Continued Cacophony

A Brief Synopsis of Today’s News Conference

The President’s most recent press conference, held at approximately 3 PM EDT in the Rose Garden of the White House has illustrated yet again the truth behind the statements made by Andrew Klavan, when he said, “In a crisis, people will continue to behave well and badly. They’ll make mistakes, and they’ll get some things right as well, but they’ll continue to be who they are.”

Corona Calamity!

Crisis, Calamity, and Calm Countermeasures

The majority of cases are mild: 4.7% require intensive care.

The vast majority of those who contract the virus recover.

“The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”

My Father’s Hands

As I was scrolling through Facebook the other day, I ran across a post that caught my attention. Originally shared by Garrett Chapman, it was about working man’s hands.

Reading through the comments, I saw several that admonished the original poster to “stop posting for attention.” Others admonished, “This wouldn’t have happened if you’d just wear gloves!” “Duh, just wear gloves, idiot!” “How does this have 5,000 shares? People are stupid!”

That got me to thinking: are these people right? Are people really stupid? Or do people just appreciate those who aren’t afraid to wear the scars of hard work on their hands?

I shared the post with my own commentary, but it stuck in my mind. I was thinking about how similar the hands in the picture looked to my dad’s hands (he’s worked as a farmer, logger, and mechanic for most of his life. As I thought about my father’s rough hands, a rhyme popped into my head, and I immediately wrote the few lines down on a notecard. This evening, I was able to finish the poem, which I have reproduced here.

My father’s hands are rough and scarred, there are cuts across his knuckles
Some view them with displeasure; I’ve heard more than a few chuckles
From those who seem to think smooth skin is a human’s greatest treasure
But the work-worn hands of a man who toils are to me a greater measure
Of the character of the one whose grasp lies firmly on the plow
In all his life he’s never backed down, and he damn sure won’t start now.

It’s Not Supposed To Go Like That

(C) David Crain, 2020

Change.

The perception of life as unpredictable is reinforced by the seemingly capricious way in which change affects our lives; for some, change can transport them to new heights of understanding and acceptance; for others, it can plunge them to new lows of despondency.

That unforeseen, unplanned, unscripted turn of events that can set your heart racing toward the heights of joy, or plummeting toward the depths of despair, with equal rapidity. The powerful influence of change is the most well-known phenomenon of the human existence.

“Before you cross the street take my hand

Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

John Lennon, “Beautiful Boy,” on “Double Fantasy” album

Surprises.

There are as many different opinions to surprises as there are different types of surprises. Some people love surprises. Some people hate them. Some people claim to love surprises, but actually hate them–PERIOD. Some people claim to hate surprises, but actually love it when people go out of their way to plan nice, thoughtful surprises for them.

The list could go on.

So You Want To Homeschool?

“Ok, Fine . . . But You’ll Teach What We Tell You To!”

A new bill introduced by Rep. John Hines, Sr.–D, Mississippi, would require homeschooling parents to teach the same courses as public schools are teaching, LifeSite News reports.

While homeschool parents and non-public schools currently have considerable freedom to teach children under their care according to their values, Mississippi House Bill 188 would mandate that the same courses on Mississippi History and American Government currently taught in public schools would also be required of homeschool families, as well as private and parochial schools.

Mississippi Democrat introduces bill to force homeschoolers to use govt-approved courses; published Friday, February 14th, 2020 (accessed 2/17/2020)

American Dream? More Like, American Nightmare!

If life really sucks so bad until the very day you die

Then what’s the point of living, and why do we even try

If one day no one will remember you when in the darkened grave you lie

Then what’s the point of trying while you live to touch the sky?

Shenanigans, Shutdowns, and Speeches: What’s Going On In Washington?

Why do our elected representatives in Congress continue to act like spoiled children when they don’t get their way?

The latest furor in Washington surrounds President Trump’s decision to allow a partial government shutdown to continue for nearly six weeks, because Democrats in the House of Representatives refuse to earmark $5.7 billion to build a wall on our Southern border.

Political posturing and gamesmanship in large quantities ensued, beginning with Nancy Pelosi sending President Trump a letter, asking him to consider rescheduling his State of the Union address until the government was reopened, or deliver it in writing. She cited the huge logistical concerns of securing the address as a reason for postponing.[i]

I’m Back, Y’all

Hey guys, I know it’s been forever since I’ve been on here, but I just wanted to say…

Congrats on making it to 2019! Glad to see y’all still here.

So listen, I know I’ve made the mistake of dropping off here so many times, I’m sure not going to blame you if you never forgive me for it. But, I know I need to get back to writing, and doing it on a regular basis.

So, I’m going to try and do just that. One of my goals for this year is to begin to research and implement new ways to make my life more productive, and I think having a place where I’m writing coherent, thoughtful posts on a weekly (bi-weekly, maybe?) basis will help me keep my thoughts organized and focused in other areas.

Looking forward to the year ahead with you all. Let’s write something worth reading this year!

I STAND

Why I will always STAND during the National Anthem:
1. I STAND, not in support of the many times American citizens have embraced faulty logic and questionable ethics whilst waving the Star Spangled Banner, but out of respect for the freedom for EVERY MAN the Founding Fathers advocated.

2. I STAND, not in support of the hatred and division which many advocate under the Stars and Stripes, but in support of the hope for a better life that many still see in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Driven: An Extraordinary Life

I’m convinced, as I grow older, that the way of life I saw as normal during my formative years is an increasingly unpopular lifestyle. The idea of being driven to do something profitable with your time, all of the time, is something of which most people have no concept. Logical, reasoned thought is a luxury many take no time to afford; in fact, it seems that most seek to live their entire life without entertaining a serious thought about anything.