tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199571582024-03-12T22:50:53.291-06:00Everyday DissidenceDissent in its many gradations is disagreeable, doesn’t win popularity contests. If you had criticized slavery or child labor or advocated women’s suffrage in America in the wrong time or place, you could have been handcuffed, and lucky at that… Dissent can be a dicey business. If it’s not at least a bit uncomfortable, it’s probably not real dissidence.
—Edward Hoaglandmdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-84917114321400978532020-02-21T10:52:00.002-07:002020-02-21T10:52:14.007-07:00We’re Moving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As of February 20, 2020, this site will officially be moving to a new location—fear not, all the same content will transfer over. This site will remain, but no new content will be added following this post. At some point I may shut down this site knowing the new site is established and solid. Any new posts newer than February 21, 2020 will appear only at the new site. Thanks for your support.</div>
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So, go here and subscribe:</div>
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<a href="http://www.everydaydissidence.com/">www.everydaydissidence.com</a></div>
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—Morgan</div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-16884660915586116042019-01-12T11:55:00.000-07:002019-01-12T21:26:58.471-07:00Crimes in Social Media<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the years, I’ve often told friends that one of my more odd bucket list items is to spend a night in jail, even if I haven’t worked out a plan to actually pull it off with minimum consequences beyond the actual night in jail. Public intoxication would likely do it, but I’d like to have a clear memory so I can write about the experience afterwards.</div>
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Recently I experienced something like this in more of a virtual setting as I was blocked from posting anything on Facebook for 24 hours thanks to some anonymous tattletale. But as my punishment set in, it felt more like standing in the corner during 1st grade then an overnight jail stay.</div>
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What did I post? It was actually a short comment on a friend’s post regarding the Trump shutdown. So, here it is in all it’s glory:</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Trump needs to do us all a favor and resign but in a way that best suits him—hanging himself in the Oval Office.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Au4ctlbhm9M/XDo3LyaZVTI/AAAAAAAAAzI/T1oTPuQ_aj4WYzrGkmKPUyeG1fmTUirAwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-12%2Bat%2B9.04.22%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="894" height="90" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Au4ctlbhm9M/XDo3LyaZVTI/AAAAAAAAAzI/T1oTPuQ_aj4WYzrGkmKPUyeG1fmTUirAwCLcBGAs/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-12%2Bat%2B9.04.22%2BAM.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;">Yeah, I suppose it’s a bit distasteful if you’re a Trump fan, but isn’t suicide just a glorious (or “gory”) version of resignation? Besides, I know many that find this particular sentiment as pleasant as a good meal. The truth is, I have several fantasies of Trump’s demise—my favorite version is that he is convicted of treason and tickets are sold for his public beheading on the National Mall where so many people show up, that ticket sales pay off the national debt. In that setting, Trump would finally draw the crowd he wished he had for his “record-setting” inauguration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Let’s face it, over the course of his life—not just his presidency—Trump is nowhere close to being a model citizen as he has brought pain, misery, and suffering to many, and God knows how many lives he has compromised in a lifetime of underhanded “art-of-the-deals.” And, all of it is well documented along with the greatest collection of lies by any high-level politician. So, the idea of his suicide, public execution or some rogue Secret Service agent greasing him sits just fine with me. There’s nothing redeeming in him as a person or as a president.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">As long as I’m here, another incident came about a couple weeks ago as the result of another Fuckface von Clownstick remark I made on Facebook. Although it didn’t get me banned, a Trump-ass-kissing tattletale sent an email to the college president about my post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Tim Sedlacek, a resident of North Dakota working in the oil and gas industry (according to his Facebook page) wrote the following: </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>I am writing you this email about something I find very concerning and very disturbing. You have a professor employed at your institution that is publically (sic) calling for the assassination of President Trump on his Facebook page. I have included a screen shot of said Facebook post. I think the taxpayers of your great state would find it very interesting that they are paying the salary of someone with such radical political views who is not afraid to convey those views publicly. As a professor at a public university he should be held to a higher standard. I hope you take appropriate action on this matter. I will give you a few days to reply to me with your course of action and if I do not hear back from you will be contacting your local newspaper and also other newspapers in Wyoming to inform them about this very disturbing post by an employee of your college.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6pi285q36Q/XDo3qFqT_8I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/1mcSjVAyLDslZsy_3DUdOQohaKClu4NIwCLcBGAs/s1600/Bullet-in-BrainPost.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1312" height="118" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6pi285q36Q/XDo3qFqT_8I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/1mcSjVAyLDslZsy_3DUdOQohaKClu4NIwCLcBGAs/s200/Bullet-in-BrainPost.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;">My offensive post: “Impeachment, incarceration, bullet-in-the-brain… whatever it takes, Trump must go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">First of all, a couple responses on my part:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Hey Tim, why be such a tattletale? You could have taken it up with me if you found it so disturbing—after all, you were my FB friend. You could have left a comment, could have sent me a private message, but instead you responded like a screaming little girl with mud splashed on her Sunday church dress. What an asshole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Secondly, I was not calling for Trump’s assassination. In fact, immediately after the post, I left a link in the comment section to the Black Key’s “Bullet in the Brain” song/video. It’s about suicide. That said and historically speaking, bullets in the brain have been one of several ways Presidents have been removed from office—those well loved and those not so much. Fact! So, if Trump or someone else were to actually pull that off, it still comes off as a working solution for me. But, for the record (and the vapid intellect of those like Sedlacek), I’m not interested in doing such myself, nor do I even have the ability, know-how, or energy to pull off such a feat. I’m simply open to any means it takes to remove this persona non grata (and his ilk) from the White House.</span><br />
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In deciding to take the post down (although not required), I responded to the college president with the following:<br />
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<i style="background-color: transparent;">I received notice about my personal FB post on Dec. 21 regarding Donald Trump. I’m sure you are aware, this was not a threatening message of any kind—I was just speaking of the various ways past U.S. Presidents (those well-loved and those reviled) have been or could be removed from office. Distasteful as it may be, I suppose it is what it is depending on one’s political views. Further, I had posted immediately after (in the comment section) the song by the Black Keys “Bullet in the Brain,” which is a song about suicide and what I was referencing in the original post should someone like Sedlacek come along and attempt to spin it otherwise. </i></div>
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<i>Nevertheless, I have removed the post from my public feed in hopes that this will be of no more bother to you. I apologize if this put a crimp in your holiday away from the work place.</i></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The other day, I was having a discussion with a colleague about “spending too much time on Facebook.” In light of these recent events, my hope is that this little expulsion will be an impetus to get away from that platform where tattletales and pollyannas like Sedlacek lurk, and perhaps put more effort into my posts on dissidence. So, I’m thankful even if I still haven’t spent the night in jail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">And one last thing, fuck Facebook and its harboring of Russian trolls and its secret love for Trump.</span></div>
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-79610275069060281162018-12-09T19:51:00.005-07:002019-01-24T10:55:24.695-07:00What’s in a Name?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was announced the other day during an all campus meeting that Northwest College (in Powell, Wyoming) will be spending a little over $80,000 for a new marketing campaign targeting Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin and the Western states that participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program. In short, enrollment numbers are dwindling and something is needed to stop the bleeding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nausea started to creep in when I considered the “elephant in the room” and the fact that we were going to spend even more energy and money attempting to drive that square peg into the round hole that we’ve been doing for so many years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The “square peg” that I speak of is our school’s name, “Northwest College.” The “elephant in the room” is the need to change our ambiguous, compass-dial-name to “Yellowstone College.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Back in October, the college president sent me an email asking about my rogue hashtags on Instagram, “#yellowstonecollege.” There was no threat in her query, just wanted to know where I was coming from. So, I replied with the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: small;"><i>It should be no surprise that I strongly believe in replacing “Northwest College” with “Yellowstone College”—if nothing else as a unique identifier in who we are and where we are. Short of creating a recruiting army, I think there is nothing more effective in recruiting than this simple name change—especially when it comes to attracting students from beyond Wyoming (where we have no recruiting).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: small;"><i>Northwest College was probably a good name back in the day when we were mostly charged with delivering higher education to the students of Wyoming, but as you know in these current times, we have to look far beyond our borders to maintain any kind of decent enrollment numbers. With that in mind, “Northwest” is certainly suspect in representing our actual place to someone who doesn’t live in Wyoming. Even in our own state, I’m surprised at how many people refer to us as “the college in Powell.” That’s hardly an argument for saying we have a strong institutional name.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: small;"><i>In my mind, the name “Yellowstone College” is riper than it has ever been. And there’s no other institution that would serve that name better than this one here in Powell—only 70-plus miles from the gate of YNP. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I sincerely applaud the new marketing plan and those who have come up with it. It’s going to be good. I just find it somewhat self-defeating that we’re going to execute it for such a vague and generic name—knowing how much better the results could be if a college name change were included.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Listening to the details of the marketing plan, all I could think of was, “This is what they mean when someone mentions that old adage, ‘Work smarter, not harder.’” Promoting “Northwest College” will be the antithesis of that adage as I see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes the solution to a perceived difficult and complex problem turns out to be a simple solution. People living near the jungles of India managed to eradicate fatal tiger attacks by simply wearing a mask on the back of their heads when in the jungle areas—a simple solution proposed by a student science club member who noted that all such attacks came from behind the victims.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Following the presentation, questions and comments were invited. I sat there and gave my best rationale for not saying anything, but I couldn’t stifle it. So, I said it, “Yellowstone College.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As I added my rationale, I saw people like our Public Relations Vice President laughing—laughing at me, laughing at my idea, I don’t know. But he was having a good laugh. Along with the laughing from some of my colleagues I considered this: For years I’ve been part of a small political minority—surrounded by die-hard Republicans and conservative thought, and yes, far outnumbered by those who voted Donald Trump as the President of the United States. So, this felt no different. I was happy I brought it up, even if it was only regarded as a moment of levity for many in the room. But, I’ll sleep better at night knowing I did speak up in front of the small gathering that was meant to be attended by the entire campus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">No doubt, the square peg rammed into the round hole will still likely result in some kind of improved enrollment numbers, but it’s a lot of money for what will likely be mediocre results. Hopefully I’m wrong. But, in my mind nothing would work harder for us (with little money and for years on end) like “Yellowstone College,” especially when it comes to attracting the larger and more remote student market.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One colleague offered up a theory on all of this—a colleague who has taught here almost as many years as myself. It goes something like this: Northwest College is the opposite of “too big to fail,” but rather too small to succeed—set in a community and managed by those who really don’t want it to be too appealing or successful. A too-attractive college brings in better students, better educators, and even better administrators. And, the community of Powell (and Wyoming) really doesn’t want any of that at all. We may never know, but I find the theory credible until some other rationale is brought forward. I have yet to hear of any rationale that provides a solid defense for keeping “Northwest.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Further, we still don’t have a student newspaper because when we had one, it was too _________ (fill in the blank). So “Yellowstone College” is another one of those campus conversations/stories that will never see the light of day—lost in the abyss of “no student publication.”</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-goVjrsiyBmY/XEJaUnNTKtI/AAAAAAAAAzo/NWpQN7fH8M814H5noblOmHjwCGJomTbpACEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-18%2Bat%2B3.58.25%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="1222" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-goVjrsiyBmY/XEJaUnNTKtI/AAAAAAAAAzo/NWpQN7fH8M814H5noblOmHjwCGJomTbpACEwYBhgL/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-18%2Bat%2B3.58.25%2BPM.png" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The diagram required to find us.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nevertheless, all I can do is go along with the status quo at this point and attempt to make lemonade from the lemons of the institution’s insipid name. That said, along with a few select others, we’ve been batting around new slogans to go along with the new marketing roll-out… something that is more unique, more genuine than our current “Your future, our focus.” And perhaps, we’ll have a few laughs of our own along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Go ahead, try to find us.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">We’re not where you think we are.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Don’t tell Washington State about us.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">We do vague.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">The world needs more ambiguity.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">The best junior college you can’t find.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Best direction… evah!</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">The opposite of southeast.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Not too far northwest.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;">Northwest College:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Think of us as Yellowstone College, but we’re not.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: georgia;">Update: </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">The web domains of y</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ellowstonecollege.edu, yellowstonecollege.com, theyellowstonecollege.edu are not available but are not active sites. It appears someone has purchased them (not me). A bible-based college, Yellowstone Christian College in Billings, Montana uses the domain name yellowstonechristian.edu.</span></span></div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-78592997808945490542018-02-14T21:54:00.002-07:002018-02-17T08:53:43.954-07:00The AR-15: America's Mass Murder Weapon of Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWKsc_lpGB0/WoUSeSAxunI/AAAAAAAAAxc/TSg8QheWnb8vFxOKpvJWb5b8Brq3W7dUwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-14%2Bat%2B7.56.35%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1290" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWKsc_lpGB0/WoUSeSAxunI/AAAAAAAAAxc/TSg8QheWnb8vFxOKpvJWb5b8Brq3W7dUwCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-14%2Bat%2B7.56.35%2BPM.png" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>An open letter to Colt Manufacturing…</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Dennis Veilleux</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">President & CEO Colt Manufacturing Company</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">P.O. Box 1868</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Hartford, CT 06144</span></div>
