sticks. She lives mostly alone. Her daughter lives downstairs in her own apartment of the house. And we spoke of her baby brother (GrandDad) and what was going on with him. His Alzheimer's is not as advanced as Grandmother's. But he also has Senile Dementia. The things Myrtle was telling me about their last visit just had my heart and mind spinning.

After this short visit I continued on my way, enjoying the roads and the sites of the Cumberland Lake area, and then on down into Tennessee and the Daniel Boone National Forest. But I could not get away from the thoughts of my Grandparents. Neither of them is really able to care for themselves, anymore. That is why they are going to move in with my Dad. And he is not really doing much better. He's not got that 'old people's disease' as Grandad calls it. But instead, he's got very bad asthma due to a victory over lung cancer. He's also got a busted up back. He get's along just fine, for himself. But I'm worried about him and his parents. I'm also worried about losing some of that history they have been through. I'm also worried, probably most worried, about my Dad and I not knowing each other.

As a teen ager, I put my Dad through hell and back. As a young adult, I often just cut off ties with family as I tried to figure things out for myself, and only called when I wanted something. Now, I'm in my 40's and Dad and I talk usually at least once a week. He sends me e-mails, almost daily.

As I rode I came to the realization, there is really only ONE WAY to improve this situation. I need to move back to the Indianapolis area. A tall order, given the state of the economy and the employment market. Tomorrow, I speak with my manager to try to start making arrangements to work remotely, at least 3 weeks of the month from Indy. That will put me nearer to family and able to help my Dad with the variety of things he needs help with. Dad and I discussed this. He was adamant that I not do this unless it is for me. This is for ME.

I realized that, on the road, somewhere between Nashville and Memphis. More than once I started to turn north, to 'head home'. I thought long and hard about my responsibilities. Not just to my family and my friends, but also to myself and my employer. Once past Memphis, I started putting pieces of the puzzle together. What would I need to do to make this happen, etc.

The biggest obstacle is employment. I can't rent my own place and have gas money to do the things I need to do without a job. I've looked at the Indianapolis area market, and well, for high tech jobs such as I do, they have VERY few openings. So my plan is to meet with my manager, tomorrow for a regularly scheduled meeting and open a dialogue on performing my job remotely. All the tools and technologies are in place. I've got the equipment I need to do the work out of my home. All I really need is a good, reliable high-speed internet link. And his permission.

Here is hoping I can sell myself and my ideas, well enough to make a very important change. I don't want to leave this job, but I don't see that I have any option, but to get back to Indianapolis. And at this point, maybe working 3rd shift, night auditor for a hotel again will get me there. I'm hoping it will not come to that.

Share a warm thought if you can. This might get a bit rough.

Thanks


P.Blacksmith

Selling myself

For almost two decades I have worked in the IT industry. I have enjoyed a wide variety of jobs where I started building machines for the a neighborhood white box vendor to becoming the IT resource for multiple dot-com start-ups in Silicon Valley. And now I answer phones, providing tech support for Enterprise customers. I spend my 9 hour shifts fixing what other people own. Every day I am repairing something that another 'paper qualified' person put in place. Rarely am I engaged to repair something that is broken after it has been correctly installed and maintained. I am doing their jobs for them. And the ones I really enjoy are the consultants that call us to fix what they installed and are being paid many more dollars per hour for than I am. Yet I am his resource to maintain his customers.

What is the difference between those people and my self?

A good question that I spent a heavy part of my vacation trying to figure out. Here is what I came up with: I'm too experienced and not flexible enough in this market. I have worked myself into a niche market that is all but closed up. For years I have been paying a portion of my taxes to help ensure that the off-shore outsourcing is profitable to employers because of the federal tax kickbacks the employers get. Now I'm competing with persons who have degrees that I never made the time to get. They have papers that suggest they have the skills an employer wants and needs. I have the experience to actually do the work.

So, again, what am I missing?

In a word: Salesmanship. I am not a salesman. I have a hard time with salesmen. I call a vendor for something I need, I ask for their website. I then bargain hunt. HARD! Then I call back, armed with those details. If they will not provide me the item I am looking for (or like item) within 5%, I move on. 5% of the price is what I consider a reasonable difference for having it NOW, rather than ordering one in. Their S&H charges are spread out across several items in an order, not a single item.

