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30 Days of Dune – Day 7

No more terrible disaster could befall your people than for them to fall into the hands of a Hero.  — Pardot Kynes

My Take – As I read history, the point in which a free people begin the march to slavery is when they give up their freedoms to a single person who promises to fix their problems for them.  For Rome, it was Marius and Sulla.  For Italy and Germany, it was Mussolini and Hitler.  For Russia, it was Lenin and Stalin.  As for the United States, there have been many times in the past 100 years where a majority of the population has looked at the president and proclaimed that he is the one who will bring food to their tables, security to their streets, and success to their lives.  A free people can never look to someone else to provide for them.  We have to remember that the individual is solely responsible for his or her success, not society, not the government, and not the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  We need to go back to our roots of self-reliance and self-determination, or we condemn our progeny to slavery as surely as the Romans condemned theirs to serfdom.

by daddybear71 on May 11, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Dune

Posted by daddybear71 on May 11, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/11/30-days-of-dune-day-7/

Thoughts on the Day

  • When did network equipment manufacturers start making their gear out of cast iron again?  Seriously, the stuff I helped install today was just as big and heavy as the stuff I helped install in 1995.
  • It is usually not a good idea to argue with the nurse and insult her intelligence 30 seconds before she tries to get an IV in your arm.  No, I didn’t do it.  I’m just occasionally able to learn from the misfortunes of others.
  • To the nice young gentleman in the grocery store:  Talking like Yoda to your girlfriend while all of us are standing in line was cute the first couple of times you did it.  After that it was annoying, and it proves that she can do much better.
  • Children have a sixth sense for when their parents are tired.  Boo’s normal response is to demand a wrestling match.
    • Tonight he learned how to do a flying headbutt off the couch when I am prone on the living room floor.
    • I got him two out of three falls, but that little guy fights dirty.
  • Nothing will make a retired gentleman who is obsessive about his lawn take a bigger fright than seeing a four-year-old walking around in the yard next door with a handful of white-headed dandelions.
  • Driving on the freeway today was like watching Chihuahuas trying to mate with great Danes.  Every guy in a compact car seemed to be playing chicken with the back-end of a semi.
  • One gallon of strawberries, two tablespoons of honey, and four teaspoons of fresh lemon juice make for a very pink, sloppy mess.  We’ll see if it makes tolerable fruit leather after a day or so in the dehydrator.
  • Commenting to my wife that it looked like I had butchered a rabbit as I was cleaning up from making strawberry leather was probably not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.
by daddybear71 on May 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Thought for the day

Posted by daddybear71 on May 10, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/10/thoughts-on-the-day-28/

News Roundup

  • From the “Simian Guerilla” Department – Scientists in Sweden are reporting that one of the chimpanzees in a zoo there is exhibiting quite sophisticated ways to prepare for and attack zoo visitors.  One observation showed that the male chimp had the foresight to create a weapons cache by hiding rocks under a mound of hay and then throwing those rocks at visitors later.  This is fascinating, but I’m not concerned that this may be the beginning of the Planet of the Apes.  When he starts burying M-44’s and spam cans full of Bulgarian ammunition, I’ll be worried.  The scientists are claiming that this proves that chimpanzees are capable of planning for events that they have never experienced before.  To me this proves that Homo sapiens aren’t the only mammals capable of being a jerk.  Maybe the chimp is just telling the zoo-goers to get off his lawn?
  • From the “Swiss Miss” Department – Former Republican presidential hopeful is moving to cancel her dual Swiss/US citizenship.  She gained this status because of her marriage in 1978 to a man with Swiss citizenship, automatically giving her a hankering for fine chocolate and vineyard colored field uniforms.  In the United States, marriage does not automatically give you citizenship, although it can help to gain acceptance.  For example, I will always be a Yankee, but marriage to Irish Woman makes me tolerable to my neighbors.  In a couple of generations, my progeny will be considered Southerners, but not a moment before.
  • From the “No Kidding?” Department – Archaeologists in Guatemala have discovered a Mayan calendar that goes beyond 2012, which should put to rest the debate on how much dried mango, yak jerky, and powdered eggs we need to keep in our basement.  Maybe now we can move on to more important subjects, such as the election, the economy, and which of the young males in the latest incarnation of the Monkees is the cutest.
  • From the “Bad Idea” Department – A teacher in Florida is facing dismissal after putting a cone-shaped dog collar on several of her students.  What the young men did to earn the Cone of Shame is not known at this time.  Possible punishments for the teacher include dismissal, possible child abuse charges, and being hit in the nose with a rolled-up newspaper.  
by daddybear71 on May 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in news