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Like it or not, the AR-15 is pretty much the gun that is associated with mass murders in the United States. Whether this is a formal or informal moniker, I can’t imagine it’s the type of association anyone would want for themselves or their business operations. And certainly if I knew of someone who owned such a weapon, I would undoubtedly steer clear of them under any circumstances given this weapon’s role in so many mass-murders.</div>
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After the events of today in Parkland, Florida (a place I’ve never heard of until today) involving the murder of over a dozen innocent victims at the hands of another deranged individual carrying another AR-15, I would like to believe that you and your board members would feel compelled to take some kind of public action that attempts to convince the general public that these events do not sit well with Colt (or any gun manufacturer).</div>
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I realize that several other manufacturers make their own versions (clones) of the AR-15 since the expiration of the patent, but it is the Colt name that has the greatest association and would ultimately make the most contribution in the weapon’s reduced role of slaughtered, innocent Americans. </div>
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If this has not come up in conversation, I would ask you to consider it. Perhaps even <a href="https://agingmillennialengineer.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/fuck-you-i-like-guns-2/" target="_blank">read this</a>. And, I would further challenge you to make a public statement accompanied with swift action—that Colt is undisputedly determined to rid itself of being the gun manufacturer that makes the mass-murder weapon of choice.</div>
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It’s a crazy idea, and probably not the best for short-term profits, but what if Colt denounced the AR-15 by ceasing its manufacturing immediately? Yeah, I know, not the smartest business plan, but surely you agree that even the life of one innocent person is more valuable than any decision that is best for business? You do, don’t you?<br />
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I dare you to announce to the world that a human life is more valuable than gun sales. I double-dog dare you.</div>
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And in making this simple statement and action, you could also apply some of your “Colt leverage” to the other AR-15 clone manufacturers. And, with any luck, suddenly the rightful demonization of this weapon of mass murders would commence. Oh sure, there will be those few who snatch up the remaining ones, but in the long run, the AR-15 will become the “Weapon of the Whack’o”—to the point that few would brag of having one or ever bring one out for show and tell. That might boost gun sales in a different—more responsible way. Imagine if that happened. Imagine Colt transforming from the manufacturer of America’s favorite mass-murder weapon, to the manufacturer of responsible gun ownership.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14px;">Ford quit manufacturing the Pinto when they were associated with blowing up from rear-end collisions… surely the civil-minded folk at Colt could do the same with the AR-15—America’s mass-murder weapon of choice until you do something about it.</span>mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-51121730594364171742018-01-19T08:11:00.001-07:002018-01-19T08:14:19.493-07:00Wyoming Public Media Disappoints Yet Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCItyAkxnYg/WmIJQ7k5gPI/AAAAAAAAAwU/vgCkcRnAukIajCggNNqygSWQRQcLFdifgCLcBGAs/s1600/1971901182_a46bc86ded_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="575" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCItyAkxnYg/WmIJQ7k5gPI/AAAAAAAAAwU/vgCkcRnAukIajCggNNqygSWQRQcLFdifgCLcBGAs/s320/1971901182_a46bc86ded_o.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’m disappointed to hear that Wyoming Public Media has dropped <i>On Point</i> for a second installment of the BBC because by the time <i>On Point</i> hits the airwaves its “content is rendered obsolete.” Seriously… That’s your rationale?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’ve never listened to <i>On Point </i>and thought to myself, “Wow, what they’re talking about there is totally obsolete now.” I’d rather have a bit of slightly dated in-depth discussion than more redundant, late-breaking news—which can be too new and often inaccurate itself. And, for the record, I’m OK with hearing news from the BBC, that’s valuable to me as well, but not twice a day. I suppose no one ever considered simply switching the two program slots? I will also argue that given how easy it is to find the BBC news in so many public radio offerings (not to mention satellite radio), it’s not as if you’re bringing something really unique to your Wyoming listeners, and I’m sure <i>On Point</i> isn’t nearly as ubiquitous as BBC broadcasts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Between the all-too-often dead-air SNAFUs common with Wyoming Public Media at any given time and now the dropping of <i>On Point,</i> I make no promises about my continued support come the spring fund-raising campaign.</span></div>
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-64673801245707345082018-01-13T08:47:00.000-07:002018-01-13T08:49:11.413-07:00A Small Front Account from the Cola Wars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PhKGavIKFM/Wloor7H8OPI/AAAAAAAAAv8/2YP_v05F2YcbgtEd8eOsGqH7cpMboe3lwCLcBGAs/s1600/Photo%2BJan%2B12%252C%2B5%2B26%2B42%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PhKGavIKFM/Wloor7H8OPI/AAAAAAAAAv8/2YP_v05F2YcbgtEd8eOsGqH7cpMboe3lwCLcBGAs/s320/Photo%2BJan%2B12%252C%2B5%2B26%2B42%2BPM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbTcqyimYVY">Pulp Fiction,</a> Uma Thurman’s character, Mia Wallace, declares that you can learn a lot about a person by the choice they make when given only two choices; such as The Beatles or Elvis. She then proceeds to ask Vincent Vega (John Travolta) with her video camera rolling what his choices would be when it comes to The Partridge Family or The Brady Bunch. On <i>Rich Man, Poor Man</i> which character does he prefer, Peter Strauss or Nick Nolte. How does he say “thank you” in a language other than English. </div>
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Over the years, I’ve considered this fictional character’s philosophy and have come up with a few either-this-or-that questions of my own to ask anyone I might encounter. At the top of my list of questions has to do with one’s choice when it comes to carbonated drinks (soda, pop, soda pop, etc.)—in particular, Coke or Pepsi.</div>
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Since my college days at Arizona State, I have been a Coke fan. And, it was Charlie Ochoa, a chemistry major who lived a couple doors down in our dorm, who pointed out to me that Coke was made from all natural products back then. I can still remember the list of ingredients: carbonated water, sugar, caramel coloring, caffeine and <span style="font-kerning: none;">phosphoric acid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Not that I’ve ever been a huge consumer of such drinks, but there have been a few times in my life when an entire six-pack of Coke was vanquished in the course of a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">From the 1980s on, Pepsi has always come across as flat and too sugary for my palette.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Several years ago, my place of employment—Northwest College—sold its soul to Pepsi; meaning only Pepsi products were permitted on campus. I’m sure Pepsi made the school an offer they couldn’t refuse. When all of that went down, I found it very disturbing because it felt so autocratic. It seemed to me that when one was enrolled in college, they should have choices. When they’re in jail, not so much. I was convinced that even on a small college campus, there was room for both brands of carmel-colored sugar-water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I would imagine that shortly after Pepsi became the only choice on campus, several Coke lovers were converted to Pepsi. But as you may have guessed, not me. With no Coke available anywhere at the college, I preferred nothing (or at least water) over Pepsi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">As it turned out, I wasn’t such a Coke fan after all. Although I occasionally purchased it and kept a small cache of it stocked in my office refrigerator, I couldn’t maintain the energy that was required of such behavior. In the end, I simply learned to go without.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">After so many years of abstaining from Pepsi, a strange thing happened… When I finally had the opportunity to have a Coke, it overpowered me with its sweetness to where if I drank an entire 12-ounce can, I felt a little sickly. As a result, I started making other choices that weren’t loaded with sugar—even when Coke was available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I can’t say I’ve consciously sworn off soft drinks completely, but I can tell you it’s been several months since I even had a taste of Coke or any other drink that’s carbonated and loaded with sugar.</span></div>
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So, instead of cursing Northwest College and Pepsi as I once did, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them instead. I’m sure my dentist approves.</div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-48495165755321422152018-01-07T21:19:00.000-07:002018-01-07T21:32:40.388-07:00On Pesky Emails, Cranky Faculty, and Whac-A-Mole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBTPtpMSFYQ/WlLvl1DXz9I/AAAAAAAAAvg/ARjlMbNj2v40KlKMyljTZtNw6vJirbzyACLcBGAs/s1600/PrairieSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="833" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBTPtpMSFYQ/WlLvl1DXz9I/AAAAAAAAAvg/ARjlMbNj2v40KlKMyljTZtNw6vJirbzyACLcBGAs/s320/PrairieSchool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It’s been a fabulous Christmas break, but ready or not, the Spring semester is nearly here. And with the semester’s approach is the inevitable barrage of email to my school account. It’s probably safe to assume that almost everyone hates junk email—a.k.a. “spam.” But, worse than spam from some unknown bookseller or “get-rich-quick” scheme coming from Africa is the spam that is generated by one’s own workplace—especially if it keeps on popping up in the inbox like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoP1E9J4jpg">Whac-a-Mole</a>—the popular arcade game.</div>
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At some point in time over the last two years, some administrative folk at my workplace—Northwest College—decided that faculty needed to have their syllabi posted on the college web site as soon as the previous semester was over. And from the end of one semester up until the beginning of the next semester—would you believe all summer long or throughout the Christmas break—email reminders all too often informing me and others that our syllabi haven’t been posted yet. Talk about being treated like a student—a student attending a students-at-risk school.</div>
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The other morning I had three of them from the office of academic affairs. The first one came at 6:58 a.m. Can you believe that—sending reminders out at 6:58 a.m. about missing syllabi? And then my questions… Is this not an illustration of academic bean-counting? Is this typical administrative on-the-job behavior? Surely if one is awake at that hour and would prefer to hit the ground running, aren’t there other administrative concerns that are more pressing than sending out harassing and irritating reminders about syllabi? Hell, I’d respect them more if I knew they were up all night gambling.</div>
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I’m sure administrative-types would argue with me in the language that they use: “<span style="font-kerning: none;">Please remember that posting syllabi in a timely manner allows students to make educated decisions when selecting courses to enroll in during any given semester.</span>” Such language is certainly well-intended, but really in all the years I’ve taught, I’ve never—repeat never—have had a student ask me (in person or email), “How come your syllabus isn’t posted for class.” Not even a week before classes begin. Maybe this kind of scenario is common at Stanford or Yale, but not so much at a junior college in Wyoming.</div>
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And if I can drive my point home a bit more, I’m reminded of the first day of class for any given semester when a syllabus hard copy is passed out to every student. After the class meets, it isn’t uncommon to find a handful of the syllabus left behind on the empty desks. </div>
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This new priority in getting syllabi posted “timely” at Northwest College has a history, albeit short. When weekly notices were sent out with an attached Excel file (if you can believe it) of all the culprits starting last spring for the upcoming fall semester, faculty started getting prickly. In one email response to the entire faculty and the Academic Affairs Office, a faculty member shot out a lengthy response that including the following paragraph:</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>I realize this will come across as snarky, but I honestly don’t know how else to put it. I find it frustrating and puzzling that I am expected to have materials ready four months in advance. Quite honestly, if I was sitting around with the kind of time to put material together this early, I probably would have done it already. In addition to expecting me to have materials ready four months before something is supposed to occur, using a “wall of shame” mechanism such as these messages is just insulting to me.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14px;">Over the years, I’ve found myself playing around with the idea of applying for some kind of admin job to finish out my years of employment, but when this kind of administrative song-and-dance goes down, I’m unable to take the idea any further.</span>mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-67209699310258432032017-12-23T10:18:00.000-07:002017-12-23T10:33:14.786-07:00The Trump Tick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like a tick, the longer he’s in office the more dangerous he is to our country. Nearly a year into the presidency, he has long since infiltrated the nation’s bloodstream with his poison as he bloats up from gorging on the nation’s fear and stupidity. All in plain sight, yet the country just watches as if they are fixated on a horror film at a theatre—completely detached from reality, entranced and wide-eyed while stuffing popcorn into its own face.<br />
