(post #998) Road Apples, #106

Screw the blogging holiday...I just can't keep away for all that long, despite the best of intentions.  Not that I have the time at the moment, but what the hell, I'll make the time.

Munchak and Cordaro...Being out of town I was late getting into the verdict loop for Mr Munchak and Mr Cordaro.  How do I feel?  Should I be somehow "happy" about this whole "justice served" thing?  Well I am not happy about this whole mess.  How could anyone be witness to what has transpired and be anything other than disgusted?  Think about it:

• If they are truly innocent, then ponder just how much power the government actually has to do what has been done here.  A.J. Munchak, given his age, will mostly likely get what amounts to life in prison.  
• If they are truly guilty (which is what I think is the case...there was just too much cash flowing around these guys), then consider just what the political culture is around these parts.  These guys didn't create political corruption around here, they just fed off of it, like starving piglets.  

Lastly, and for what it is worth, this has nothing to do with political affiliation as some (including a brother of mine) have implied.  Both Democrats and Republicans can be corrupt, as money knows no ideology. 

Family News...My oldest daughter is taking a securities industry exam today, and I do wish her good hunting.  She has a degree in education, but thanks to the likes of governor "I hate education" Corbett, school districts across the commonwealth are cutting teaching jobs, not adding them. 

Computer Woes...For the record, I am typing this at the business center of the hotel I find myself staying at.  I would be using my Gateway netbook, but it seems that somehow my screen was damaged in transit, as it now looks like a modern work of art instead of Windows XP.  No bother, as I am always up for a challenge, and the thought of maybe trying to replace the screen myself is intriguing.  I have replaced the LCD screens on cell phones (I did it twice with an old Palm Treo 600 I had years ago), so I'm thinking that, if the part is available, this might be fairly do-able.  How's that for trying to see the silver lining?  If course I do now have the issue of what do without a computer at the residence.  Maybe I should go about fixing the two that are sitting there now, waiting to be repaired.

Congress...recently voted, across party lines, to end Ethanol subsidies.  This his a very good thing.  We need to stop this madness of the government using the tax code for social engineering (such as getting people to use certain products over others).  It does, however, bring up an interesting point:  many Republicans (rightfully) voted to end the subsidies, but yet voting to end a tax break has been described by some party leaders as being the same as voting for a tax increase.  So which is it?  Look for this to come up time and time again as some smart folks begin to truly figure out that the government may be involved in some things that it shouldn't.  Next up:  Let's see some action of getting the government out of the business of encouraging people to own homes.  You should buy a home because you want to own property, feel it is a good investment, etc., not because there are rich tax subsidies associated with it, regardless of the good intentions involved.  Good behavior can not be legislated.

Marijuana...The Odd Couple of Congress, Representatives Barney Frank and Ron (not to be confused with his psychotic son Rand) Paul have introduced a bill to end the federal government's enforcement of anti-marijuana laws.  You can read more about it HERE.  I have mixed feeling about this...

• On one hand marijuana is a drug and it can lead to the use of other drugs.  My own personal opinion is that anything which dulls the senses is bad, and things that make you crave peas and chocolate at 2am are even worse. 
• On the other hand, does anyone actually think that marijuana is any worse than alcohol?  Please, if you disagree, let me know, however I'm of the opinion that all things considered, marijuana is probably less personally detrimental than that case of beer that some folks love to guzzle on Friday night.

By way of disclaimer I will not that (unlike Bill Clinton) I have never tried marijuana and I never will try marijuana.  As noted above, I like my senses fully in tact, which is also one of the reasons why I don't drink alcohol.

Milestone...I'll end this posting by noting that this blog is coming up on it's 1000th posting, so I'll be doing a quick countdown over the next few days.  That's a heaping amount of content, and if you add everything together, the sum of it all might coalesce into maybe one or two decent thoughts.  Regardless, it has been and continues to be fun, and if anything, this past week has proven to me that I have no desire to stop doing this any time soon.

On the Road

Taking a break from business of blogging and heading out on the road.

Here's to avoiding the bats.

NEPArtisan Post & Comment

Tom Borthwick's most recent posting (THIS POSTING) really got me thinking about just what our governor is up to in Pennsylvania.  While you can read my comment on NEPArtisan, I thought I'd dual post it here as well.