Posted by daddybear71 on May 10, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/10/news-roundup-115/

30 Days of Dune – Day 6

Is it defeatist or treacherous for a doctor to diagnose a disease correctly? — Lady Jessica

My Take – Don’t kill the messenger, and don’t be afraid to deliver bad news.  I’ve worked for people who thundered at their subordinates when someone came to them with anything other than sunshine and rainbows.  We called these people ‘fools’.  Life is painful for the most part, and the sooner you understand that, the sooner you can learn to minimize that pain and emphasize the more pleasant parts.

by daddybear71 on May 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Dune

Posted by daddybear71 on May 10, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/10/30-days-of-dune-day-6/

News Roundup

  • From the “Fifth Time’s the Trick” Department – A person wearing a uniform has been convicted of killing his ex-wife and her former mother-in-law at their home in Kentucky.  The two main witnesses against him were the children that were in the home at the time of the murder.  One of them remembered seeing him in the house with a gun that day, while another remembered hearing his voice shouting.  This is Burke’s fifth trial.  He had two mistrials and two hung juries before Kentucky prosecutors stepped aside and let the military justice system take over.  I have mixed feelings about this one.  From everything I’ve seen in the press and elsewhere, I’m convinced he did it.  But if prosecutors are so incompetent that they give up after four tries and let another system of justice take over, it smacks of “prosecute until you find a favorable jury”.
  • From the “Blind Squirrel” Department – TSA agents at the airport in Providence, Rhode Island, found a disassembled gun and ammunition stuffed inside plush toys recently.  By my recollection, this may be the first time the TSA has found a gun that wasn’t forgotten in a purse or a range bag.  So good for them for ending their 10+ year train-up to do the job we pay them for.  There is one weird thing about the story though.  The agents let the man and boy who tried to bring the toys through security continue after confiscating the guns.  Don’t you think they’d want to hold onto a guy who took a gun apart, undid a seam on a doll, put the gun and some bullets inside the doll, then sewed it all back up before heading to the airport?
  • From the “Mother May I?” Department – The state of Michigan has passed a law that allows concealed carry permit holders to also carry electric stun guns.  Again, I have mixed feelings.  Any step that puts more tools in the self-defense toolbag is a good one, but if you’re close enough to hit someone with a stun gun, they’re close enough to harm you.  Could use of a less-lethal put you in less of a precarious position against a litigious attacker than putting a bullet in him?  What do y’all think?
  • From the “Personal Growth” Department – The makers of Enzyte, a ‘supplement’ that was marketed as a way for men to put a little more stackage in their package, have been ordered to pay a $24 million settlement to customers who are willing to admit they bought this particular brand of snake oil.  Smiling Bob was not available for comment, although his Santa suit, NASCAR racecar, and teeth whitening apparatus have been spotted on eBay.
  • From the “Steel Pot, Jock Strap, and Thin Coat of CLP” Department – Employees of some Chicago businesses are being advised to “dress down” during the NATO summit.  This means not wearing suits, ties, or shirts with company logos.  If this were anywhere but Chicago, I’d suggest a bad attitude tee-shirt, a pair of jungle boots, and a basic load of arms and ammunition.  Since it’s Chicago, I suggest a Cubs baseball shirt, cleats,  and a Louisville Slugger.  One way or another, the workers of the world are going to have to fight their way to their place of employment so they can pay taxes that go toward feeding the Occupy crowd and their anarchist fellow travelers.
by daddybear71 on May 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in news

Posted by daddybear71 on May 9, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/09/news-roundup-114/

Today’s Earwom

It’s been a very productive day.

 

by daddybear71 on May 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Earworm

Posted by daddybear71 on May 9, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/09/todays-earwom/

30 Days of Dune – Day 5

Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. — Muad’Dib: Family Commentaries

My Take – You have to be willing to deviate from established patterns and instructions in order to learn.  If all you’re doing is precisely following the path that someone else has blazed, you will never be anything but a follower.  Sometimes getting off the beaten path will send you down a cliff or face to face with one of the neighborhood bears, but sometimes it leads to a better path to a higher mountain.  Take the time to try your own methods in life, and you might find you’re rewarded with your own results.