Example: I recently replaced my failing motorcycle. I had cash for the dealership that had the bike I wanted. I sat down with the sales guy, and started the haggle process. He quoted a price and I countered. He excused himself to speak with his supervisor. I told him, then, to get the very bottom dollar the supervisor would go for, because I don't have all day. He came back with a different number. I again countered. He said he had to ask, again. I left. He did not follow instructions of me, the customer. He was prepared to waste my time. I understand the process. Get the customer so wrapped up and invested in the purchase they will finally commit to a price the dealership wants, rather than what is in budget.

I, honestly, could never do the other side of that job. I don't sell, well. I'm not into marketing. I don't trust it. Marketing has proven, to me, to be a series of lies, mistruths and hype that usually over sells an item or service. And leaves a company with unhappy customers, but a dollar today, rather than being honest, selling a reasonable and quality product at a righteous price and earning 20 dollars tomorrow. That is what marketing means to me.

So, how does a person such as myself sell himself into a different job? Especially one across state lines where he has no business contacts, but needs to find employment there for family reasons?

P.Blacksmith

A funny thing happened on the way here, today …

Well, not so much a 'funny' but an interesting.

I am on vacation. For my vacation, I am riding my motorcycle to a long list of places. On day 4 of this wonderful vacation, I was in the Lake Cumberland area of Kentucky.

I spent some time seeing the various sites and 'reconnecting' with an area that has a heavy ancestral relationship to me. It is an odd thing to describe. The last time I was in this part of the country was in the summer of 1986. Anyway, back to my story.

I left the bike at one of those scenic pull offs and went for a brief walk along a path. This path took me to the top of a knoll that had been cleared of trees, some time ago. The clearing on this knoll was maybe 50 yards across, roughly egg shaped with the wider part of the egg to the south east.

As I stood there, slowly turning in a circle, I felt as though my boots were getting tighter as my toes seems to feel as though they were growing. My legs and arms grew stiff and felt to be cracking and splitting along their lengths. My ankles were wide apart but the space between seems to be filling in, as well.

While this was happening, the sky was shifting and changing. The sun was but a streak across the sky, occasionally blinking on what I knew to represent cloudy days. I can describe it no further than to say that I was suddenly growing into a mighty oak tree on that spot. I could see the space around there change as the road grew backwards until there was no road. Just land and hills and the clearing I was standing in was still there, with just this lone oak tree standing alone.

And the event was over in the span of just a few breaths, interrupted by the screams of someone's annoying children. I don't know what it was, but it was wild and weird and excitingly scary, all at the same time. I must think on the meaning of this. If all goes well, tomorrow I get to meet with a local Cherokee shaman. Perhaps I will share the 'vision', if this is what it was with him.

Good night from Robbinsville, NC.

P.Blacksmith

Kettle meet Pot

From Slashdot comes this little technology nugget:

"From the BBC, 'Three technology heavyweights are joining a coalition to fight Google's attempt to create what could be the world's largest virtual library. Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo will sign up to the Open Book Alliance being spearheaded by the Internet Archive. They oppose a legal settlement that could make Google the main source for many online works. "Google is trying to monopolise the library system," the Internet Archive's founder Brewster Kahle said.'"

Pasted from


So, Google is trying to monopolize a library system where books and information will be freely available? And Microsoft is against this? Microsoft who has been sued how many times for monopolistic practices? Amazon, who sells books online? And Yahoo, Google's primary search engine competitor? Like ANY of them would not be doing the same, if they had found a way to make a buck at it!


P.Blacksmith

It is time ...

It is time for me to take some time for ME. Yes, it is vacation time! WOOHOO!

I work 3rd shift. It is 10PM, at the moment. My vacation starts at 0600.

8 hours.
640 minutes.
38400 seconds.

And already the phones in the support center are ringing non-stop.

ANYWAY, back to my vacation plans. (THIS is the REAL reason to have a blog, right? To brag about something? At least that is what MSM says. None of US could be journalists. I agree. Most bloggers I know and read have MORALS!) So, at 0600 (or as soon as I get off work) I will be jumping on my motorcycle and heading out of town. First leg is OKC to Indy. That is about 750 miles. On my 'new' bike. OH! I have not bragged about THAT, yet, have I?

