My Roadrunner connection is having problems. Time Warner said they “may” have someone fix it today or tomorrow. Isn’t that nice of them? Anyway, rather than get disgusted with my Internet connection going in and out, I’ll wait to see if the geniuses at TW can fix it before I blog anymore.
Taking the coarse out of discourse
Despite whatever else I feel about being out of work, at least I no longer have to take dictation at one of the president’s press conferences. I mean, it’s easy, but it’s pointless.
I remember covering a press conference Bush had with former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar that was held at the ranch. I jockeyed for position with other reporters and placed my little tape recorder on top of a speaker. I also took notes. By the time I got back to the office in Waco, the White House had already put a transcript of the press conference on the White House Web site. Of course, I didn’t get to ask Bush a question — not a reporter from Waco among all the exalted members of the White House press corps! That’s okay. I asked him enough questions before and during the time he was governor of Texas.
The big political topic today is the roadside vigil being held on the road to the Bush ranch by Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq. A lot of words are being written about it in the blogosphere — both liberal and conservative.
No matter how you feel about the war in Iraq, you should have some respect and understanding for a grieving mother whose son was killed. I see instances where that isn’t happening among some of the right wing of the political spectrum.
I don’t know if these people see politics as blood sport or they are just so overmaxed with anger or whether they are just despicable human beings. Decency — as in treating your neighbor as you wish to be treated (I read something about that somewhere) — just seems to be thrown out the window among some of these people. And these same people often complain about the immorality of those who are their political opposites. Go figure.
I would say my political views are different from the vast majority of my friends. This has developed a number of great discussions and even arguments. But we take another drink and go on to the next topic. And guess what? We’re still friends.
It is dismaying what passes for political discourse in this country. It’s more coarse than discourse. On the left, right and down the middle, if you don’t march in lock step you are a moron, or an asshole, or a traitor, your feet stink and you don’t love Jesus.
I guess there’s always been a certain amount of intolerance among some for the political views are others. I know that it’s more pronounced because of today’s information technology. I would be willing to bet there is more intolerance than in the past. That’s just a guess.
Maybe my ideas about conducting civil political discussions are reflective of my upbringing. My parents were of the Depression era. I think being able to get along with one another was of great importance in those days because so many people were in the same boat and only had each other. I don’t know. I wish people were nicer. I wish I was nicer. Can’t we all just get along? Should I even ask?
Old Sayings Retirement Home No. 10
And not just any drink will do
Damn. Some days you just have to go whip yourself up a fabulous martini. You know the kind of days I’m talking about. Boss man is riding your ass like you’re his Shetland pony. Wife is nagging so badly you think she’s ready for the glue bucket. Even your dog thinks you’re a world-class horse’s ass!
Wait, what am I talking about? I don’t have a boss. I don’t have a wife. I don’t even have a dog. And what’s with all the horse shit? I don’t know. But I thought a martini was a really good idea so now I’ve had two and the day’s just a colt. Man, again with the horses. I must have been dreaming about Susan Candiotti again.
Something elegant embodies the fabulous martini. Not so much the crappy-where-did-this-God-awful-excuse-for-a-drink-come-from martini. I don’t drink martinis all the time so I like them once in awhile. You know, absence makes the heart grow fonder. What a bunch of bullshit, by the way. Sorry I am being so coarse today. Deal with it! Actually I am not really having a bad day. I’ve been working on some projects for which I might receive real U.S. currency rather than the Confederate money I’ve been trying to pass off. NOT REALLY! You treasury agents out there need to lighten up! You also need some exclamation points! Here !!!!! I can’t give you very much. But I certainly can spare some exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So do we need to rehash this well-worn debate over shaken-not-stirred martinis or stirred-and-stirred-some-more martinis? Because I’m open to discussion. I’m a reasonable man. I’ll be happy to try it either way. But first you’ve got to guess which way I’ve made my martinis. Am I shakin’ all over or am I stir crazy. I type, you decide.
I might as well learn something
My old nemesis, Mr. Insomnia, has been coming around in the early morning hours again recently. His visits leave me feeling as if I’ve been rode hard and put up wet. I decided to take an Ativan last night to keep Mr. I from visiting and in doing so, received a full 8 hours sleep. But I don’t feel any better with 8 hours sleep than with an interrupted 4 hours. How is that supposed to work?
Finding myself awake at 2 a.m. on Monday morning I somehow stumbled upon a government Web page that provides extensive oceanic navigation information. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA — the people who bring you weather)has some incredibly detailed information about all the warts and moles of our coastline. You can even pull up navigation charts online which is really fascinating in the wee hours.
I was reading about my local, Upper Texas Gulf Coast, in what is called “United States Coast Pilot.” These are a series of books that can be found online which include such information as:
” … channel descriptions, anchorages, bridge and cable clearances, currents, tide and water levels, prominent features, pilotage, towage, weather, ice conditions, wharf descriptions, dangers, routes, traffic separation schemes, small-craft facilities, and Federal regulations applicable to navigation.”
Chapter 5 of Coast Pilot covers the stretch of Gulf between Sabine Pass — about 30 miles south-southeast of where I live — to San Luis Pass on the western side of Galveston Island. It had some great information about local coastal waters, especially should I find myself piloting a vessel somewhere between 30,000-90,000 tons into the Sabine-Neches ship channel. Such as:
“(2)Above the Texaco Island intersection (29°49.5’N., 93°57.5’W.), vessels 85,000 deadweight tons or more will not meet vessels of either 30,000 deadweight tons or greater, or vessels with drafts of 25 feet or greater. (3) Above Buoys 29 and 30, vessels of 85,000 deadweight tons or greater will not meet any vessel of 30,000 deadweight tons or more with a draft of 30 feet or greater.(4) Vessels of 48,000 deadweight tons or more with a draft of 30 feet or greater will not meet above Buoys 29 and 30.(5) Vessels with a combined draft of 65 feet or more will not meet in the Neches River at night.”
That is all very good to know and I will give it a lot of thought next time I decide to take a big oil tanker out for a spin. In the meantime, I think I’m getting sleepy and it’s only 2 p.m.