 

by daddybear71 on May 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Dune

Posted by daddybear71 on May 9, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/09/30-days-of-dune-day-5/

Excitement at the Park

The Scene – A suburban park, complete with playgrounds, running trails, creeks, several soccer fields, and a large parking lot.

Activity – The DaddyBear family is enjoying a picnic dinner along with the rest of BooBoo’s pre-school.   The 50 or so kids in the school have taken over the playground, are kicking sand at each other in the volleyball pit, and are enjoying hot dogs grilled up by the school director at the pavilion.  It’s a nice school picnic.

We were sitting on our beach towel, enjoying our dinner.  Boo scarfed down his hot dog and strawberries, then ran off with another young boy to play.  I kept half an eye on him while talking to the other boys grandmother.  After a few minutes of talking, Girlie Bear nudged me.

“Dad, where’s Boo?”

“He’s over in the sand pit with his friend.”

“I can see the other little boy, but I can’t see Boo”

Hmmm, well, might as well check.  I walk over to the sandy area and yep, there’s no Boo.  None of the other children can tell me if he was with them (Hey, they’re four years old, and I’m a big scary Dad).  I send Girlie Bear to circle the pavilion and I circle around the playground.  No luck.  Girlie Bear starts to look worried, and I’m starting to feel that cold feeling in my gut.  I ran into Boo’s teacher.

“You haven’t seen Boo, have you?”

“Not for a while.  Is he gone?”

“We can’t seem to find him.  If you see him, could you let me know?”

“What was he wearing?  I think his mom changed his clothes since school.”

“He’s wearing a bright blue pair of shorts and a blue Spiderman tee-shirt.”

“OK.”

She went one way and I went another.  Unbeknownst to me, she went directly to the school director and secretary, and they all went in opposite directions.

By this time, Irish Woman had noticed that I hadn’t returned with Boo, and she had started searching herself.  When we made eye contact, I guess she could tell I was concerned, because she immediately turned towards the soccer fields and headed out under full steam.  I started quartering the area and having several internal discussions.

BooBoo!

Scan left, scan right, scan up, scan down

Stay calm

Must move faster

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou amongst women…

BooBoo!

You have to stay calm.  If he hears you sound angry or upset, he might not come to you or yell back

Must move faster. Left right left right left right

Scan up, scan down, scan left, scan right

And blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.

BOOBOO!

Calm down!  You’re going to scare him away!

Faster, faster, left left left left

scan, scan, scan, scan

Holy Mary, mother of God…

BOOBOO ALOUISIUS BEAR!

OK, OK, do you have a picture of him in your phone?  How long has it been since you saw him?  20 minutes?  Almost time to call the police.

Pick it up, faster faster faster

scan scan scan scan scan scan scan scan scan

Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen.  Hail Mary, full of grace…..

BOOOOOBOOOOOO!

After rounding the third turn in my quarter and starting my way back to the playground, I ran into a group of dads playing tee ball with their kids.  None of them had seen Boo, but three of them peeled off from their group to help me in my search.  It occurred to me later that I didn’t know any of them, but they left their families to help me.  We saw a police cruiser parked near the soccer fields, so we headed that way.  By now it was going on 30 minutes since I’d last seen Boo, and it was time to call the cavalry.

Just as we came up to the car I heard the school secretary calling my name.

“Mr. Bear!  We found him!”

Oh thank you Lord.

In the time it took for us to notice he was gone, and start quartering out to find him, Boo had gone almost a quarter of a mile.  The school secretary had found him heading west along one of the running trails.  Luckily, he didn’t run from her and came back willingly.  Of course, he was singing KISS songs the entire walk back, which the secretary found funny.  I’ve since been told I need to modify my morning music routine.

After a rather emotional reunion with Dad, he got held onto until Irish Woman got back to the playground. She promptly sat down with him and burst into tears.  For his part, he tried to get away with just a quick hug before attempting to wriggle his way free and head back over to the jungle gym.  Mom would have none of that, and only relinquished him when I said I was taking him to the car.

We said our thanks to everyone as we packed up.  Half of the parents in the group had headed out to beat the bushes for our wayward lad, with the other half watching the kids to make sure we didn’t have multiple disappearances.  The center director and one of the school counselors sat and talked with Irish Woman for a while as Girlie Bear and I got everything, including Boo, into the car.  Irish Woman eventually made her way back to the parking lot.  She looked upset but had stopped crying.

