Our new English language A matter of (dis)respect.

One of the nice things about blogging is that I get to go on about stuff and if you or anyone else doesn't like it, simply click and my ruminations are gone, kaput, off the screen. It is, of course, the same with any other part of social networking too. However, on such places as Face book and the like, the postings are sudden and take me by surprise. Occasionally it becomes unsettling, like the ridiculous bantering back and forth regarding political positions or candidates. I will not participate in that stuff. But then it comes to certain ways of verbal expression that has changed more and more of late, especially much to my surprise, among people of age. Apparently, class is no longer something to be desired. throughout my life there were certain words that belonged amongst a select group of acquaintances or on bathroom walls. More specifically, vulgarity. Yeah, I'm as guilty as many in telling of crude jokes or making a vulgar statement now and then but I've never been good at speaking vulgarity in groups, in front of women or children or generally in public at all.

)Wow! Sometimes I even surprise myself at how many words I use to make a point.)

Anyway, it appears certain rules of good taste, class or integrity no longer apply and those lines are blurred when posting on social sites. vulgarity is becoming more common by the day and seems to be accepted by parents and grandparents of their younger generations. I always believed that as a person of age it was my obligation to say when certain behaviour or speech was disturbing or inappropriate. Recently I have been told to mind my own business and to quit acting "holier than thou!" By the parent! The law against swearing in front of women and children was overturned in favor of free speech. Lately, I'm thinking certain free speech is disgusting.

Now I can understand why so many teachers complain about how disrespectful they are treated by parents.

Respect for senior wisdom

Oh my goodness! From what I read here, the last posting was on August 15th 2015 or there a bouts. It sure doesn't feel like that. However, what with all the happenngs I can certainly see where I lost track.

The second book in my annual series of children's stories "The Story of Klause And Gretchen" was edited, illustrated, completed, printed and put on sale between September and November. They are sold at Springrove Variety in Wyoming Michigan on 36th Street. Hundreds of copies were sold and the proceeds went to help Mary Free Bed Foundation., Santa Claus Girls, St. John Vianney Foundation and The American Cancer Society. Thanks to everyone who purchased a copy and helped so many deserving programs. Many more people also purchased copies of last years book: "All About Don." and those proceeds went to them too.

In October I received a complete knee replacement and aside for some inconvenience and discomfort it went very well indeed. Within 3 days of coming home I was off regular pain medication except for an occasion or three following physical therapy. I have taken not even an aspirin since 45 days following surgery. It is hard to imagine the pain of the previous 12 years is gone that quickly. Wonderful! I must say, my surgeon: Dr. Alosh of Spectrum Health and my physical therapist: Russ also of Spectrum were incredible in their skills and knowledge.

Which brings me to my subject of today. I just spent two hours interviewing a pair of applicants for a certain position of responsibility. The position requires insight and a sense of understanding of others on their level. Unfortunately, neither of them fits that criteria. In each interview I was bombarded with huge volumes of their knowledge and abilities of "making things happen!" for my business. They were not experienced in the services we offer but both assumed that there really was not much to know and they could master it in short order. I am a man of age, obviously and have been performig these services since the mid 1950's. It was explained to me that it was time that my (very successful) business should be brought to the next level with the emphasis on sales and up selling rather than the customer interviews we perform now. No where in either interview was I actually asked what my specific goals were. One of them put it this way: "You've spent a lifetime in the past. I'll bring this business into the future." Stated without ever asking me a question other than how much the position paid.

I may be thin skinned but I got the opinion that they figured I was too old and senile to know how to run my own business. Right or wrong with that assumption, I felt that I was seeing a major problem that I face more often than I like. Many young professionals do not have any respect for the wisdom that comes with age. But, maybe that's just me being who I am and remembering that I'd probably have been a lot less successful in business and in personal life if it had not been for those older folks sharing their wisdom with me.  I fully intend on returning to blogging a great deal more if you find my old guy words of interest.

Income equality

Over and over again I continue to read about politicians pandering to those folks who live on tax dollars from the public coffers. "Millionaires live off the backs of the working person and this has got to stop!" Sounds a lot like what I've read in the Communist manifesto. Whatever anyone else may believe, my folks professed a method of how those in my family could overcome "Income inequality" Albeit not so easy as accepting a life of dependency on the tax dollars of our neighbors, it is our way.

