Thinkin’bout Stuff

First it was H1N1 knocking me out of action.  That was followed by a very annoying, hard to kill, malicious Trojan that infected the MBR on my PC (which prompted many friends to remind me how great Macs are) and tied up much of my time for about 3 weeks.

While both viruses contributed to a lack of posts here, the lack of posts here contributed to a chance to consider if there is any real purpose to continuing with Thinkin’Bout Stuff in it’s current form.. or at all.

Nearly four years ago Thinkin’Bout Stuff transition from a basic website to this blog format with this initial post:

A drop in a cup can create a splash… a drop in a pond… ripples.  A drop in an ocean likely no more than an impression swiftly swept away by waves of opinions formed through the collective wind of thousands of blogs all shouting to be heard over the roar of the ocean of ideas.

Will this drop be any different than the millions of others it joins? I have no idea… wait.. I mean, I have an idea, just no idea if any ideas shared here will amount to anything above an impression.  Who knows, maybe we’ll see a ripple or two, maybe not, but at least it may keep me out of therapy.

A drop in an ocean of ideas really is quite insignificant.

Sometimes, especially when RealClearPolitics provided an opportunity for smaller blogs to get exposure under “reader submitted articles”, we had pretty good traffic here.  These days, not so much.

Folks like to stop by to check out the unemployment charts, occasionally something posted here gets a link back to someone who either agrees or thinks I’m nutz, there was even some fun with a radio host who called me a wingnut.

But mostly I’m pretty much talking to myself.   Don’t misunderstand me… this blog is a great way to vent, but shouting ideas in the middle of this ocean with no one listening seems kind of pointless.

To be continued?

An update from the Allentown Morning Call yesterday on the dispute between SEIU and the Boy Scout working on his Eagle project:

Hauling brush and old tires out of the woods in Allentown early Friday, members of the Service Employees International Union learned an Eagle-Scout-to-be is just as forgiving as he is trustworthy, loyal and helpful.

<snip>

To show there were no hard feelings, SEIU members from as far away as Philadelphia and New Jersey accepted Kevin’s invitation to help with the project Friday.

”They completely agreed — to come out, to help, to make amends,” said Kevin, a member of Troop 301 of Center Valley. ”I’m just glad it’s all coming together.”

As a result of the extra attention, Kevin found himself in charge of at least 40 volunteers, including Boy Scouts, parents, union members, a few Girl Scouts and the mayor of Bethlehem.

<snip>

Wayne MacManiman, who leads the SEIU’s Philadelphia-based mid-Atlantic district, said he thought Kevin’s invitation was a great idea.

”Everybody’s here on their day off, volunteering,” said MacManiman, of Burlington County, N.J. He noted SEIU members from Allentown had signed up to be part of the union’s 20-member crew.

Regardless of the motive of SEUI leadership, whether to make amends or fix a public relations nightmare, the folks who volunteered their time on a day off should be commended.  Stating the obvious, or at least something that should be obvious, it is much better to see Americans working together than attacking each other.

Perhaps SEUI leaders and members will take a lesson from this clear contrast between bullying and community outreach.

Wrote a little diddy I’d like to share, to the tune of “12 Days of Christmas”  .. hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

The 8 days of Thanksgiving:

On the day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, turkey with all the fixings

On second day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, two turkey subs and all the sides and the fixings

On the third day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, fresh turkey salad, two turkey subs and all the sides and the fixings

On the fourth day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, turkey almond ding, fresh turkey salad, two turkey subs and all the sides and the fixings

On the fifth day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, — five turkey cakes… turkey almond ding, fresh turkey salad, two turkey subs and all the sides and the fixings

On the sixth day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, strips of turkey jerky, — five turkey cakes… turkey almond ding, fresh turkey salad, two turkey subs and all the sides and the fixings

On the seventh day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, seven bones for picking, strips of turkey jerky, — five turkey cakes… turkey almond ding, fresh turkey salad, two turkey subs and all the sides and the fixings

On the eighth day of Thanksgiving my dear wife served to me, thankfully no more turkey!

© 2009 Thinkin’Bout Stuff – All rights reserved.

After that “jackass” Kanye West’s incredibly rude and downright mean infantile behavior at the VMA, was refreshing to see Beyonce’s classy display of compassion, decency and thoughtfulness by calling Taylor Swift back up on stage to recover at least some of her moment that was all but ruined by West:

Kennedy liked jokes about Chappaquiddick? Seriously?  And the interviewer and commentator both see nothing wrong with this… they actually appear to think it was an endearing quality Kennedy had to laugh at this tragedy.

Without further comment…

Barbara Boxer… excuse me… SENATOR Boxer has been really showing her true self recently, hasn’t she… err.. . hasn’t the senator.

First she dresses down a US General for referring her to the rather disrespectful title of “ma’am”… how rude.

And now the latest, she is called out by President and CEO Harry Alford of the Black Chamber of Commerce for  condescending and, in his view, racial treatment at a Senate hearing.  After she is called on it by Mr. Alford, she really shows her true colors by speaking down to him and telling him that he should know that other black leaders would be very proud of him testifying before SENATOR Boxer…  what a true honor.  Here’s a cookie and some milk… now run along and just be happy you had this opportunity afforded so few of your kind.

I have real issues with condescension, whether directed towards me or anyone else. Setting aside the racial aspect of this exchange…  who the hell does she think she is?  She is no better than General Walsh, who clearly meant no disrespect; she is no better than Mr. Alford who did not deserve being treated like some child who should be grateful for having been granted an audience with the head master, and she sure as hell is no better than any one of her constituents who she owes her job to in the first place.

As far as the racial aspect goes, judge for yourself, but she sure as heck sounded like she was talking down to Mr. Alford and treating him as if he should get in line with all them other blacks who she had letters from… and be glad of it.

At least she didn’t get all over Alford for calling her ma’am…

A site you might find interesting.. oh… and while you are there, would appreciate a vote if you are so inclined…

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