The shakes started for me after I had Boo strapped into his booster seat.  I sat down on the tailgate of the van and waited for them to pass.  I hate that feeling, especially the tiredness I get once they subside.  Once they were gone, I got in the car, found some quiet music on the radio, and headed home.

On the way home, I stopped and picked up some food at one of the local burger joints.  The half a hotdog and some pretzels I’d had before Boo went on his walkabout were completely gone.  A burger and a coke sounded really good.  Boo got my french fries, and Girlie Bear and Irish Woman each got a milkshake.  I drank about 1/3 of my coke on the way home, then topped it off with bourbon.  Yeah, I know, self-medication isn’t a good idea, but it’s helping my hands to stop shaking.

This isn’t my first rodeo when it comes to having kids.  I’ve been raising kids in one form or another pretty much non-stop since I was 12 or 13.  I’ve dealt with kids who liked to run off, and I know better than to take my eyes off Boo in a crowd.  He loves to play “chase me”, he’s fast, and he has absolutely no fear.  After we found him, I found that I had exactly zero recent pictures of him in my phone and that I had remembered the color of his shorts (they were black, not blue).  So much for being the experienced, self-reliant parent.  Tomorrow, I start keeping recent pictures of him in every phone in the family.

All’s well that ends well, I guess.  He’s OK, and we’re shaken but OK.  I owe the school secretary a big thank you tomorrow.  I’m going to finish my bourbon and coke and get some sleep.  For some reason, I don’t have much energy left.

by daddybear71 on May 8, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Parenting

Posted by daddybear71 on May 8, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/08/excitement-at-the-park/

30 Days of Dune – Day 4

There existed no need on Caladan to build a physical paradise or a paradise of the mind — we could see the actuality all around us. And the price we paid was the price men have always paid for achieving a paradise in this life — we went soft, we lost our edge. — Muad’Dib: Conversations

My Take – One of the complaints I hear from friends who run businesses is how hard it is to find people who will give a days work for a days pay.  As a society, we’ve become soft in our luxury.  The average lifestyle of an American would make our grandparents faint. We don’t have to work hard, think hard, or hold any real values in order to put food in our mouths and a roof over our heads.  When the life of luxury we have become acquainted with goes away, we are all going to suffer, but most of all, the people who believe that the world owes them a living.

One other thought – You’re not doing your children a favor by making their lives easy.  The arguing, fighting, sullen looks, and silence are worth it if they can stand on their own two feet when they grow up.

by daddybear71 on May 8, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Dune

Posted by daddybear71 on May 8, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/08/30-days-of-dune-day-4/

All Good Things

I just listened to the last episode of The History of Rome.  I’ve enjoyed this podcast since I first figured out that there were people talking about stuff on the Internet.  In the almost five years since I discovered it, Michael Duncan has given me 74 hours of well-researched, well-presented, and interesting content in nice 20 to 40 minute slices.  It’s been one of the things I look forward to every Monday morning.  If you’re interested, all of the episodes are available on iTunes.

Mr. Duncan has taken us from the mythological founding of Rome to the dissolution of the Western Empire.  He took the time to not only tell us who did what to whom and when, but also to go into the intricacies of Roman society at several points in its history and how that society fit into the puzzle of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Now, his life is changing.  He is married, going to school again, and is expecting a baby to arrive any minute now.  He is entering that part of life where hobbies die in favor of something much more fun and rewarding and I wish him luck. I also thank him for his hard work and diligence over the past five years. I hope that Mr. Duncan can someday find another subject that inspires him to record more content that fits with his new life.

All things end, podcasts and blogs included.  A lot of people I enjoyed reading stopped writing.  Some for good, some only temporarily.  Breda stopped using her original blog, took a break, and came back in a new place.  Alan shut down Vicious Circle, then came back with the Squirrel Report.

I have no plans to fold this particular tent.  I write about enough different things that I’m not that worried about burnout, and to be honest I need the pressure valve.  This little site gives me an outlet for rants, bad jokes, and those little songs that make me want to scratch the back of my cerebellum.  But eventually, I will have said what I have to say.  Until then, stay tuned.  This might get weird, but I hope it’s fun.

by daddybear71 on May 8, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on May 8, 2012

https://daddybearsden.com/2012/05/08/all-good-things/

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