While I strongly disagree with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s recent actions regarding collective bargaining, I do give him credit for one thing: He’s up front about what he is attacking.

Contrast this to our governor, who is very anti-union (especially unionized teachers) but yet his attack is far more indirect. Basically he is saying “the costs I want to reduce are labor, but I’m too much of a chicken-$hit to do it outright”. What Corbett is doing instead is basically forcing local school districts (of which there are too many in Pennsylvania to begin with) to do his dirty work for him. What’s more, PA’s school districts (Scranton and Old Forge come to mind in particular) tend to be populated by political hacks who often know ZILCH about education, let alone running multi-million dollar organizations.

Now I’m not a big fan of unions, but unlike our governor, I’ll say that to anyone’s face. What’s more, I firmly believe that the best way to deal with unions is for an employer to create conditions whereby employees don’t feel the need for one in the first place. Unions thrive because employers are often greedy and stupid. HOWEVER, if employees choose to unionize, management has an obligation to be respectful and honest in how they deal with them. The side-ways, indirect attack by our governor is neither respectful or honest.

Your parents lied to you: monsters are real.

I first heard about THIS STORY in the Right to Gripe blog (see the left sidebar) and have been following it since it broke in the Scranton Times.  It's one of those  things that you read and you just can't quite believe it.  How anyone can treat another human being this way, let alone a child, is beyond my ability to comprehend.

To Mr Caravella and Ms Hann all I can say is this:  I hope that one day it dawns on you as to just what you have done, because shy of execution, I'm thinking that would be the most fitting punishment available for your heinous crimes.

To the young man involved, I sincerely hope that he is able to turn himself back into a functional human being.  Maybe, just maybe, he might even be able to turn this horror into something beneficial for others.  The world needs people who can truly emphasize with the abused, be it as someone in law enforcement, social services or some other human-services field.

Yupp, monsters are real.

Road Apples, #105

Happy Father's Day...to all the Dads out there, both young and old.  As I noted the other day, I think being a father is the most difficult job a man can have, a thought echoed by the President in his radio address this morning.

My favorite magazine...is Mental Floss.  I just wish they would publish it a bit more often.  Why am I so fond of it?  Well for starters it is filled with tons of useless information in nicely sized packages (in other words, short...which matches my attention span).

Munchak and Cordaro...Kudos to the Scranton Times for the great (all be it somewhat redundant...they seem to be basically printing the same article twice in each edition) coverage of the Bob Cordaro and AJ Munchak corruption trial.  I'm into predictions, but I'll offer this:  I'll bet they are found guilty, at a minimum, of tax evasion.  The burden of proof for tax evasion is, as I understand it, fairly low (Did you get the money?  If yes did you report it on your tax form?  If no then guilty.), and it seems pretty clear from what I read that has been some unreported income floating around these two gentlemen.  As I mentioned to my brother the other day, the truly sad part of this whole affair is, in my opinion, the squandered opportunity.  I voted for Mr Munchak and Mr Cordaro precisely because, at the time, they seemed like the kind of guys who truly were going to break the "business as usual" modus operandi of Lackawanna County government.  What we got instead apparently was the usual way of doing business but on steroids.  They are, of course, innocent until proven guilty, but man it doesn't look good.

Wansacz and O'Brien...Take good notes, because "business as usual" is going to be in rare form as the "great haired duo" of Wansacz and O'Brien are anointed commissioners.  Have these "arch enemies" kissed and made up yet?  If not now, then very soon.  Anyway, am I implying that they will be engaged in all manner of corruption?  Of course not!  I'm stating that they will be engaged in far more self than public service.  Money may not be involved, but certainly personal power will be, in spades.  Now these guys can prove me wrong by, for example, endorsing a county-wide property reassessment, but don't hold your breath waiting for that one to happen.   Regardless, let me be blunt:  I will vote for Wansacz and O'Brien when Hell freezes over.  Who are the Republicans running against them?  I don't care, as they have my vote, no matter who they are or what they stand for.