For the men:
Don't become a sperm donor and saddle yourself with a boat load of child support.
For the women:
Don't become a baby machine with an apartment full of children from several sperm donors.
For everyone:
Get a job,
get two jobs,
whatever it takes to earn enough money to survive.
Live frugally
Get whatever education you can afford without being overwhelmed by student loan debt
Save whatever money you can and let it build and earn interest.
Strive every day to improve your lot in life without placing the blame on anyone else.
Remember that life is not fair, learn to deal with it with a sense of humor.
Support your own family the best you can.
Learn to accept those things that you and only you can provide for your family.
It is a choice to be happy or to be angry, Choose happy as often as you can.
Thank God every day for the opportunity of another day.

That's about it. Other folks have other ideas and that is their privilege. But Its worked for me so far.I had good folks.

Dealing with drama in life

I have the honor and privilege of having a tremendous variety of friends and acquaintances. Most are mature and reasonably adjusted to the benefits and consequences of being an adult with life skills to contend with them and move on. However, one or two of them are helpless as newborn babes when they come to anything that even resembles a challenge or hurdle, and they make sure everyone within ear shot hears just how horrible the particular days challenge is. A pain in the foot almost means a trip to emergency. An argument with the significant other provides an excuse to get drunk, a child's bad report card is, of course a phone call to the school superintendent to ostracize the incompetent teacher. Taking absolutely no responsibility for their own actions and blaming everyone else seems to, in some way remove them from having to cope, take action and remedy the situation like the rest of us. As much as I enjoy other people and their perspectives, well, that particular perspective I do not wish to be a part of. Suck it up buttercup!........... Leave the drama to the theatre!............Please!!!!!

Free speach Hypocrites

Donald Trump is being trashed because he spoke his mind by the media and also political opponents. What a bunch of hypocrites they are. And we call this a free country. If one would believe those jerks the free part is only for them and what they have to say. Personally I feel what is good for the goose is good for the gander as an old saying goes. I would prefer that speech is actually free and we can speak our mind. In my opinion that would help us know who our friends are and, more importantly, our enemies. I really, really want to know where someone honestly stands on any given subject. Don't you?

The other side of this is a real sneaky part of subversive control of speech by those who wish to be the speech control police. It is becoming more and more difficult to express anything even closely related to being religious in a public forum, "if" you are Christian. Almost any other religion is fine. They are the pets of the control freaks and from shawls or scarves to Burkas its all just fine to wear. However, should you happen to wear a cross or crucifix you are criticized to no end for "offending" someone.

I'm not saying that all things claiming to be Christian are appropriate or even really Christian but its really getting silly out there. Actual Christian values are in line with life as it should be as well as natural law. When those that wish to control my speech and actions can use my God's name in vane freely, anywhere, any time and throw around the "F" bomb at will even around kids, because that stuff is protected by law and then try to tell me I can't speak my mind regarding it, well then in my humble opinion, something stinks and I thinks its coming from them.

That's my opinion for the day. My blog, my opinion. At least I've still got that..........for now anyway.

Confederate Flag

One disgusting excuse for a human being commits a horrendous crime by murdering innocent people, in a church no less. If that isn't terrible enough, tens of thousands of people, for some reason seem to believe it was the fault of the Confederate flag being on display. I can totally understand the feeling of loss but banning a flag, any flag will not make that feeling go away. The flag didn't cause the incident, the flag can't cure it. By the way: I really wonder if any of the folks demanding that Kid Rock do away with displaying the Confederate Flag during his productions have ever attended one. Most likely not in mu opinion, so what's the deal? Are they simply attempting to ban free speech? I thought that is what Hitler was all about. And, of course we can't forget ISIS. For anyone wanting to go back to a suppressed society I say, you're doing pretty good so far in this political atmosphere of putting citizens in their place as far as having a say in things. Seems to be the pattern here. But then again, who's listening anyway? Too busy finding things to ban. What about those tattoos and piercing things? They are the sign of only God knows what so they should go too.

Good cops

Just a short rant here a moment about all the hype regarding run ins with the police. We would be in a world of hurt if there were no police to protect us. I was raised to believe that if I got in trouble with the law there were consequences. The police are there to make sure our laws are being observed. Sometimes someone resists the police and the consequences are huge. The consequences are the result of unlawful behavior. Most of the time the police do their job in the best possible way. Sometimes they go far and above over what is necessary. I prefer to stand with the police that do their best. I don't condemn the entire police force for the bad judgment of those few that go overboard.