The bike: The motorcycle is a part of my own personal stimulus program. My old bike, a '96 Honda Shadow ACE 1100, was a nice ride and the Shadows have long been a solid and stable platform. But at 160K+ miles on it, it was time to trade in. So the 'new' bike is a used '02 Honda VTX 1800. I've had CARS with smaller engines than this thing has. It is larger, longer, louder, stronger, faster, etc, etc, etc… And I'm loving it!

Anyway, I got up early today. The last week I've had these three piles growing in the living room. Things I MUST take, things it would be nice to take and the 'if possible' category. Today I managed to make a 4th pile and used that to load down the bike. All of this IS necessary, you see, because I'm going to camp for a few days in the Smokey Mountains. Appalachia. My personal 'motherland'. In particular, I'm heading to Deal's Gap (http://www.dealsgap.com) for a ride there. 318 curves in 11 miles. So, first a couple of days with my Dad in Indy, then a couple in the mountains and a couple of days getting back to OKC. That will pretty much take up my entire vacation. Close to 2500 miles, by map for the route. That is a lot of saddle time.

Saddle time like this is good for thinking! Solo thinking. Self identity, career, desires, self-image, etc. All those things to ensure I don't have that mid-life crisis and melt-down, before 60. I'm aiming for 60 to my 'mid-life' crisis.

But, anyway, Yes, I will be blogging and twitting (paganblacksmith) on the road. And I DO intend to upload photos from 'heaven on earth'. I've been fortunate to have been many places on this little dirty blue-green marble. But there is no place I've ever been like Appalachia.

More to follow in the next few days.


P.Blacksmith

Guns near the President

Ok, here is my WTF article for the week. And I’ve got a few things to spit out about it.

“Dozen Armed With Guns Protest Obama Speech
About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech.”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/18/dozen-protesters-guns-outside-obama-speech/

So a bunch of people go to see the President speak. In the designated visitors section, were several patriotic law abiding individuals, exercising their right to open carry. The police spoke with them, everyone was legal.

AND NO ONE SHOT AT THE PRESIDENT!

Let me repeat that for Paul Helmke, President of the gang I call “The Brady Bunch”.
Not one of those armed protestors did anything to threaten the President, the Presidential detail or other civilians.

The Secret Service spokesman, Ed Donovan, even stated those armed protestors did nothing to change the game plan for the President’s security. The Secret Service was not worried enough about armed protestors to change their plans. Imagine that!
People exercising their right to speak, to rally together and protest. They continued to exercise their 2nd Amendment right to bear firearms.

President Obama is our currently elected leader. I may not like him. I may not like his policies, his plans or his czars and advisors. But I have no desire to see ill or hurt befall him or his family. The damage such an act would have on this nation would ensure the end of the Republic. I hope Mr. Obama lives a long life, outside of his installment as the current POTUS. I also hope that his tenure as President is short, before he tears this great nation apart.

P.Blacksmith

Last month I was called a bigot.  I was called a racist.  I was told that I had no compassion for my fellow man.  All of this stemming from an 'interview' with a friend of a friend who was doing a paper on 'Social Attitudes'.

The discussion went kind of like this:

Me: So, what do you want to know?  What are we going to discuss?

Her: I've got a list of topics I want your opinion and comments on.  I will then write about your opinions and either support them or argue them in my paper.

Me:  Ok.  Why me?  You don't know me.  Until today, we had never met. 

Her: I was discussing this assignment with <mutual friend> and it was recommended I use you as my subject for this interview.  I think she suggested you because she thinks you are smart, or something.

Me:  Ahh.  Well let's get this started, I need to be at work in an hour and a half.

Her: OK.  What do you know about the healthcare bill before Congress?

Me: I know it is there.  I believe it is a mistake.  I know there is no way for President Obama to keep his promises about taxes and reform if that bill becomes law.  I know that bill will not help the healthcare system, but instead destroy it.  This country has the best healthcare possible, in the entire world.  Canada has a lottery to determine if you can see the doctor this month.  The PM of Australia came to this country to get the care he needed for a prostate issue, because it was not available in Australia.  I know that right now, I could go to the hospital and get care if I needed it.  Without insurance.  Yes, I will get billed for it, but I could still get the care I needed.  This country has the smartest and best doctors in the world.  There are two reasons for this.  The first is that here a doctor gets paid a market value for their work.  Specialists get paid even more.  And the doctor is, oftentimes, self-employed.  Another small business paying taxes and helping our overall economy.  By changing to socialized medicine, which is what this bill is about, we, as a population, take away the incentive of people to become doctors.  The brightest and the best will find other fields to work in, where they can profit the most from what they do.  The second reason for having the best medical care available is becuase of those doctors who practice medicine as a calling.  These are the people that care about others so much that they give of themselves to help others.  These are the doctors you see opening 'free clinics' in places where there is economic depression.  These are the doctors that are part of Doctors without Borders and other similar programs.  Socialized medicine will tell these great people who give of themselves so freely who they can help and how much help they can give.  This healthcare bill will stifle their ability to give of themselves.