County Vendors...Another thought about Muchak and Cordaro's trial:  let's ban any and all vendors that have acknowledged bribing the two former commissioners from doing any business, now or in the future, with any arm of government in Lackawanna County.  That might send a message that times are a changing.  Hey, maybe Wansacz and O'Brien will do that when they are elected.  As noted above, "don't hold your breath".

Bob Dylan on money...All of this talk about bribery reminds me of a quote from Bob Dylan...

"Money doesn't talk, it swears"

Another bit of simple but powerful insight from Uncle Bob.

Things I've Learned (as a father)

Over 23 years ago I became a father for the very first time.  Since that time my family has grown to include three young women that now call me "dad", and as of this morning, none of my children will any longer legally be considered "children" (that's a fancy way of saying that my baby daughter has just turned 18).  With the no longer having children and Father's Day fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to ruminate on just what it has meant for me to be a dad, what I've tried to accomplish and what I've learned (both about being a dad, and more importantly, about myself).

What it means to me to be a father
Trying to be a good parent is the highest calling any human could ever aspire to, period. I mean no disrespect to anyone out there who does not have children, but until you are actually responsible for the life and well-being of someone so young an vulnerable, you probably just can't understand this aspect of life.  Oh, and while prostitution may be the "world's oldest profession", the world's hardest profession is that of being a good parent.

I guess the above is a fancy way of saying that it is simply a tremendous responsibility.  It hurts when you get it wrong, and you beam with pride when you get it right.  It's is both invigorating and at times exhausting.

What I've tried to accomplish as a father
Before anything else, when the thought of being a father entered into my head a long, long time ago, I really just wanted one central thing...a kind of vow to myself:  I wanted to be there for my children, to be a part of their lives, because I never had a father that was a part of my life in any meaningful kind of way.  I had, growing up, the perfect example of what NOT to be as a dad.  In a strange kind of way I guess I have my own father to thank for setting this (anti) example for me.

As a father, I've tried to do all the parental things that typically fall into the job description:  I've attended concerts, I've attended softball and basketball games (I even coached a season of girls basketball), and I've dropped off and picked children up from various friends houses.  I've also provided resources, both financial and otherwise.  That's all the "usual" stuff, but for me, pretty much from the beginning, I've had one kind of singular focus that I've tried to work on as a parent:  teaching my children the necessity of being independent.  It has been critically important to me, especially having girls, that they understand the value of not having to rely on others.  Now I'm not claiming to have raised a clan of anti-social hermits, but rather I've done my best to instill in my children the critical value in being independent.  The kind of independence I'm talking about is far more than financial in nature, as it more appropriately means having the ability to do what you want in life without needing the permission (or resources) of another.

It may be a very long time before I know how successful I've been as a parent, but I know that I can look myself in the mirror and see someone who has genuinely tried.

What I've learned as a father
This is more of a list than anything else:

• While there is no substitute for showing your children that you love them, you should tell them that you love them too.  I didn't do enough of this when my girls were younger, but I make a point of it now.
• Your children are always far more perceptive than you think.
• While very difficult, you can't take how your children feel about you (at times) personally.  Being a parent means that you sometimes need to make tough and wildly unpopular decisions.  I can think of many in that category myself.  Never the less, if you are sure of a course of action...and it is truly important...stick your guns and take the resulting chiding.  
• It always ends up costing more than you think, so just get used to it.
• Your children will learn via their own mistakes, and while you can tell them what to avoid, the reality is that some things do need to be learned the hard way.
• It's not enough to say...you need to do as well (kind of a reverse of bullet #1).  "Walk to the talk and talk the walk". Never underestimate the power of setting a good example.
• Talk to your children as often as you can.
• Have a lot of books laying around.  It creeps me out when I am in a house and there are no bookshelves.
• Set high expectations for things like grades in school.  If you expect the mediocre then you will most likely  get the mediocre.
• Cherish whatever stage in life your children may be at during the present moment.  

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't end this with just about the most moving musical tribute I've ever heard given to a father.  Singer David Gates (from he 70's group Bread) said that his song "Everything I Own" was written about his father, and if you  listen to the words I think you'll find that it's indeed something that came from deep within heart.  You can link HERE or click on the embedded video, below.



An early Happy Father's Day to one and all.

When the 80's attack...