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There’s been more than enough rationale to run Trump out of town on a rail long ago. And yet, nearly a year later, there he sits—embedded in the White House like some uninvited, blood-sucking tick. Honestly, I’m a bit worn out by the litany of causes that are asking for my money to fight this Presidency and his Republican-dominated Congress that are so blatantly fucking us over. I’m starting to think that all of this is orchestrated to simply generate money for those who oppose Trump as well, but have no real intention of ousting him. If we haven’t eliminated him by now, something tells me that those who have the power to actually pull it off aren’t truly interested.<br />
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So, I’m resigned. Whatever damage, disease, catastrophe we suffer as a result of our current “leader,” we have it coming. We deserve it, and there should be no shock when the other shoe finally drops. Because in the end, we are no better than any other country in the world that has experienced the same in the past.<br />
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Step up America, it’s time to get punched in the face really hard (and you thought 9/11 was bad). Congratulations, you’ve earned it.mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-87409321082582761422017-10-15T21:58:00.000-06:002018-12-09T19:58:11.237-07:00A White On Whites Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let’s not kid ourselves here: Anyone that is likely reading this is probably as white as a saltine cracker. This blog is written by a White dude (a border-line, old-White-dude), living in a very dominant White community in a very dominant White state and so if that’s the case, you’re probably White too. That said, this post isn’t for those White folk who reference Blacks (or other minorities) with derogatory/disparaging references, rather it’s for those who find themselves surrounded by such individuals or who have a neutral/say-nothing viewpoint. In essence, this post is especially for all of you Caucasians out there. Nevertheless, any Black folk that accidentally, luckily, or serendipitously stumble on to this, you’re certainly welcome to chime in as well.</div>
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So first this: Black lives matter. They really do. They matter as much as the lives of <i>everyone</i> else. And as long as we’re here, BLM <i>does not</i> mean that other lives don’t matter. Rather, in the light of so much injustice to those with darker skin, they matter as much.</div>
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That’s the essence of Black Lives Matter in case you missed it. No one ever claimed that it was about “Black lives only matter.” This phrase was coined due to the unjustified and unprosecuted deaths in the Black community carried out by a disproportionate amount of law enforcement officials. Specifically, Black Lives Matter is the response that erupted following the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin. Alicia Garza is credited for the phrase in a Facebook post following the news of Zimmerman’s acquittal when she said, “Black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter.” From that brief love letter to her own people, one of her friends created the hashtag, and the rest is history.</div>
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Further, Black Lives Matter is not only about Blacks, I would argue that it is also a rally cry of all marginalized minorities of color, religion, sexual orientation, etc.</div>
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Black lives matter is another way of saying White privilege needs to be reeled in. You don’t have to look too far back in history to find evidence of this—whether it’s armed White dudes taking over a wildlife refuge in Oregon or armed White Nazis and Nationalists marching through the streets of Charlottesville. Anyone who has lived in this country long enough knows that none of that would have unfolded with so few casualties had these groups been African-American or Latino.</div>
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As Anglos, it is dire that we not remain neutral or silent—considering ourselves as only spectators in this struggle of social justice. Perhaps we can look to the examples of White NFL players Chris Long (Philadelphia Eagles), Justin Britt (Seattle Seahawks) and Seth DeValve (Cleveland Browns) who have supported, stood next to and kneeled with their Black teammates. In short, we can now factor in these role models of our own as we consider where we stand in this ongoing dialogue—if that’s what it takes.</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Consider the words of Seattle Seahawks player Michael Bennett who has chosen to take a knee during the National Anthem this season after experiencing his own taste of racial profiling at the hands of law enforcement in Las Vegas. “It would take a white player to really get things changed. Because when somebody from the other side understands and they step up and they speak up about it. ... it would change the whole conversation. Because when you bring somebody who doesn’t have to be a part of the conversation making himself vulnerable in front of it, I think when that happens, things will really take a jump.” —Michael Bennett / Seattle Seahawks</span></div>
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And so, here we are at a crossroad where I am asking you to take up my little challenge. You don’t have to take a knee during the National Anthem, march in the streets, or take over a government-run operation.</div>
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You see, I have a few of these Black Lives Matter wristbands that are yours to wear if you are up for the challenge. It sounds ominous, doesn’t it? But, you know what? I’ve been wearing mine here in Powell, Wyoming (perhaps the most conservative county in the most conservative state of the nation), and I’m still here. And yes, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve even caught myself considering removing the wristband when I’m about to put myself in a setting that might not be too kind to the message’s reception. Yet, I tell myself, those are the times I must keep it on.</div>
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Think of this challenge as you’re own little slice of everyday dissidence, or you’re own little silent protest. Yeah, I know, it’s a little uncomfortable at first, but as the quote says on the banner of this blog, <span style="text-shadow: 0.0px -1.8px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“</span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px -1.8px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If it’s not at least a bit uncomfortable, it’s probably not real dissidence. </span>Some have stated that they’d rather not be political or controversial when it comes to something like Facebook, and if that’s the case, here’s a way of doing such outside of the Facebook universe. <span style="font-kerning: none; text-shadow: 0.0px -1.8px 0.0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And if you just can’t bring yourself to this challenge, I’ll understand. </span>I’m not going to think any less of you should you not respond, only more respect should you take up the cause.</div>
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Should you need inspiration beyond my words, here’s a couple good quotes that might push you over the edge to take up this challenge.</div>
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“Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.” —Maggie Kuhn</div>
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“What we allow will continue. What continues will escalate.” —Katherine Fugate.</div>
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I would imagine to some extent, Black folk wearing BLM clothing and accessories is practically a necessity or at least, a given. But, it certainly isn’t expected or considered necessary when it comes to those of us with fair skin. However, as I sit here writing this, I’m starting to think that maybe such displays are necessary if we truly believe “all men are created equal.”</div>
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-71881465970715377612017-10-11T09:57:00.000-06:002017-10-11T10:48:23.545-06:00Curing Mental Illness vs. Gun Laws with Teeth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“This American carnage stops RIGHT HERE, and stops RIGHT NOW.”</i> —Fuckface von Clownstick.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(And the people clapped)</span></i></span></div>
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It’s been well over a week, so it would seem now is good time to start talking about gun laws—before another mass shooting shakes the country to its core again. (Never mind the everyday mass shootings that injure and kill only a handful of our fellow citizens.)</div>
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As authorities in law, psychology, and other professions sift through the evidence more than a week after the Las Vegas shooting, everyone remains dumbfounded in the case of Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter. Even those closest to him (family, the gambling and gun-selling communities) are clueless and never had a vibe regarding his character of darkness that he kept from everyone so well. He certainly was an anomaly, but that’s how distant we are to addressing mental illness as a solution to mass murders. Think about it: its been over a week after the Las Vegas massacre, and we still have zilch.</div>
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Its odd that those who advocate curing mental illness is the solution to preventing mass killings, have no particulars when it comes to how we get there. It’s just this vague, clouded idea—much like asking for directions to a location and your told, “Yeah, I know the place, but I’ve never seen it, but if you go up the road a distance, I’m sure you’ll find it.”</div>
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This seems like a good place/time to ask why gun violence is always linked to mental illness? I think our society has a tendency to make the two synonymous. As to say, gun violence is the result of mental illness and mental illness is the result of gun violence. One thing to keep in mind—based on research—the overwhelming majority of people with mental illnesses are no more violent than the overwhelming majority of people in general.</div>
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Simply stated, the mental health discussion to a safer community that carries firearms is nothing more than a smokescreen for the gun advocates of our society. It’s simply a diversion with an impossible solution that keeps as many people away from talking about real solutions. This is a quintessential example of “kicking the can” down the road.</div>
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Can you imagine what advances in mental health it will take to reach a point where outward-appearing everyday guys can be found-out before they reach their inward critical mass to do the unthinkable (which has materialized far too many times)? It will be nothing short of placing mind-readers in gun stores, the workplace, and the homes of everyone who is suspect. </div>
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And how far do we go in lumping the various attributes that lead to violence with mental illness? Most agree that things like schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and major depression can fall under the mental illness umbrella, but what about those with a history of child abuse, binge drinking, or simply being male—because those things are also linked to violence. Then there are those who have experienced resentment, revenge, social isolation, a tendency to externalize blame, a fascination with violent video games, and a passion for weaponry.</div>
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The immediate answer to reducing the number of mass murders in America isn’t in wrestling and sorting out the far-off mysteries and fuzzy-logic of mental illness, but rather in implementing concrete, extensive and tougher gun laws that mirror the requirements of other dangerous operations such as the various levels of licensing in the operation of a vehicle.</div>
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When it comes to mental illness warning signs, it seems fair that anyone who has over, x-number of guns (a number agreed upon by a rationale-minded group) and a bunch of ammunition is a candidate for some kind of mental illness screening. And, short of legitimate gun collectors, those who possess vast arsenals of guns and ammo, might this passion be an extension of their army-playing days in their youth. (If that isn’t a form of mental illness, I don’t know what is.)</div>
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Should we make drastic improvements in mental health that allow us to identify a mass-murderer before they act, then we can talk about the elimination of gun laws. For starters, if you want to stop mass murders, require every person who has x-number of guns and ammo, or owns an “assault-style, non-hunting” gun to get regular screening.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNW_x0YJRSs/Wd4-MOZI6AI/AAAAAAAAAq0/wLRkGPhoOpQkkidDWW3TZvHxJHgHEat1wCLcBGAs/s1600/LasVegasPostMassacre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNW_x0YJRSs/Wd4-MOZI6AI/AAAAAAAAAq0/wLRkGPhoOpQkkidDWW3TZvHxJHgHEat1wCLcBGAs/s200/LasVegasPostMassacre.jpg" width="200" /></a>Getting a driver’s license, a car license, and insurance is a true inconvenience when it comes to driving. However, it doesn’t prevent us from securing our right to drive, it’s just a precautionary to ensure that we can carry out the task without being a great risk to society. And so, owning a gun should be the same kind of inconvenience for anyone wishing to possess a firearm and/or ammunition. Besides, if you're a “good-guy-with-a-gun,” you shouldn’t object to a little inconvenience, right?</div>
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Despite all of this, I’m reluctant to believe that if the day should come when we can identify people with mental illness quickly, the NRA-gun lobby will likely still resist anything that prevents people from getting their hands on guns.</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For the time being, America has long since disqualified itself when it comes to “greatness” in its tolerance for continuous massacres of its innocent citizens. Any great country would have addressed and solved this problem by now. Australia... now there's a great country. New Zealand... another great country. Japan... yes. Etc.</span></div>
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-86197427612442525512017-08-20T12:56:00.000-06:002017-08-20T12:59:58.855-06:00What’s Your White Privilege Agenda?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This <i>is not</i> a time to be passive. This <i>is not</i> a time to worry about your job or how your employer might react. This <i>is not</i> a time to worry about losing friends or pissing off other family members.</div>
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By now, the events of Charlottesville that produced a visual display of hate directed at anyone not in the White Nationalist/Neo-Nazis camp is known to all. If you’re not appalled by what unfolded there, than you might as well go ahead and send in your annual dues to the Ku Klux Klan, The Daily Stormer, The National Vanguard, or any other <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/groups">hate group.</a></div>
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This isn’t a matter of free speech expressing ideas that are beyond the status quo. This is about the treatment of others who are lesser in numbers, lesser in power and influence, and especially those of non-white skin color and not claiming Jesus Christ as their personal savior.</div>
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As I search for ways of expressing my views on such matters, I am comforted by those who have made their expressions known already and do it in such a way that there is no need for me to “reinvent the wheel.”</div>
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Alex Stonewall, a journalist living in Seattle, Washington had this to say:</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>1) All the labels aside, what unites these White Nationalists is a belief in turning the U.S. into a White ethno-state. By definition, such a state would undermine the fundamental rights of Americans who aren’t white, and violate our most basic principals.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>2) For that reason they’re entitled to the least generous interpretation of the first amendment. They don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, an equal seat at the table, a venue at our schools and universities, or special protections by our police for their demonstrations, because they’re not coming to those conversations in good faith — they’re coming with an explicit end-goal of violating the rights of others.</i></span></div>