Her:  So you think Doctors are either in healthcare to become rich or play God?

Me:  That is not what I said.  But with some of the doctors I have seen through the years, that comment applies to a few.  Look, medicine is hard work.  Dealing with sick people or injured people can really test the mettle of a person.  There are two rewards for that, money and pride.  Have you seen how much it costs for medical school these days?  After 6 to 12 years of advanced study these doctors can have $250,000 in school debt to pay off.  That debt has to be paid off, somehow.  Taking pride in helping others is it's own payment. 

Her:  Ok. Next question:  Where do you stand on the illegal immigrant issue?

Me:  If they are here, illegally, they should be returned to where ever they came from.  I know and understand that most are good people, here to get jobs and to live a better life.  But I have to ask myself, how much respect can they have for this country when they have essentially "break in" to get here.  It is my opinion they should be rounded up and sent 'home'.  There are rules, laws and processes for how honest people can enter our nation.  If they will not respect those laws, how can they be expected to respect others such as laws against rape, theft, murder?  I'm all for immigration.  My ancestors were immigrants, but they got here, legally.  I would ask that any person wanting to come to our nation enter legally.  If they want to stay here, they need to work, here.  They need to support the nation by being an American, not a 'Mexican-American' or 'Hispanic-American'.  They should become a part of the whole, not set themselves to be seperate.  That means learning to speak English, participating in our society and respecting our laws.

Her:  You only mentioned 'Mexicans' and 'Hispanics'.  Do you think no one else is crossing our borders, illegally?

Me:  No, but we DO have an open border with Canada.  Of the Canadians that come here, most go back home, after they get whatever medical treatment they came here for.  The same medical treatment their socialized medicine solution either denied them or scheduled them for, so far out they will die before they can get the treatment.

Her:  So you are a racist.  You think the Canadians come here only for medicine and not for jobs because they are white?

Me:  I am not a racist.  I only want people entering into this nation do so legally, respecting our laws.  I only want those same people to be American's.  As American's we have the freedoms to be who and what we want to be.  We can be a success or a failure or just skate by.  We can go to school, get jobs doing things we like, or even set up our own business, if that is what we want to do.  We have LEGAL immigrants coming to this country and doing any or all of those things, every single day.  To be free is hard work.  To be an American, a true American means to work hard and to be a part of the nation.

Her:  I already know the answer, but I need your comments for my paper, where do you stand on the gun problems in this country?

Me:  Actually, I agree.  There is a 'gun problem' in this country.  There are too many laws and rules regarding 'gun control'.  Actually, there are just too many laws in this country.  There was a time when a person did not need the permission of the government to protect themselves.  Now?  Now, in most states, someone else has to determine if I have the need to protect myself.  The Brady Bunch are peddling fear without seeing the bigger picture.  As long as the people are not aloowed or are restricted on having guns, then crime will be higher.  Look at England.  A story I read a few years ago stated how a man went to prison, for life, because he shot two people.  This person was a farmer.  The two people had broken into his home, one of them had a pistol.  The farmer had an old shotgun.  He shot both those men who broke into his home and threatened him and his family.  The farmer was sentenced to life in prison, and because the burglars were hurt, by a gun the farmer was not supposed to have, they were released.  Tell me, how is that just?  After their release, one of the burglars stated they were going to kill the farmer and his family.  If they had known he had that shotgun, they would not have gone into that house.  We have too many laws in this nation that take away or limit the rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  I don't want to be that English farmer.  And I want to be dead, even less.  So I will always have, find or make a way to protect me and mine.  I believe that is part of being an American, too.  I don't take from others.  I earn what I have and intend to keep it. 

Her:  I thought you were one of those gun nuts.

