A World of Wimps

Where have we come from and where are we going... as a country and a world? When I was a kid in elementary school there was a book in the school library about what things would be like in the future. Granted this was in the late 60's or early 70's but I chuckle every time I think about it. It told about microwave ovens that cooked whole meals in mere minutes. There would be cars that looked like bubbles and they would drive themselves and would be extremely fast and very safe.

The book was full of very positive things that made the reader want to live in the future. In the 45 years or so since then that I have first hand experience in, ( I guess I was around 8 years old then) many of those things have happened and many of those products were developed in one form or another. In many ways they have made our life easier.

The problem with all of the "future forecasting" is that they never looked at the down side. Our recent generations have become techno-dependent wimps. This is a vague generalization I know. What used to be a pick up game of kickball or softball in the neighborhood that gave us exercise  has turned into video games where kids sit on their ever widening gluteus maximus. Most of today's teens and 20 somethings would have a melt down if they had to dump the technology for a month. How many of them would even know how to dig a ditch properly? (yes, there are proper ways to dig a ditch)

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing at all wrong with trying to make a job or life easier. The problem comes when we have no concept of how that technology works or how to trouble shoot it when it breaks. The real problem goes much deeper though.

Our cultural paradigm has become one of selfishness and laziness. This is displayed in several forms. Selfishness in the form of employers that work employees long hours instead of hiring more employees. (I am in no way referring to my employer, Thinking more of someone I know in a certain industry.) Laziness in the form of employees who skate out of work several times per shift to "smoke". In fairness I have run into a few people who were hard workers and were conscientious about the job they did.

Look at this from the political side. There is an ever increasing number of people who want "government" (whatever that means) to GIVE them the comforts of life. We DESERVE health care. We DESERVE a free cell phone. The list goes on. The more the government gives you the more they have to take away from someone.

Ah well. The problem could easily be solved. The subject for another day.

Dumped Facebook

I did it. Today I dumped Facebook. I was really tired of the politically correct whiny crybabies. I've decided to come to a site where I can pretty much say what I want and how I want. I have some ideas for upcoming blogs so stay tuned!

Family Heritage

I never considered myself the sentimental type but there is a lot of sentiment in this picture. Probably what you see is a sleeping baby in a crib, but as Paul Harvey says, here's the rest of the story. The baby isn't just any baby, It's my grandson. My first but hopefully not my last! Complications at birth but now a well developing, well behaved, great kid that carries my last name into the future. The crib? Not just any crib but a crib with a story. You see, this crib has held precious cargo for 4 generations. It was made by a man with very little by way of worldly possessions back in the time of the great depression. Carefully hand crafted from scrap wood he found laying around. That man was my wife's grandfather and he made the crib for my wife's father. Little did he ever know that this crib would be used for his great-great grandson. The important thing wasn't that he used the most expensive wood or fancy wood shop tools but that he did the best he could with what he had. He put time into it. He put effort into it. It wasn't purchased at Wal-Mart or even Oak Express. It isn't without it's "flaws" here and there but there's no doubt it has served well over 75 years. Recently it fell into disrepair because of some careless handling and storage by a distant relative. My father rose to the challenge of making it once again usable, sparing what could have been a death knell to a family heirloom. The room the crib is in is in the house that I built with the help of my father and my boys including the baby's father. With God's help, this young child will grow up and become part of the heritage because of the faithful efforts of those that have gone on before him.

Things That Strike Me Funny

So I told you yesterday that the fair was going on. I hadn't noticed this sign before but got a good chuckle when I thought about the variations. Is this a fair for those who want to take a bath in Pepsi?  Maybe they are grading a Pepsi bath as only fair instead of good. Maybe it's some kind of competition...... that maybe I don't want to know about! Anyways, I just couldn't resist finding a parking place and snapping this one. What are they thinking.....LOL.

As I was filling my water jug this morning I couldn't resist the chuckle when I realized I was filling my jug with........... wait for it...........Bath water! Oh the stupid things that run through my head!

Tomorrow I start with a new tower site north of Corry, PA just off of Rt 426 on Stateline Road. Close to my old stomp'in grounds! My manager would like the station on the air by the end of September so I'll be busy trying to comply. It's not impossible but it will be a squeeze. I'll keep you posted.

"New Guy"

Well, I've never blogged before. Not really sure what blogging is all about. Even less sure that anyone will even read it or gives a hoot but I'll give it a shot.

So I've been at my new job for two weeks now but I'm rarely in the office. I spend most of my time ........ being "one with nature" kinda sorta trolling the hilltops of upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. I stopped in the office today and I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said "you must be the new guy". Yep, that's me. New guy. I gonna change my name to New Guy. At what point do you quit being the "new guy"? Obviously 2 weeks is still new guy.

Everyone here in Bath, NY says I need to move here. How could I ever move to a town with no Wal-Mart, no Sam's  Club, and no Lowes. Were talking dark ages, maybe stone ages. There is a brand new Dunkin Doughnuts opening Thursday though. That makes up for it....... er maybe not. I like where I live. I think I'll stay there.

Here's my last whine...... for today. The Steuben County fair is in full swing and is 3 blocks from the house I'm staying at. Demo derby tonight but I didn't go. That would have been fun. The smells. Ah, the smells of the county fair. I think I'm going to gain 10 pounds just sniffing the air.

Well, there it is, my first blog. Did I get it right? No need to answer becuse I really don't care. If you want to follow, that's fine. If not, that's fine too. That part of our wonderful United States of America IS still free!