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3) Their employers, family members and neighbors have the right to know when they’re actively espousing such a harmful agenda -- what they do with that information (e.g. firing them, ) is up to them, within the confines of the law.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Lastly, the ageless words of Eli Wiesel, a Romanian-born American Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and—most importantly—Holocaust survivor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In short, this is not a time to be spectator. Consider you neutrality, your passiveness, your willingness to be silent, your comfort, your privilege—your White privilege in particular.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14px;">As Philadelphia Eagles defensive end (and White athlete) Chris Long put it regarding his recent actions of support for fellow-teammates protesting during the National Anthem, “I think it’s a good time for people who look like me to be here for people fighting for equality.”</span>mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-350901809318448412017-06-28T10:22:00.001-06:002017-07-25T14:34:31.756-06:00Start Background Search Here<div style="text-align: right;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXsv5p-pq8k/WVPdbkk7uRI/AAAAAAAAAok/7pX7bemnNcUH4f0tGmOXuiDSMN_BJKIWACLcBGAs/s1600/2015-12-31%2Bat%2B13.03.49%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXsv5p-pq8k/WVPdbkk7uRI/AAAAAAAAAok/7pX7bemnNcUH4f0tGmOXuiDSMN_BJKIWACLcBGAs/s320/2015-12-31%2Bat%2B13.03.49%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It’s no secret that I’ve been looking for other work, in other places. It’s not that I’m unhappy in my current teaching job, but the climate of low enrollments along with the recent cutting of programs and personnel makes it more treacherous than past years. Although I’m am tenured, I’ve never considered tenure an absolute lock on any given job.</div>
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So, in the last two years, I’ve been looking a little harder than usual. Mostly looking for jobs beyond the classroom, but not necessarily outside of education. As I see it, I’m probably in the last ten-to-fifteen years of my working life and this is a chance to do possibly one more thing that is a departure from the last twenty-five years.</div>
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Admittedly, I don’t look forward to the physical act of relocating. There’s a part of my history where I’ve paid my dues when it comes to moving—not to mention the assistance I’ve provided for others to do the same in my adult years. As a result, if I never succeed in finding a new gig, I’ll still be happy where I am and in the same job. I could do much worse.</div>
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In searching and applying for new employment, a few colleagues and friends have warned me about my social media activity. “You better clean up that Facebook page before you put yourself out there,” is a common suggestion. And, I understand how that—as a general rule—is good advice. God knows I have a blog that has more than its share of political monologues, along with Twitter and Facebook posts that are critical of almost anything. So, it comes as surprising to no one that I have kicked my share of anthills.</div>
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Yet, as I consider this advice, it is counter productive to who I am. I’ve often asked myself, “Do I really want to work for someone or some entity that finds my critical (albeit blunt and direct) commentaries intimidating or distasteful? Do I want to work for someone who thinks I might ask tough questions on the job, step on someone’s toes, and/or be confrontational at times?”</div>
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Well, my answer isn’t just “no,” but “hell no!” If a potential employer is so timid, so thinned-skinned, so pollyanna-esque when it comes to my character and my willingness to call out someone or some policy to be defended or explained, I don’t need them—and they certainly don’t need me. What they need in another “yes person,” and that ain’t me, folks.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Marsha Stewart</span></i></div>
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-60866977780239147762017-03-27T20:15:00.000-06:002017-03-27T20:57:31.073-06:00Words About Wind<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4npf6_rKdf4/WNnGKiWxBlI/AAAAAAAAAoA/pVbCvTxG77cYrnUAktxtGaR440l81vLEACLcB/s1600/2017-03-27%2Bat%2B18.17.05%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4npf6_rKdf4/WNnGKiWxBlI/AAAAAAAAAoA/pVbCvTxG77cYrnUAktxtGaR440l81vLEACLcB/s320/2017-03-27%2Bat%2B18.17.05%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Polecat Bench Overlooking Badger Basin</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>27 March 2017</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The wind is strong and steady, but there are no visual clues. </span>No tree branches whipping in the air up here—no flags flying, no tall grasses swaying in the breeze.<br />
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Everything is stunted and low to the ground. The harshness of this environment has no appreciation for ornate or abundant extremities. The world up here is all about modesty—except for the wind.</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">You have to look close at short blades of Buffalo grass—specifically the cured out growth from last season. There you can see the wind’s power. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But you’ll never see it driving at 65mph, or 45mph, or 25 mph—not even at 10 mph. You must be still, and only then you can hear it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">You’ll hear it whipping along the contours of your vehicle. Turn off the engine and you can even feel it rocking the truck. As strong as it is, the sensation inside the heavy machinery is gentle and soothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Step out into it and you hear even more. Feel it navigate around your body and head, creating audible turbulence as it works around the odd shapes of your non-aero-dynamic ears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14px;">You sense a lull, perhaps it has finally tired. But no, it is only inhaling another breath of atmosphere into its Wyoming-sized lungs. This next blast is even greater. </span><br />
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-56772364142690533892017-03-17T19:57:00.000-06:002017-11-02T14:27:45.725-06:00The Flagpole of Spurn/Squat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There’s this flagpole on our campus that seldom flies a flag—of any kind. On graduation day, an American flag is hoisted up the mass of straightened metal and flies for the day. I’m told that it flies again sometime in the summer when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys/Girls_State">Girls State</a> is in town for the week. So, in all, it might fly a flag for a total of 1 week out of the entire year.</div>
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This flagpole of spurn is located in front of our gym which is also the same building of the art offices and classrooms. This January, my office was moved to the art department and it was then that I became acutely aware of the flagstaff’s abandoned state.</div>
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I contemplated its under-appreciated existence several times as I pulled up to the building on my Sears single-speed bicycle in the mornings. And then slowly, I started considering the idea of what it would take to dress it up—short of requiring the attendance of a color guard everyday.</div>
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These thoughts were totally innocent and had nothing to do with making a statement when it comes to flag-flying. It was a proposal rooted in bringing color to an empty and under-appreciated space on our campus—nothing more. However, if someone had accused me of being “politically correct” in this proposal, I suppose I would have absorbed that charge as well.</div>
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<b>Flag Laws</b></div>
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The first thing I did was look into the legality of flying a non-American flag on a college campus. I didn’t think there was anything illegal about it, but nevertheless I did a bit a googling.</div>
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There were a few things I didn’t know and many things I already knew. The new knowledge I gained about flag flying had to do with the flag-flying laws of each state—and almost all of it was in the context of the American flag. For example, did you know that…</div>
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• On Memorial Day, the flag is to fly at half-mast until noon.</div>
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In my search to find anything wrong with my proposal, I found only the following:</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">• The American flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">• In North Dakota, public display of other than the U.S. flag, a State flag, or flag of a friendly foreign nation is prohibited.</span></div>
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• In California, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Idaho <span style="font-kerning: none;">the display of the red flag or any other flag in a public place is prohibited. A plain red flag is associated with socialist or communist rallies—think International Workers’ Day. It is also an unofficial symbol for socialism, communism, and left-wing politics—going all the way back to the French Revolution.</span></div>
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However, when it comes to Wyoming, I could only find the following: “<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">prohibits state military organizations from carrying other than U.S. flags.”</span></div>
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<b>The Proposal</b></div>
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Following my semi-exhaustive research into any flag laws that might bite me in the arse, I sent my proposal out in an email to the campus community:</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>If there are no objections, the Art Department would like to be the caretakers of the flagpole in front of Cabre Gym. In case you’re wondering, it only flies a flag (the American and Wyoming flag) on graduation day. We would like to give it something else to do for the remainder of the academic year (perhaps even summers) as well.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>As its caretakers, we would like to fly a number of different flags—a new one every week if we can muster it. National flags where some of our students come from, other states where our students come from, professional organization flags that are active on our campus, flags that represent humanitarian causes, and of course, flags that simply celebrate art—hopefully generated by our students. (Hey Del Nose, how about sending us a NIRA flag for this spring?) We’ve even considered having a contest to see who can identify a not-so-common flag now and then.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>And fear not, we’ve established a checks and balance system: any flag that flies must be agreed upon by all members of the Art Department before it is hoisted up the pole.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Lastly, during the entire week of graduation, we agree to fly Old Glory and the Wyoming flag only while lowering them each day at sunset (unless we get lights for it).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>So, if you have a flag that you believe is worthy of this cause and you’d like to see it fly in front of Cabre Gym, send it our way and we’ll fly it some upcoming week. Let’s put some colorful leaves on that tall, gray tree.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>—Morgan Tyree</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Asst. Prof. of Graphics</i></span></div>
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<b>The Reception</b></div>
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As expected, the responses from this timid, little campus were few—probably about five percent of the entire campus faculty and staff (if that). The first responders were all very favorable. But one community member was against the idea unless there was another flagpole. Another chimed in saying that flying other flags “<span style="font-kerning: none;">would be asking for some unwelcome response.”</span> One staff member wondered if the flagpole and whatever flag was flying might “become a bully pulpit for any particular way of thinking.” He also asked, “Is the Art Department willing to offend both sides by giving equal time on the pole?”</div>
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But the biggest stink came from a middle-management administrator, who was vehemently opposed.</div>
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Despite her opposition and informing me that it was illegal, she proved to be no better than our President Trump when it came to citing facts. Here’s the back and forth via email that transpired.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>I do have an issue with other country’s flags being flown on the American soil without the presence of the Old Glory….it is downright disrespectful and I take offense to it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>There is a code of conduct when it comes to displaying other nations’ flags on American soil….as was suggested in your email regarding international students’ country of origin flags being displayed without the American flag. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>There is a code of conduct when it comes to flying the American flag and as Americans we need to respect the symbol of our nation. Keep in mind the people of this community provide financial support to our College and I am sure many will be offended if they don’t see the Old Glory respected properly.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>You may want to refer to </i><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+4USC7"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #0463c1;"><i>U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7</i></span></a><i> regarding the display of other nation’s flags on American soil.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I couldn’t disagree with you more. There’s no law that says you can’t fly another flag of nationality on a Wyoming college campus. Those laws have to do with flying other nation flags alongside the American flag. The flagpole in front of Cabre Gym is not an “American only” flagpole. This isn’t about being disrespectful to the American flag or marginalizing it in any way, and I’m sorry if you take it that way. It’s simply about flying other flags for the sake of brightening up a campus eyesore. But, if there’s enough noise about this, it’ll stay barren because I don’t have the energy for making this into a political/patriotic debate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>There are laws ESPECIALLY for public buildings such as our College and it would be beneficial for you to research it a bit.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Show me the language. Cut and paste it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Research flag code for the state of Wyoming</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">This is all I’ve uncovered…</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Wyoming “prohibits state military organizations from carrying other than U.S. flags.” See section on “forbidden flags” by state. <a href="http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-law.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #0463c1;">http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-law.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Research further on the code regarding the flag for public buildings.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Quit wasting my time. You show me. You say it’s there, cut and paste it for me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>As a scholar you know how to research so enjoy researching. : )</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’ve looked and found nothing that verifies your claim. Time to put up or shut up about it. Prove me wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Morgan, I don’t appreciate your rudeness towards me. Your email started with “if there are no objections”…….I had objections and shared them with you in a civil manner and have tried to hold a discussion with you. I don’t appreciate being told to shut up.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">My apologies, but you still haven’t supported your claim.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Morgan, whenever I want to start any project, I make sure to do my research before I present it. I am not obligated to prove anything. However since this is your project, the burden is on you to do thorough research.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ha! So, you really have nothing. I shared with you the little bit of related research I could find on this subject. The onus is on you now to prove otherwise since you have disagreed with my findings—skimpy as they may be. I’m sure if you really had something concrete and convincing, you would have schooled me properly on matters of research by now—which I would humbly accept. You would have done well to simply object on your own merits without referencing some obscure/mysterious/non-existent flag law that you are unable to verify.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">She said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Morgan,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>you made me laugh out loud.....you are funny :)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: blue;">My response:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">You’re pretty hilarious too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">What a time-waster. In the end, having this “civil” discourse with one of my educational colleagues was an educational bust. Instead of just simply saying that she would find it offensive, she defended her blind patriotism with a made-up-in-her-mind flag law, all the while citing the importance of doing educational research. Yet, in the end, she couldn’t produce a shred of evidence that backed up her claims. Reminds me of a defenseless parent who resorts to saying something like, “Do what I say, not what I do!” </span></div>