In hindsight he kind of looks like Milli...or is that Vanilli?

"Wish me love a wishing well, like Norman Fell..."

This made me laugh...

"Tweet" (God, it sounds gay just writing that) from comedian Lisa Lampanelli...

Lisa Lampanelli

Pippa Middleton spilts from beau, Alex Loudon cuz he couldn’t handle her newfound celebrity. Hey, he shoulda waited 14 more minutes!




For the life of me I don't understand why the English royalty still exists in this day and age.

Is there a town named "Kenya" in Hawaii or Illinois?

From the Huffington Post:

Herman Cain:  Obama was raised in Kenya

Maybe Mr Cain is just geographically challenged.

This is right up there with the President having attended a radical Muslim school in Indonesia.  In point of fact he did attend a Muslim school in Indonesia, but he also attended a Catholic school as well.  Hey, instead of a Muslim, maybe Obama is secretly a Catholic?

Anyway, for more factual reading on this stuff, see THIS reference.

I don't agree with about half of what the President has done (such as his pandering to Harry Reid decision about Yucca Mountain), but the lies and falsehoods about his background from people who should know better borders on hilarious.

Road Apples, #104

Back to the Future...I've probably watched the first Back to the Future movie about a half dozen times and have watched parts of it maybe a dozen times more.  In the "you know it's a great movie when..." department, every time I've seen the movie I catch some inside joke, sly reference or obscure point that I never saw before.  You got to love it.

Super 8...Also in the movies department, I saw the new J.J. Abrams movie Super 8 last night with my oldest daughter. Well worth the price of admission.  Now I think it started rather on the slow side, but my daughter disagrees.  We both agree though that it is, overall, a great movie.  What's more, it's fairly appropriate for large audience, as I didn't see any real heavy gore and no sex/sexual innuendo, which is a rarity these days.

Judge Vaughn Walker...is being criticized for making a decision against California's Proposition 8 while keeping the fact that he is, himself, gay a secret.  Story link HERE. If his ruling is thrown out on this basis, does it mean that a heterosexual judge could also be called "biased" if he/she makes a ruling against gay right?  After all, if one is heterosexual, perhaps that means he/she is automatically against homosexuals by design?  Maybe non-smoking judges shouldn't be allowed to hear tobacco lawsuits.  Or smoking judges shouldn't be allowed to hear tobacco lawsuits.  Okay, I am being sarcastic, but my point is this:  throwing the ruling out on this basis alone creates a mighty slippery slope that I don't think serves the interests of any party.  Like it our not, our judicial system rests on the notion that judges can make decisions based upon the facts and circumstances of each case.  If we start trying to dissect the personalities and personal traits of judges post-decision, then we open ourselves up to the notion that every judge can be questioned on every decision.  What would the point then be of even having a legal system?

Weiner-Gate...I have been staying away from this one for the most part, simply because it's so tawdry in nature, but hell, it's just begging for comment.  Mind you, my thoughts in the case have nothing to do with politics, as history has shown that "horn-doggyness" isn't an exclusive trait of any one political party.  By and large I think his constituents should be deciding his fate, save for one caveat:  if he extensively used government property to pull off his schemes, then I say throw the bastard out.  I'm also discounting the notion that his activities involved having inappropriate contact with minors; if there is proof that he did have any form of sexual contact with a minor (virtual or otherwise), then this becomes a criminal matter.

Tuesday...I will be pressuring washing the front porch of the house.  I know that it doesn't take much to entertain me, but as I remarked to a friend the other day, in our line of work often the effort you put forth into something doesn't necessarily manifest itself in visible results.  This is why I actually like activities such as yard-work (or pressure washing the porch):  I put forth effort and I see almost immediate results.  Then there is the whole notion of a certain, simply joy in physically hard work.  I sometimes think our society is needlessly degrading the value of getting your hands dirty.  This is something that Mike Rowe from the TV show Dirty Jobs is very passionate about (you can read more HERE).  In another life I am coming back as an electrician.

Blog Vacation...I am contemplating a taking a blog vacation next week, as I will be traveling anyway  and will probably have only limited blogging units available.  It would be the first extended time-off from blogging that I've taken since setting this up in 2008. We shall see.