Me:  If you thought I was all these bad things, then why interview me?  So far you have called me a bigot and a racist.  You insinuate I am some kind of radical gun nut because I believe in protecting what I earn.

Her:  This is not about me, it is supposed to be an interview of you.  Shall we continue?  What is your stance on the war?

Me:  Which one?  Iraq or Afganistan?

Her:  They are the same war. 

Me:  No, they are not.  The war in Afghanistan has been going on a bit longer than the one in Iraq.  Just a few months longer, but longer, none the less.  Regardless, my stance on the wars is actually quite simple.  We have taken the fight to 'them'.  The fight is on their soil.  We have had no more major bombings or terrorist attacks on our nation since we took the battle to them.  I think there are better ways to have fought parts of the wars, I think our supposed leaders have used the wars to further their own gains.  And I think the funding for the wars should NEVER have been a political ace card.  As long as Al Quieda exists, they will be forever a threat to the peace of this nation.  I believe the people who are Al Quieda do not represent the Muslim world as a whole, but are zealots.  Islam is not, in my opinion, a religion of peace.  Nor is Christianity.  Look at the atrocities committed by both over the centuries.  The proof is in their actions, not in their words.  As for them being the 'same war' that is inaccurate.  Former President Bush went to war in Afghanistan because of the terrorist attacks on the US.  That includes 9/11 and the attacks on the USS Cole and various US buildings in other countries.  The war in Iraq was initiated to put an end to support Hussein was giving Al Queida and other terrorist groups.  Hussein was removed from power as a means of providing stability to that part of the world.  Much like the guy in Iran, he wanted more than he had.  He killed his own people by the thousands in acts of genocide.  He maintained an iron fist rule where the laws applied only in degrees.  The closer a person was to him, more immune they were to law, order and justice.

Her:  Last question:  What is your religion and why?

Me:  I'm pagan.  Not wiccan.  Not Christian.  But Pagan.  In the original Latin, pagan meant ignorant or uneducated.  Over time and ignorance, the city people started equating that ignorance with not knowing their God.  And in their efforts to expand the Roman Catholic empire, pagans were looked upon as being simple.  In reality, the church started adopting many of the pagan elements into their religion.  Easter is an example.  Easter is a celebration of life and renewal.  And oddly enough it is celebrated about the same time as Ostara, the pagan celebration of rebirth of the Sun.  This occurs on the Vernal Equinox, when the day and the night are of equal length.  The Church decided they were not going to beat the pagans into Christianity, so instead, they created holidays and adopted symbols to fold the pagans in.  Look at Christmas for that one.  The birth date of Christ.  The giving of gifts and celebrating family. Then look into the spirit of Yule.  Yule was to celebrate the birth of the Divine Child conceived on Beltane in early May.  The winter solstice.  The shortest day and longest night of the year.  Once past the winter solstice, the year could get no worse or longer.  The nights start to shorten and the promise of spring comes to us.  I consider myself a 'Militant Pagan' or a Universalist.  I am militant in that I demand to be allowed to worship if and how I see fit, as long as I cause no harm or limit the same right of another.  I am pagan, because I want peace, and the other 'major' religions do not offer that, because they all preach love and acceptance, but then preach exclusion, separation and violence.  Abortion and Gay marriage point both of those out in stark contrast to what is preached in the bible and by Christ.  Being pagan lets me live my life by my morals and I hae to report to no one but myself for my thoughts and what is in my heart.

Her:  OK, I think I have enough.  I obviously have very different points of view than you have.  It is a shame you are wrong on so many points.  You are a smart person.  I just don't understand how you can be so smart and yet so wrong on everything.

Me:  Well, if smart equals right, and I am as smart as you say I am, perhaps your opinions are wrong.  Of course, if smart equals right, then wrong equals what?  Dumb? 

Yesterday I was contacted by the young lady who interviewed me to tell me the grade on her paper.  Evidently the instructor of her sociology class gave out two grades per paper.  One was for the student and one for the person interviewed.  This student received a failing grade on the paper because her opinions were based upon emotions and ignorance and could not be supported with logical discourse.  The instructor also saw fit to award a perfect score to me, after listening to the tape of the interview.  Even though we had differing stands on these points of the interview, my comments were well stated and clearly supported.

Maybe I should go back to school.  Hmmm.  Definitely something to think about.

P.Blacksmith