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A part of me has embraced this outcome because it’s pretty much what I expected from such a weak-kneed and unimaginative community (as a whole). All it took was a minuscule, but vocal few to drown out whatever numbers of quiet support there may have been.</div>
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No doubt I should have listened to a friend who texted me and told me to stay out of it with the following…</div>
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<i>I don’t mean to be Debbie Downer here, but if you’re serious about a career move you don't need to be distracted by shit like this. Focus grasshopper. If you’re getting out of NWC, it’s time to turn your back for good. Don’t post this flag stuff on your blog either. And yeah, I expected some sort of reaction like this when u told me about it. </i></div>
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And, I don’t always make the right choices either. </div>
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<b>Folding it up</b></div>
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In the end, I suppose it’s truly symbolic (since we’re talking about flag-flying) of this community that an empty, barren and cheerless flagpole turns out to be preferred over flying a few harmless rags of color. Think about that symbolism.</div>
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Ironically, this brief discourse has come and gone with very little input from a significant membership of the community—it’s students. But, since the newspaper has been taken down, what other means do we have to engage the student population on such matters?</div>
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There’s much to read into about a community that is hesitant/unwilling to fly any flag other than the national flag. Perhaps they don’t want to be labeled unpatriotic, but if I were a betting man, it strikes me as textbook xenophobia. Nevertheless, I suppose it’s a fine line between the two.</div>
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Lastly, in contemplating political correctness, in the run-up to Donald Trump’s presidency, he and his followers in the national spotlight railed on the whole political correctness “thing,” claiming it was getting in the way of looking out for America’s best interests (albeit “White America”). I wouldn’t have thought the same message would resonate so far down the food chain to our minuscule, local level—but indeed, it has.</div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-16019604882237038982017-02-07T22:10:00.000-07:002017-02-08T22:32:20.733-07:00Death to the GOP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vcg6ytrkr0c/WJqnp78XwcI/AAAAAAAAASE/ndL1jmp_sK4VzlkGyMgOnS6iBM1ElJ8wACLcB/s1600/16602176_1368392543181184_5364150374497423422_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vcg6ytrkr0c/WJqnp78XwcI/AAAAAAAAASE/ndL1jmp_sK4VzlkGyMgOnS6iBM1ElJ8wACLcB/s320/16602176_1368392543181184_5364150374497423422_o.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Donald Trump has delivered. We can not act surprised in this man of action and the promises he has made and carried out thus far. However, just because someone makes promises and delivers, doesn't make them noble, ethical or magnanimous. He is simply a man of action with a diabolical agenda—not a role model for any decent human.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Despite my unhealthy views for the orange-faced dictator, I have even more contempt for those who continue to support him and prop up his agenda in what is known as the Republican party.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’ll confess here, that I've never gone out of my way to vote Republican, but I've never ruled them out completely. And yes, I have voted Republican a few times in my voting life. But, after today—after the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education—I never will again. No more. Nada. I’m finished voting for these political whores of the rich and powerful. I’ll vote an independent-write-in before I vote for another Republican. I’ll make up an opponent before I vote for a fucking Republican again. Anyone who chooses to run under the same flag that is propped up by scoundrels and frauds like Mitch McConnell, Mike Pence, John Barrasso, Mike Enzi, Paul Ryan—and yes, Donald Trump—are guilty by association in my book. The GOP has become a shameless party fueled by pure unapologetic deceit and unabashed hypocrisy—camouflaged in Christian values and the American flag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Republicans have become a desperate bunch who know the glory days of the “grand old White party” are waning, and they’ll do anything they can to hold on to power. Welcome to the early stages of America’s Apartheid. Hopefully it is short-lived.</span></div>
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-58074506244122514882017-01-21T23:20:00.000-07:002017-01-22T11:13:29.739-07:00He Is My President<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4etm7gZLTHU/WIROeHQ5UtI/AAAAAAAAARQ/Xo0fkmUz_pApfumokJJb7U1L3xMVpIR4wCLcB/s1600/2015-06-25%2Bat%2B16.09.18%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4etm7gZLTHU/WIROeHQ5UtI/AAAAAAAAARQ/Xo0fkmUz_pApfumokJJb7U1L3xMVpIR4wCLcB/s320/2015-06-25%2Bat%2B16.09.18%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Donald Trump <i>is</i> my President, and I think he <i>is</i> a fuck-wit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I may not like Trump, but I really do have to accept him as my President just like he may not like me calling him a fuck-wit, but he’s going to have to accept that too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, for the next four years (and hopefully it won’t be that long) I intend to doubt everything about him based on his past. Give him a chance? No way—he’s a calculating jackass. And who gives a calculating jackass a second, third, or fourth chance? I saw all I needed to see during his campaigning—which was disturbing to say the least. I have all kinds of adjectives for Trump—none are favorable, and I don’t see anything on the horizon that will make me think differently. I’ll never rule out the possibility of having something good to say about the douche, but I’m doubtful. He’s dug himself in pretty deep as I see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But, for the record I am willing to admit I’m wrong about anything to do with Trump if it ever comes to that. In fact, I would prefer such an outcome. This is one time I don’t want to be right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Which reminds me; people don’t like to admit they are wrong and they don’t like to say “I’m sorry.” In this day and age, it seems more true than ever. And that’s the scary part. Too many of the proud Trump voters will probably stick to their guns even when the most casual observer has concluded Trump is every bit the fraudster we said he was. When the economy tanks, when the good-paying manufacturing jobs never materialize, when crime starts rising again—and God forbid—the nukes come raining down on the world, the mouth-breathers of the United States will find someone else to blame. I betcha Obama will be the scapegoat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">As a voter who voted for the loser, it’s important for me to point out here that the uproar over this President, isn’t about Republicans winning and Democrats losing. It’s about an asshole running the country. It’s about an asshole fooling a lot of good people. It takes a fool to vote for a fool, but Trump roped many others with his little feat of political sorcery—competent, smart, and reasonable people. Nevertheless, I suspect many of them will come to regret that choice someday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Had Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina, or even Ted Cruz won the election, nothing would be going on like it is today—nothing like it at all. Oh sure, there would be some cracks at one of those new Presidents (no worse than G.W. Bush or Obama), but Donald Trump is in a class all on his own, and it’s a very, very low class—where the greasiest, double-dealing snake-oil salesmen dwell. You voted for Rubio over Hillary, I get’cha. But, you voted for Trump over Hillary (or anyone)! What the fuck, man!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, as this shit-show of a Presidency unfolds, I will remain optimistic as I anticipate the day when Donald Trump is a broken and demoralized man—more so than the day of Dylan Roof’s execution.</span></div>
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-72366731934420078162016-12-24T20:02:00.000-07:002016-12-26T16:53:52.988-07:00Membership Has Its Privileges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piCnX1YRHs4/WF8xgHo_ZJI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/FJ3oQLIJhs8JraGNEiFpC4j60j8hFJ0ogCEw/s1600/CardCarrier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piCnX1YRHs4/WF8xgHo_ZJI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/FJ3oQLIJhs8JraGNEiFpC4j60j8hFJ0ogCEw/s320/CardCarrier.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Racism isn’t just politically incorrect, it’s wrong. And sadly, this still has to be said as 2016 comes to an end.</div>
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I’m not an expert on racism, but sooner or later we all end up in conversations about it, and like it or not, we end up speaking our mind. I’ve done so <a href="http://everydaydissidence.blogspot.com/2012/04/true-adversary-stealth-racism.html">before on this blog</a> and after watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdoMkoM2Zq0">a disturbing video</a> recently, perhaps this is a good time to say something about it again—in particular, “reverse racism” since it is gaining traction in light of our new President and his followers.</div>
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Over the years, I’ve heard my share of White folk now and then talk about “reverse racism”—stating events where they or someone they know (also White) have experienced it. It kind of makes sense if you don’t think too hard about what they are saying, but I’ve never bought into this fabricated concept, and here’s why.</div>
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Racism is something that is dealt out by a majority. Now, if you are White and living in a neighborhood where a minority of our country’s citizens are the majority, you might experience racism at the local level, but you won’t have much to worry about beyond that neighborhood. However, if you’re a minority of our country, you probably have plenty of stories in your life where you have experienced the ugliness of racism no matter where you live.</div>
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Many see minority and majority in terms of numbers only. But, those who possess the greatest power easily become the majority as well—see Apartheid South Africa circa 1960s. Here in the United States, Whites make up over 60% of the population and the closest contestant to that are Latinos at a paltry 16%, with Blacks coming in at 12.2%. Given this math and the excessive distribution of power doled out to Whites in government and business, it’s safe to say that Caucasians are indisputably safe as our country’s majority.</div>
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It’s also important to keep in mind that racism is based on two important concepts that minorities don’t have much of, and therefore can not exercise: power and privilege. Look no further than the disproportionate arrest and sentencing for people of color vs. Whites when it comes to… say, drug crimes. Further, Whites are certainly <span style="font-kerning: none;">less likely to experience racial profiling and when arrested, will almost certainly have superior legal representation compared to those of color. Finally, the odds favor Whites when it comes to talking themselves out of an arrest—especially if it is a White police officer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The bottom line is this: you can’t make a legitimate claim as a victim of racism providing you’re a member of the majority. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">And while you’re at it, don’t get confused when it comes to angry words, protests or fights for equality as some form of racism. This is simply (and understandably) an unpleasant response from centuries of White privilege and power. Civility is nice if you can get it, but not everyone who has experienced racism is going to be nice about it when it comes up in discussion. Being a pollyanna about such discussions will only confirm how comfortable you truly are in your White privilege—which probably means you are a racist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Lastly, I read this not long ago:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Making a racist statement is a manifestation of racist culture; being “mean” isn’t. For Whites, it can be difficult to be confronted with the reality of racism, and with comments from people of color about how privilege and power operate. It’s tempting to take such comments personally and to insist that people of color are being “mean,” which is often a hop, skip, and a jump away from an accusation of reverse racism. </i>—S.E. Smith</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’m unsure if there will ever be a time in the future when being a member of the majority won’t be a privilege. However, as long as that’s the case, along with your privilege you should include several good measures of accountability, compassion and an ability to absorb criticism or insults that may not be as personal as you think. It’s a puny price to pay.</span></div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-53387565400256083402016-11-24T12:05:00.002-07:002016-11-27T21:11:23.616-07:00Critics Unite!<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nwa7YqGH5fo/WDc57hSRpbI/AAAAAAAAAQc/SIbbekvYQIcFLLyNlrvx8zn3u5l3trTqwCLcB/s1600/2016-07-05%2Bat%2B20.48.28%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nwa7YqGH5fo/WDc57hSRpbI/AAAAAAAAAQc/SIbbekvYQIcFLLyNlrvx8zn3u5l3trTqwCLcB/s320/2016-07-05%2Bat%2B20.48.28%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It’s a fine line between being a critic or being a complainer. I’ve always thought of myself as someone who isn’t too afraid to speak out and offer up a critique on any given issue that I encounter. As a result, and over the years, I know many in my community and workplace see me as a complainer.</div>
