And a Happy New Year!

May you be poor in sadness and rich in goodness.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas

Just wanted to send out Christmas greetings to everyone.  Feliz Navidad!

Mandatory Service for everyone?

So I've had a contemplative thought as I read about FedEx reducing overall salaries to protect jobs in the company.  In the ensuing discussion I began to ponder the very idea of service and how we view it as Americans.

And I came up with the ultimate idea.  Mandatory service for all.

I've met far too many Doctors(PHd & Md), scientist and lawyers who approach life as an entitlement which is no different than welfare entitlement. In fact I think one sentiment stems from the other.

You don't get that shared American experience at Harvard, Hopkins or the hood either. They exist as practical homogenous environments. Such an experience between the two is an interesting way to break that barrier - if only a little.

And while I originally pondered a mandatory military service, such as is implemented in Germany, Switzerland and Isreal - it occurred to me that my pondering could in fact solve far many more problems such as balancing the budget by lowering the cost of government, and raising students standards by providing teacher aids and tutors.

In other words - mandatory public service one year after graduation, followed by one week a year, for every able adult.  And they don't get to choose where.  Can you imagine?

It brings ask not what your country can do for you right home.

Ok, tons of issues with this, like rich people getting out of work and scary criminals and all that jazz.  So what?  I happen to believe that criminals are born of circumstance - and I believe the statistics easily back that up.  I'm sure we could spice it up with tax incentives and apply some federal penalties for those that fail to comply.

After all - we let the average Joe perform as a juror who can execute another citizen.  Yet we're afraid to make ourselves a better nation though service.

Some interesting articles about the subject.

1. SFGate on Jim Lehrer's ideas
   
2. Universal Service Act of 2003, a failed proposal

My biggest gripe about my own idea though is that it hinges on a political element.  There is far too great of an opportunity for this political element to degenerate into soviet-style "Young Communist" programs and the like to become a tool of indoctrination.

I'm still idealistic about it -  but it falters on the basic principle of liberty and a wariness of intentions.

'Tis the season!

Why the heck not?  The season for inane lists and funny ideas!  Came across this on a couple of blogs - thought it could be fun.

So, here's a list of things one should accomplish before dying.  

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (DisneyWorld) (Eurodisney)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (I tried but ran out of time!)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (a couple, even.. if only basically)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (in general)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (but it wasn't for me!)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (and the bottom, even)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching 
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (I asked to be laid off, even!)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (I was sued for 1 million dollars!  Honest!  Fortunately, we settled for 1 dollar!)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

And here's a few things I'd like to add to the list, which are far more adventurous.

1. Built or created something entirely from hand, and then gave it away anonymously
2. Sang Christmas carols on the street, complete with candles and funny hats
3. Carved your initials in a tree
4. Eaten with a stranger, bought their food, and chatted with them
5. Conducted a scientific experiment entirely on your own, complete with write-up and pictures
6. Went to a lecture on an obscure subject completely out of your field without a friend
7. Attended a funeral for someone you didn't even know
8. Crashed a wedding, and ate a piece of wedding cake
9. Issued a public apology
10. Sold something to buy someone a gift
11. Hosted a concert at your house
12. Attended a public demonstration, complete with sign and chanting
13. Washed someone's dishes without being asked
14. Broken a record of any kind
15. Given a public performance of any kind, complete with hat
16. Mowed a message in your lawn
17. Changed a diaper in an airline bathroom

I can personally attest to to the difficulty of #17... and I'm 6'4".

Suicide?

I'm not usually one to bring news out - but this just gets me today.

Billey Joe Johnson was a top-rated high school football player and sought after by several schools across the country, now he is dead after a self-inflicted gun shot wound. (postchronical.com)

Now here's where it gets interesting...

The officer had left Johnson in his vehicle and returned to his squad car when he heard a gun shot. Johnson was then seen by the officer, laying on the ground next to his car with a shot gun lying on him.

A shot gun suicide?  In a car?  By one of the most sought-after football players in the country?  In Mississippi?

Ok - I admit my first thought was quite the obvious.  The cop did it.  But this isn't the 1950's anymore - it's pretty well known that kids can be stupid, or depressed, or simply clumsy.

I hope for his family and the greater community that the truth is found & accepted, and that the community isn't torn apart in the ensuing investigation.

Wow, it's cold...

Just bone chilling cold now at 25ºF.  Got the pipes dripping, animals are up and safe.  Hopefully no pipes break!!

Of course my poor brothers live in Minnesota... where it's 2ºF, covered in snow, and did I mention freakin' cold? What were they thinking?  The Soviets used to send people to Siberia... because it was a bad, bad place to live.

Just had to mention that one more time.  Happy Holidays, my brothers.

Cities fail basic certification check...

You'd think large cities like Dallas & Amarillo would do basic background checks such as certifications, safety studies, or licensing when they purchase equipment and services?

But apparently not.  Income generated by red-light camera tickets may be refunded due to lack of proper licensing by the manufacturer - and a federal judge is agreeing.

According to KFDA-TV in Dallas, "A District Court Judge agrees with [the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit], saying the [red light camera] company is operating illegally and should have to refund all fines they collected." That's a major victory for camera opponents if the ruling stands up on appeal. Both of the other companies operating red light cameras in Texas are similarly circumstanced.

HT: Grits for breakfast