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For the record, here’s some definitions that I scrounged up on these two terms:<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Critic: a person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something, the practice of judging the merits and faults of something.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>C</i></span><i>omplainer: one who states a grievance, an expression of displeasure.</i></div>
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I’ve certainly “shot my wad” as the expression goes. Translation: I’ve spoken up enough times—especially in those instances when no one else did—that anything I say from here on is for the most part greeted as, “Oh, that’s just Morgan complaining again. He’s always complaining about something.”</div>
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In contemplating these two terms, I’ve stumbled onto many famous quotes that defend <i>and</i> attack the critic/complainer. </div>
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In the corner attacking criticism/complaining, there are the following:</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting.” —Emmet Fox</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already.” —unknown</span></div>
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“<span style="font-kerning: none;">If you don’t like the menu, leave the restaurant.” —Chris Brogan (Akin to “If you don’t like it, leave.”)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” –Benjamin Franklin</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Watch out for the joy-stealers: gossip, criticism, complaining, faultfinding, and a negative, judgmental attitude.” —Joyce Meyer</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">And in the corner defending the critic/complainer, we have these:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.” —Frank A. Clark</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“I like criticism. It makes you strong.” —LeBron James</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” —Winston Churchill</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president... is morally treasonable to the American public.” —Theodore Roosevelt</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.” —Norman Vincent Peale</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.” —Johannes Kepler</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me that I relate more to those quotes that defend the critic while those who attack it strike me as thin-skinned do-gooders who are actually up to no-good.</span></div>
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In the last four years or so, I’ve been relatively quiet in my critiques, which can be verified by looking at the frequency of posts to this blog. Some friends have even noted it as well saying things like, “You’ve been pretty quiet lately—what’s going on?”</div>
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I must confess that the election of Donald Trump and everything that he brings (and doesn’t bring) to the Presidency has awakened me. Yep, critical posts to Facebook and my little circle of like-minded friends (mostly) isn’t good enough any longer. So, here I am.</div>
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Further, rather than critiquing something about the President-elect here or some other important issue in our world or nation, I’d like to offer up this critique to those who are a little closer to me—<span style="font-kerning: none;">those who have patted me on the back at some point in the past and told me quietly, “I’m so glad you said that, I feel the same way.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Well, the time has come and Morgan has used up a good chunk of his “cred” in all of his critiques. Which means it’s time for you to speak up and say those things that you have been content with only hearing from those like me. Yep, imagine… just imagine if you are the one who speaks up before me, or along with me, instead of sitting on your hands. Imagine yourself and a few others speaking up instead of being silent. Suddenly, it’s not, “That’s just ‘Tirade Tyree’ spouting off again,” but now there are several who feel this way and maybe, just maybe others will consider the critique and take it seriously and perhaps even get behind it as well. And the next thing you know, change is unfolding before us all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, quit patronizing me or others when no one else is around. Get off your ass and speak up for those things you believe in and call out wrong when it is sitting right in front of you. Quit caring about how you come out in the local or national popularity contest and make a stand.</span></div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-4185669741243956512016-11-12T10:19:00.002-07:002016-11-12T11:23:33.728-07:00Abusing a New President<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgriOpL2N1o/WCdNrEi4MGI/AAAAAAAAAQE/WgFGiWkUixczoGsR6_hPWC9gJVbOQvoZwCLcB/s1600/AmericaBecomesGreatAgain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #f1c232;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgriOpL2N1o/WCdNrEi4MGI/AAAAAAAAAQE/WgFGiWkUixczoGsR6_hPWC9gJVbOQvoZwCLcB/s320/AmericaBecomesGreatAgain.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #f1c232; font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: black;">America Becomes Great Again</b></span></td></tr>
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Those who proclaim “Not My President” in light of the recent Presidential election outcomes, are catching quite a bit of shit these days—and most of it coming from those who supported the winner, Donald Trump.</div>
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I’m not sure when, where, or who came up with this popular phrase, but it certainly wasn’t conceived as the election results poured in on the night of November 8, 2016.</div>
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I remember after the election of 2008 seeing newly minted bumper stickers with this phrase in my community. Now, it would be easy for me to stop here and lay the blame on the Republican, conservative-minded folk for coming up with this brand. Further, it really felt racist given how we had just elected the first Black President (even if half Black). But, I live in a heavily Republican state—so heavy that it would surely vote for a turd excreted from a Republican over a highly-qualified Democrat—and in hindsight, I suspect it was only new to me back then. Surely this same slogan was being tossed around in Democratic strongholds following the election of George W. Bush.</div>
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So, as to the origins of this phrase, it probably isn’t as new as many of us think. And like all things that become popular, wherever it truly originated, it probably didn’t get much fanfare when it was first blurted out, but over the years—with the election of each new President—it has gained some traction.</div>
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Akin to these slogans, Presidential “nicknames” have become quite popular as well. Ones that come to mind are “Slick Willie” for Clinton, “Dubya” for George W. Bush, “Obummer” for Obama, and surely something is brewing in the wings for Donald Trump—“The Donald,” “Pussy-Grabber,” and “The Dump” are surely strong contenders as I write this.</div>
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I know these phrases and nicknames are somewhat new relative to our country’s existence. There was a time when almost all people respected the President and considered him (but sadly “never her” ) their President. But those days are gone. Are we less respectful today than say, the 1840s? Perhaps. But, I would simply lay the blame on our greater connectedness and that more people have a voice today thanks to the vast and economical communication networks that are in place. Like Gutenberg’s metal moveable type invention that lead to greater literacy for the masses, the same has taken place providing a greater voice for the individual.</div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px;">As far as a unified respect for the President… we may never see that again.</span>mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-20061251177208746852015-05-02T08:57:00.000-06:002015-05-02T09:31:35.651-06:00More Drag, Less Macho<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fo2b6P2UDuQ/VUTi0WeQ3zI/AAAAAAAAAOc/1zVoveCkeHM/s1600/11206862_918674914842969_5798900753799900909_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fo2b6P2UDuQ/VUTi0WeQ3zI/AAAAAAAAAOc/1zVoveCkeHM/s1600/11206862_918674914842969_5798900753799900909_o.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Photo by Hananiah Aldrich</span></td></tr>
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There are a lot of folk out there in my little community of Powell, Wyoming that think I dislike everything about this town, its college (Northwest College) and even the state of Wyoming. So, I’m here to declare that, “It just ain’t so (in a Wyoming accent).” I’m critical of many things that I care about, but in this day and age of thin-skinned Pollyannas, anyone who is critical about something is immediately painted as a hater or Debbie-downer.</div>
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To be honest though, there are things that go beyond my critique and thus deserve my disdain—those same Pollyannas come to mind.</div>
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Here’s what I’m talking about: I’m critical of our Wyoming culture that seems to reward and reinforce overly macho behavior. I’d like to see that toned down a bit in the near future. Besides, it’s sooooo cliché. What I dislike are those assclowns who adopt and embrace this trumped-up virile behavior—in particular those who feel the need to modify the exhaust systems of their gigantic 4x4, quad-cab diesel-powered pickup trucks while incessantly revving their engines everywhere they go. I can’t think of a better illustration of a textbook douchebag.</div>
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Contrary to all of this, I served as a drag contest judge the other night on the campus of Northwest College. It was absolutely fun, entertaining and delightful—and as I was sitting there watching men (and women) compete for the best drag contestant on campus, I thought to myself, “You know what this town needs are a few more drag queens and kings and a lot less knuckle-dragging, macho-oozing, look-at-me-because-I-drive-a-loud-diesel-pickup-truck douchebags.”</div>
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Perhaps this sentiment has to do with a little incident I had the other day when I flagged down one of these John Wayne, chest-beaters (a.k.a., assclown) as he was doing about 45 mph through the middle of campus and about to run a stop sign. When he hit his breaks and rolled down his window in bewilderment, I calmly said, “Hey man, it’s 25 mph through campus and that’s a stop sign you just went through.” In so many words he retorted that I don’t tell him what to do and after a few more exchanges the dude started to get out of his 4x4 to duke it out with me. I mean honestly, I can’t think of a better example of testosterone-induced rage. You’re breaking the law and endangering the public, someone calls you out on it and you want to fight them… what the fuck, man?!</div>
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I’m not sure if I could have whipped him, but if it had come to that, and I ended up having the upper hand, I would have trashed his 4x4 Silverado too. I suppose if it went the other way, he probably would have done the same to my longboard.</div>
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With these thoughts in mind, I’d like to make a challenge to our little community of Powell… How about we <b><i>all</i></b> start calling out these hotheads in their rude and self-centered behavior when they are breaking the law, endangering others or simply being disrespectful of peace and quiet. This used to be a quiet little town, but in the past five years, it has transformed into a noisy and belligerent little town. And while we’re at it, let’s see if we can encourage enough students to enter the drag contest next year—perhaps even double its participants.</div>
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Let’s bring down the machoism a notch and lift up the drag. It’ll be good for Powell.</div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-70936772680021635402015-02-13T10:28:00.001-07:002015-02-14T09:40:31.479-07:00Meditations and Confessions of a Geezer Longboarder<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/16018502011" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pre-Ride Hike by morgan tyree, on Flickr"><img a="" alt="Pre-Ride Hike" height="320" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/16018502011" img="" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7483/16018502011_ce3b44d297_n.jpg" width="288" /></a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><i>“</i></span><span style="color: #141923; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><i>The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” </i>—Walter Begehot (</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Quote on a Good Earth tea bag)</span><br />
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Growing up in Akron, Ohio, it’s possible that I was the first kid with a skateboard—and if I wasn’t, certainly one of the first. My board came to me by way of California following a holiday out West in the mid-1960s. I have a hunch that few of today’s more youthful riders have ever seen a skateboard like my first one—with it’s short, narrow wooden deck, and steel wheels. Perhaps it was a sign of my fate, but even as a youngster, I learned how to slide the wheels on our smooth, sloped concrete driveway that dumped onto the rough chip-seal of Stevenson Avenue.</div>
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I don’t know what became of that skateboard, but there were others that followed and there were times in my life when there wasn’t a skateboard at all. That said, it seemed like there was always someone nearby who had a board if I was hankering for an occasional ride. To be clear, I haven’t spent my entire life on a skateboard like some, but I’ve never been far away or too out of practice to confidently jump on a board when such opportunities came along.<br />
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If you were to ask me back in the 1980s what I thought I’d be doing for fun as a 50-year-old, I probably would have answered you with something like fly-fishing, golfing, or bike touring. Surely one of the last things coming out of my mouth back then would have been anything to do with a skateboard.<br />
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My on-and-off skateboarding life continued until 2002 when a college student in need of some quick cash convinced me to purchase his Gordon & Smith 43-inch pintail longboard. Prior to that time, I had seen a few of the “giant” skateboards around, but never rode one. As it turned out, curiosity was the driving force that ultimately sealed the deal in my first longboard purchase.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/8321148108" title="Longboarding Home by morgan tyree, on Flickr"><img alt="Longboarding Home" height="320" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8321148108_83af0de338_n.jpg" width="217" /></a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">For the next several years, I pushed the G&S pinner around my flat, little town of Powell, located in the high desert country of Wyoming, but unlike a true enthusiast, I never entertained the idea of taking it further.<br />
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Despite the flack directed at Original (a longboard maker) from the longboarding community (and I'm not sure why this is either), I’ll confess here that it was an Original video on YouTube that blindsided me one day and made me start thinking about that old G&S in a new light.</div>
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Not long afterwards, I started studying up on other forms of riding—freeride and downhill specifically. This line of thinking was influenced by that Original video and a geographical feature just outside of Powell called Polecat Bench.<br />
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Polecat Bench is a hybrid of mesa and plateau dominating the Powell horizon from the north to the northwest direction—rising 500-feet above the town. The “Bench” (as we call it) is the closest recreational destination for the locals—whether it’s riding an ATV or mountain bike, arrowhead or bird hunting, or just a place to look over the land in quiet solitude. It is also home to the community airport and a gas refinery beyond the airport. Connecting these operations with the community is State Route 295 (also known as “Road 9”) which includes about 1.5 miles of sloped asphalt that climbs the Bench at a five-percent grade. For the most part, there is very little traffic on this road-to-nowhere except for an occasional truck hauling crude or refined petroleum product along with the pickup trucks of those few who work at the refinery. The highway is absolutely deserted on Sunday mornings, and even when there is an occasional car or truck, you can see it coming with ample time to get out of the way.</div>
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As I contemplated the Bench and learned more about freeride and downhill longboarding, I started to realize that my Gordon & Smith FibreFlex wasn’t going to cut it on the steeper parts of the Bench. And so, not long after this epiphany, my Landyachtz Switch 40 arrived followed by a helmet, slide gloves and a set of pads for my knees and elbows.</span><br />
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To say that things have been “happily ever after” since the drop-deck Landyachtz arrived would be a boldface lie. To be blunt, some of my worst fails/falls have been at the slowest speeds and were attributed mostly to bad judgement rather than poor riding skills. There have been spills so embarrassing that I wouldn’t even speak of them in a confessional—let alone these pages, but I’ll humor you a bit here with a couple that I can stomach.<br />
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Before my Switch 40 ever saw an incline, it threw me off the sidewalk and into the street in the first 10 yards of my maiden voyage on it. I could say that the bushings were soft and the trucks looser than I’ve ever ridden, but as I washed the gravel out of my hands I knew it was just poor judgement on my part.<br />
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Not long after I’d been riding the lower sections of the hill, a friend of mine was in town and decided to tag along with his camera. I’d like to think my riding was no different than any other time that day, but I suppose having a bona fide camera-toting spectator along alters one’s abilities or at least perceptions of their own ability. Before we returned to town, I had managed to shred my entire forearm and slam by helmeted head into the asphalt thanks to high-siding on a toe-side carve that was reminiscent of any head-to-head collision from my youth of playing football.<br />
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Years earlier before I ever gave serious thought to downhill, I rode a traditional skateboard down a small—but very steep—hill at the local park. Prior to that I’d never, ever heard anyone speak about something called “speed wobbles.” Although it was a narrow foot path with lush grass on both sides, the wobbles threw me right into the middle of the asphalt resulting in enough road rash on my legs and arms to go through a tube of Neosporin before the week was out. I hobbled the mile distance home with the board under my bloodied arms. At the ripe age of 43, I was not only embarrassed, but convinced I’d never ride a skateboard again.<br />
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I’ve stated in many conversations that, given my age, I’m probably one bad spill away from transforming my longboards into wall art. And I’ve already taken enough big hits that left me laying stunned on the payment wondering if any bones were broken. I’ve gone through several boxes of extra large bandages thanks to road rash and landed hard enough on my ass to turn it black and blue. My shoulder has likely suffered from a couple impacts with the road and I’m pretty sure I broke a toe and cracked at least one rib. Every time I head out, I always remind myself, “You can’t afford to fall.”<br />
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I’ve also been telling everyone in my world that I’m not going to ride any faster than I can run, but the one day I clocked myself at 26 mph on one section of the Bench. I’m pretty sure I can’t run that fast.<br />
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Despite the aches and pain on my 50-some-year-old body, I’m riding more than ever these days—and not just the Landyachtz. In fact, I’m downright ashamed to lay out my quiver (of boards) to anyone at this time because—for one—I’m too old to own multiple boards, and secondly—I’m not that good.<br />
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Nevertheless, I am considerably better when it comes to riding a hill. I can carve confidently and, for the most part, I’m pretty decent at a hand-down toe-side speed check as well as a shut-down slide. My hand-down Coleman needs work, and I’m unsure if I’ll ever pull off any kind of standup slide, but I’m not ruling it out either.<br />
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When I started working the hill last spring, I set a goal for myself to ride the entire hill before the summer was over. I underestimated my eagerness to ride; on June 19th (two days before the first day of summer), I made it all the way down without incident. Since that time, it has become my longboard laboratory and a getaway from the big crowds of a town with over 5,000 residents!<br />
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I think riding alone suits me in terms of focus, concentration, and ultimately safety. And there is something about the solitude and quiet of the twenty-minute walks back up the hill to begin another run. Several times I’ve been offered rides to the top by those in vehicles passing by, but I almost always turn them down and tell them that walking back up comes with the territory of riding down. Besides, if nothing else, it is a good little aerobic exercise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/14964365169" title="thane by morgan tyree, on Flickr"><img alt="thane" height="240" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14964365169_b230b19af6_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">I’m unsure of a particular riding style that defines me—freeride or downhill. Not to dwell on my age, but I simply want to get down any hill without catastrophe regardless of steez (style). Perhaps the only steez I’ll ever possess is in my geriatric efforts. For now, it’s the little victories that keep me going such as marking the highway with long thane lines (polyurethane skid marks from the wheels sliding). Recently I cored (and flat-spotted) a set of wheels which was akin to receiving badge of valor. Making it all the way down a big hill without falling or bailing—no matter how much steeze I lack—is always motivation to go back up or return the next day.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Living in the country’s least populated state, people are pretty spread out. No matter who you are, what your interest or profession might be, there’s always an element of isolation and with it comes a lack of feedback from others like you. This is certainly my situation as an over-the-hill downhill longboard rider. Late this summer I met a college student who has ridden the hill and he has a few other friends that are curious about longboarding as well. It will be interesting to see if we ever evolve into a micro-community.</span></div>
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The other day two old guys smoking cigarettes with grizzled beards and dirty ball caps followed me in their car as I worked my way down the Bench. Upon reaching the bottom, they pulled over for a visit and I discovered we were of the same age. I wondered if they were as surprised as me upon discovering one another’s age. I’m sure there are older riders with more skills out there who have been riding longer. There’s nothing too unique to my story here, but I’m pretty sure it’s not common.</span><br />
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In the Autumn 2014 Issue of Concrete Wave, the following quote stopped me in my tracks:<br />
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“Skateboarding has been around for a very long time now. With very little effort, you can find skaters ranging from 5 to 55 years old ripping at almost any skate park, bombing hills, doing freestyle, or simply cruising to get somewhere.” Because I’m 54-years-old now, this harmless little statement has been haunting me in a Logan’s Run kind of way.<br />
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I know there’s not much time left for me—not like a teenager, while the likes of Patrick Switzer, Kyle Chin, or Liam Morgan needn’t worry about me stealing any of their sponsorships. Yet, these are some of the folk I look up to in making myself a better rider. With that article quote in mind, I’d like to think I have a little more than a year remaining. Nevertheless, I know my years on a board are numbered. Assuming I can stay healthy, perhaps I have another five to ten years of riding. Yet, to think I’ll still be riding that hill or one like it when I’m 65 seems utterly absurd.<br />
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mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-72286082094349648942014-07-05T13:55:00.001-06:002014-07-05T22:38:36.469-06:00The Problem with Lovers of Freedom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kM4LelZLKdM/U7haFL0vvzI/AAAAAAAAANY/b-ScXDv0zS0/s1600/14394071990_7bdf329705_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kM4LelZLKdM/U7haFL0vvzI/AAAAAAAAANY/b-ScXDv0zS0/s1600/14394071990_7bdf329705_z.jpg" height="320" width="305" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">I’m reminded of a hangover. It’s 9:15 in the morning on July 5, 2014.</span>
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Discarded fireworks casings and packaging are strewn about the high desert of Wyoming—well, at least in one particular pull off about halfway up the Powell Airport hill that climbs Polecat Bench. As I walk by, I wonder how many other places just beyond the town proper of Powell and other Wyoming communities are suffering from the same fallout of freedom’s celebration.</div>
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The great expanses beyond any community in Wyoming (like the one described above) see very little traffic throughout the day or year. As a result, these remnants of our independence commemoration remain as an ugly reminder long after the largest of roadkills have been picked over by various scavengers—long after having rotted, dried up, and blown away by the wind.</div>
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And so I wonder, “Why do people have the need to go out to an empty place like this and light off their fireworks, only to leave the spent casings behind? Why can’t they do it in their towns where the remnants are more likely to be picked up by the street cleaner or other property owners?</div>
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Who are these people?</div>
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I think it’s wrong to generalize or stereotype about people, but it’s hard not to as I consider who would commit such a crime or sin on the land we hold so dearly in our heart—Wyoming… America… you know, “land of the free, home of the brave?”</div>
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My answer about who is responsible is dead on, although I have no proof.</div>
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The people that leave their spent fireworks casings abandoned in the desolate high desert are the same folk who leave their bullet-riddled belongings behind after shooting it up as target practice—refrigerators, 55-gallon drums, old computers, TVs… you name it. If it’s no longer needed, it’s fair game to become a target and then forsaken to an eternity as a desert eyesore.</div>
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Again, who are these people? Beyond pyromaniacs, they are banner-waving ‘Mericans who throw around clichés like, “freedom ain’t free.” They’ll proudly tell you, they love America—and the bumper stickers on their big and loud diesel, quad-cab, four-by-four pick-ups prove it. They love the U.S. and Wyoming, but they hate the President. They are the least tolerant people you’ll ever meet and you can bet they have plenty of guns to back up their narrow-minded, Fox-News-driven ideas and opinions.</div>
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But, be assured, they don’t love America. Actually they just love themselves and everything about their life. They see themselves as the center of the Universe and are the most disrespectful, self-serving and self-centered folk you will ever meet. Nevertheless, they know how to whoop it up with fireworks when the Fourth of July rolls around each year.</div>
mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-77154836304663059602014-02-18T23:30:00.001-07:002014-02-19T11:11:32.845-07:00The Truth and Purity in Looking Down<div style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; padding: 0; width: 240px;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12533059924/" title="In the Groove"><img alt="In the Groove by mdt1960" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/12533059924_c976693752_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12533059924/">In the Groove</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
I look down.<br />
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It’s an easy thing to do, and know one bothers me about it. Even when I use my camera or cell phone to compose and capture what I see looking down, no one bothers me. I suspect most folk who bother to notice think I’m just plain weird. Maybe I am.<br />
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There’s something about photographing those things at my feet. For starters, I don’t have to get anyone’s permission. Years ago, you could walk up to practically anyone and ask to take their picture and the reply was almost always, “Sure!” Nowadays, people think you’re up to something. “Why do you want to take my picture.” Take a picture of someone’s kid in a public place and you’re practically accused of being a pedafile.<br />
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Not long ago, I was taking a photo of a dilapidated wind mill in rural Western Nebraska from the roadside when a farmer in a pickup truck drove by, turned around when he saw me, pulled up behind my car on the roadside to ask me what I was doing (when it was obvious what I was doing). Actually what he wanted to know was why I was taking pictures of his land. Who knows what was going through his head when he saw me pointing my lens at the old windmill. Years ago, the same scenario probably would have resulted in him driving by thinking to himself, “Hmm, I wonder what he sees in that old field of mine?”<br />
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People with cameras aren’t treated with the same good-natured response/interaction they once were. And perhaps it’s justified considering how much unflattering (even if incredible) photography there is out there. To top it off, there are more people with cameras then ever. In fact, if you don’t have at least a cell phone camera, you are certainly in a minority.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12532970854/" title="Road Kill"><img alt="Road Kill by mdt1960" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/12532970854_425093de3d_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12532970854/">Road Kill</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
Recently I was looking at <a href="http://www.lenswork.com/previewpages/lw110/lw110preview.html" target="_blank">a body of work</a> published in <i>Lenswork</i> by photographer Jun Wang called “Over 100: Centenarians of Hainan.” They were amazing. He even had an incredible image of a nude centenarian—it wasn’t flattering, but it was amazing. Yet, sitting there looking at the images, what was even more impressive about this body of work had to do with the logistics prior to the shutter release… how does one go about making the arrangements to photograph a collection of centenarians? It was difficult for me to imagine how I would approach a person who was 100-years-old in a way that led to a fantastic portrait of them. To put it another way, if a centenarian were to ask why I wanted to take their picture, I’m not sure what I would say short of a boldface lie.<br />
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Which gets me thinking… I suspect many photographers do lie about their intentions when it comes to their rationale behind a photo request. And if not an outright lie, certainly some of a photographer’s rationale goes unspoken or turns out to be misleading. Further, if portrait-requesting photographers have never lied, why are so many people suspicious about having their picture taken upon request? I also wonder what percentage of fantastic (but unflattering) portraits have been actually viewed by their subjects?<br />
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Success in photography is more than just knowing how to work a camera. It’s also about working your subjects and those related to your subjects. And given that sobering truth, I’ll likely keep looking down.mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-75554650526535067512014-01-30T14:22:00.001-07:002014-02-19T11:15:36.811-07:00Flying Naked, De-Icing, and In-Flight Etiquette<div style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; padding: 0; width: 240px;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12193268756/" title="Passengers"><img alt="Passengers by mdt1960" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/12193268756_2365e9fcca_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12193268756/">Passengers</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
I don’t fly often, but I’ve flown enough in my lifetime where getting on an airplane is no longer the novelty or thrill it once was—akin to an amusement park ride. Further, my sorties over the years are punctuated by long spans of time on the ground and away from anything to do with air travel. As a result, the changes in the airline industry which have developed slowly and gradual over the years for the common traveler are rather pronounced to me. Where most air travelers take little note of the ever-evolving modifications in airline travel, I often find myself rather flabbergasted. <br />
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One thing I still haven’t figured out yet are the details of proper flying etiquette. Given everyone has a smart phone or some kind of electronic tablet to keep them occupied (even if they aren’t permitted to use the phone itself), is it polite or rude to engage someone sitting next to you? I remember air travel back in the day as a setting where you were certain to have a conversation (delightful or painful) with a fellow passenger. Given the ever-growing presence of personal electronic devices and noise-drowning earphones, I’ve received more than my share of cold shoulders in any one of my friendly attempts to engage a fellow traveler. And given these distractors, who has time to chat with a stranger anymore?<br />
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Perhaps the regular traveler hasn’t noticed, but airports are bigger than ever. They are small cities with a population in flux, some even have their own zip code. Today’s major airports are more like shopping malls and pedestrian freeways under one big roof. You can buy anything, but you had better use a turn signal when walking through the terminal unless you want to be trampled. I remember years ago I was lucky to get a cup of coffee in the St. Louis airport late at night. That place was a cemetery.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12193093664/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Chicago O'Hare"><img alt="Chicago O'Hare by mdt1960" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/12193093664_0c8baacb5e_m.jpg" height="145" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12193093664/">Chicago O'Hare</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
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Which brings me to… why would you want to buy “anything” at an airport? Jewelry? Fine Clothing? A Harley? Something for your pet? Really, I’m going to buy something for my pet at the airport? Perhaps the rationale here is today’s airports are catering to the poor planner who happens to possess plenty of spending cash—albeit someone who forgets to pack their clothes or forgets to get that diamond ring in his I’m-going-to-ask-her-to-marry-me junket. That said, it’s not a stretch in justifying the coffee services of Starbucks, a magazine/book store, or places where one can grab a sandwich or drink, and even a store that offers accessories for your iPad as you wait for your next plane.<br />
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In my recent journeys by air, I’ve had a thorough introduction to the de-icing procedure. It reminds me of cell phones: how did we ever get by without it? Further, when did ice start gravitating to the wings of a plane… what is it about wings that attracts ice? During the late 70s-early 80s, I clearly remember flying home several times in the winter as a college student and never did I see a de-icing truck or operator. How did planes fly without de-icing back then? One would think it involves a simple squirt on the leading edge of the wings, but the truth is, de-icing is like a car wash for airplanes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12054666625/" title="Spoiled View"><img alt="Spoiled View by mdt1960" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/12054666625_90baa567a6_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12054666625/">Spoiled View</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
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Admittedly, although the de-icing process adds 20 more minutes to sitting inside a grounded airplane, it is rather intriguing to watch this activity. First, the orange spray and then the green liquid goo—obscuring the view from the window seat that I worked so hard to get. It seems like overkill to me since I couldn’t see a sign of ice anywhere on the wings. Given its new psychedelic de-iced finish upon completion, the plane appears to be more prepared for a Grateful Dead concert than flying. The blurred window view reinforces this notion.<br />
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I think my preference for winter travel is shifting back to driving.<br />
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As a side note, I did a little research on de-icing while the plane sat there during the process. I turned off my iPhone’s “airplane mode” long enough to find out—hoping I wouldn’t endanger our flight as it was getting hosed down… hosed down with ethylene glycol that is! That’s right, ethylene glycol—a.k.a. antifreeze! And all this time I had thought that the reason one never sees animals around an airport is due to the loud planes. I never would have guessed that the varmints that once lived nearby drank up the sweet-tasting de-icing fluid during the winter season and then crawled over in the nearby weeds to die.<br />
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In addition, while in Minneapolis, I observed a de-icing operator lugging a de-icing hose around the perimeter of a plane in zero-degree temperatures and …he wasn’t wearing any gloves! I had to wonder: does de-icing fluid warm one’s skin and taste sweet?<br />
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Other random flying observations…<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/11397292633/" title="Wilford"><img alt="Wilford by mdt1960" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/11397292633_3bca0ff4f7_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/11397292633/">Wilford</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
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• Whatever became of the hot-looking stewardesses that gave the airline industry its great in-flight views? My jaunt between Minneapolis and Cleveland was hosted by Wilfrod Brimley’s clone asking me if I wanted coffee, juice, soda, or water? That was downright sobering.<br />
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• While about to depart from Minneapolis airport and its sub-zero temperatures, the pilot announces that they were having a small problem that was being looked into by the mechanics. I’m sitting there thinking about the conversation that’s going on between a couple of mechanics looking for a “small problem” on a plane in bitter cold conditions. Wouldn’t the conversation gravitate quicker to a solution like, “Ah, it’s probably nothing too important… it’ll be OK. Let’s go get some coffee.”<br />
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• What is it about the anxiety of going through the TSA security? I don’t think it has anything to do with being pulled aside and accused of terrorism. In my case, it seems more about the fast scramble to unravel everything about your attire and baggage and then reassemble it without holding anyone up. There is something incongruent about having to take off your shoes when you are late in catching a plane.<br />
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•I tried the new in-flight Internet service. At first it was a bust, then I read the fine print—you have to pay for it while the plane has to be over 10,000 feet. Nothing is free on a plane anymore; just a small bag of nuts and four ounces of a nonalcoholic drink. Not very impressive.<br />
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•Recharging Stations for your electronic devices… OK, I get it, but still it seems a bit weird to dedicate actual space in an airport for electrical plugs. I wonder what would happen if a person used their portable hair dryer in a recharging station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12192907683/" title="Airplane Signage"><img alt="Airplane Signage by mdt1960" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/12192907683_9113332ba7_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/12192907683/">Airplane Signage</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
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•Beginning in 1988, regulation was introduced that banned smoking on 80% of flights (two hours or less). In 2000, the no-smoking ban was expanded to include all flights. Today in 2013, one would be hard pressed to find an airline that allows smoking on any flight. With that in mind, I find it a bit odd that the “no smoking” signs are still present in the jetliners of today. It seems that enough time has passed that everyone knows by now that smoking is forbidden on an airplane—especially since that’s the case in the airports too. Besides, isn’t it silly to make a lighted sign on an airplane that is never turned off? They should simply build a non-illuminated message into the back of the every seat—directly in front of every passenger.<br />
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•There are somethings that haven’t materialized in air travel that I predicted would have been the status quo by now. Why isn’t there a camera mounted in the cockpit or nose of the plane for passengers to view on the video screens in front of them (embedded in the back of every seat)? For years we’ve listened to the conversations between the crew and air traffic control, why can’t we watch them fly the plane too? Also, a camera mounted on the belly of the plane would be a nice addition for a view straight down. And why can’t the industry provide passengers with a map on these same screens so we can know exactly where we are as we look out the window for recognizable landmarks? These features should be standard fair if a passenger doesn’t want to pay for a movie on these same video screens.<br />
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• “…airplanes are a kind of time machine. The flying aluminum cans that transport us across distances that once required weeks, if not lifetimes, are not like the time machines of fiction. We can’t just transport ourselves to any place or time.” —friend and colleague Rob Breeding<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42I_VQmxvXA/UurRQ2lr4nI/AAAAAAAAAMs/5dFrfpayqQc/s1600/naked-lady-scan-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42I_VQmxvXA/UurRQ2lr4nI/AAAAAAAAAMs/5dFrfpayqQc/s1600/naked-lady-scan-1.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></a></div>
•Finally: The new TSA body scanning machine (Advanced Imaging Technology)… it’s the closest thing to my father’s idea about how to prevent terrorist from boarding a plane—make everyone fly naked. Perhaps TSA could make their money back on these big-ticket machines in selling the scanned images to their owners for a nominal charge.<br />
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Postscript: I dare any in-flight magazine to publish this story. On a related note, <a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/tsa-screener-confession-102912.html#.Uuw2gBahClI" target="_blank">here’s a little more information</a> on TSA and their “advanced imaging technology” operations.<br />
<br />mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19957158.post-61767183774143979732013-12-08T13:06:00.001-07:002013-12-08T13:09:19.137-07:00The Age of Innocence is Relative<div style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; padding: 0; width: 240px;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/8463151670/" title="Memories of Summer, Memories of a Past"><img alt="Memories of Summer, Memories of a Past by mdt1960" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8463151670_687ea76114_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/8463151670/">Memories of Summer, Memories of a Past</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdt1960/">mdt1960</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
As I was preparing coffee the other morning, I found myself unexpectedly thinking about the x-rated movies that played at Neeb Hall on the campus of Arizona State University when I was an undergraduate student (circa 1979). I don’t remember how many played in the course of a year, nor how long that genre continued playing there, but I know for sure x-rated movies were shown on campus. Several of us from Hayden Hall’s third floor actually attended one of those skin flicks too. It was the first x-rated movie I ever viewed. Most memorable was the funny, almost embarrassing feeling that came over me when the lights came up after it ended and I could see who was attending—and (gulp) they could see who was attending. I don’t remember wondering if other schools had the same kind of movies, and if someone had asked, I would have suspected that was the case almost anywhere. For the record, I don’t think ASU was ever known for any kind of radical behavior or activities back then. In fact, I think it was considered a fairly conservative school when it came to the country’s larger campuses.<br />
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For the record here, I’ll have you know that nothing became of this experience. We didn’t go out and attempt a rape, and none of us to my knowledge became involved in the porn industry or addicted to it. As college students, our reaction/response was probably typical—we giggled, laughed at how unrealistic it was (at least to us), felt a bit awkward, and then moved on. Further, of all the memories of my graduate years at ASU, going to that movie surely wasn’t one of those, “Hey guys, remember that time we…”<br />
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On a related note…<br />
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As a football cheerleader, we travelled to Stanford once. The day before the big game, we took in the campus. Amongst the beautiful architecture I remember most vividly the fragrance of marijuana in the air as students were smoking on the campus mall between their classes. I was a bit taken back as I never saw anything like this at my ASU (even if x-rated movies were shown there). Yet, after that trip, none of us on the cheerleading squad returned to ASU to initiate a movement for pot-smoking on campus. It was one of those, “Hmm, how about that. Yet another crazy thing attributed to Stanford; they smoke pot on campus and no one seems to care.”<br />
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And so, there I was pondering all of this over a cup of joe at 6:30 in the morning. I projected such activities to the Wyoming junior college where I work. I couldn’t imagine such activities permitted on our little pollyanna campus. But, then I wondered: are there still campuses that offer/tolerate such “atrocious” behavior today? Are things still the same in Palo Alto? Am I in such an isolated place that I don’t realize what is happening beyond this high desert, or are such campus escapades a thing of the past? And if they are something of the past, how did that come to be? When did it all shift to something more like the 1950s and Leave It To Beaver?<br />
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I mentioned all of this to a friend, and his answer was simply, “Reagan… President Ronald Reagan.”<br />
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A few other colleagues chimed in as well. When it comes to pornography, some thought that because the Internet provides a sense of privacy, we will never see it in such everyday public settings (like a major university). And as the legalization of marijuana becomes more widespread, a couple of them thought a day will come when we will see students having a toke or two between classes—assuming they are the same campuses where alcohol is permitted.<br />
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As I sit here thinking about all of this, I still wonder: What was that part of my past all about? For the most part, it’s not unusual to consider the things we do and experience today as stupendous in light of our past, especially when technology is factored in. Yet, here is something that was incidental back then that comes across as monumental today. Although I don’t have any hard and fast explanations, it is truly fascinating.mdt1960http://www.blogger.com/profile/09602497351643477314noreply@blogger.com1