Roy's Blog
As can be seen in other parts of the web site, I like to write about things I find interesting/important. All of those things that interest me are not all significant enough to warrant a full essay; therefore, I've decided to create a Blog for myself. It will not be like most blogs in that I'm not using any blog software. If you want to comment/argue/disagree with anything in the blog (or anywhere else in my web site) just send me an email rwl@lobenhofer.com and if I deem it appropriate, I will post it. Be aware, I do not believe commercials are appropriate, nor language that isn't PG. (Okay, I'm a prude - but I'm an old prude!) That being said, I'd love to hear your comments especially if you disagree. By understanding why you disagree, perhaps I will see the errors in my thinking.
A word of warning before going on regarding proof reading: if you read any of the following you will soon be asking, “Doesn’t he proof read this stuff?” The answer is yes I do proof read it and that is why there are so many errors. You see when I proof read my own work, I see what I meant not necessarily what shows up. Sometimes when I reread things weeks later, I will catch some of the errors and correct them. Until then, my apologies!
Date Posted:
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
General Area:
General
Title:
We Need Some Good Parents
We are again entering a cycle congress battling over
raising the debt limit. There’s some good news here in Illinois, it appears our
credit rating has improved, but we’re still deep in debt. We are listening to
the pros and cons of college debt relief. Then there are the constant ads for
debt consolidation, lower interest credit cards, and bankruptcy. It seems being
deeply in debt is the norm.
Personal debt is one thing. Contrary to some’s thoughts,
the kids aren’t responsible for the debts of the parents. So, in theory, if you
rack up all sorts of debt before you kick off, it’s not your kids’ problem. (Of
course, there is the guilt you may be laying on them for not taking care of you
while you’re waiting to kick off.)
Governmental debt is a different story, in a way.
Obviously, if we kick-the-bucket before the debt is paid, we won’t have to pay
it off; however, our kids (and theirs) will. We are leaving our progeny with
massive debt.
I don’t think we should leave our kids and theirs with
massive debt. So, what’s the solution. I think it’s fairly simple. There is a
phrase that I was taught by my mother that I heard a lot. We need to learn again
– we can’t afford that!
It may be simple, but it isn’t
necessarily easy. I’m a good person. I’ve worked hard. I deserve
it, even if I can’t
afford it.
But I think of what my mother dealt with and if anyone deserved
it, she did. She
knew what we couldn’t afford, and I think she raised her sons to be just as
smart.
Public debt is an even more complicated issue. The people
who decide what we can and can’t afford must be elected. What complicates
everything is it’s hard to get elected by promising to cut programs or say we
can’t afford things the electorate wants or what campaign contributors want. I’m
not optimistic about finding the answer to solving the problem. How do we get
the electorate to vote for people who have the courage to say, “we can’t afford
that?”
Ideas PLEASE!!
Date Posted:
Friday, February 3, 2023
General Area:
Reading
Title:
Series – Good or Bad?
When I find an author I like, I generally read everything
the author has written. It’s now to the point that if I’m looking for a new
author, before starting the first book I’ll research what the author has done
previously. If I find the author has older books, I’ll start with the oldest.
I noticed something in the author
I’ve been currently reading and in reflection, I’ve seen it with other authors.
I’ve currently been reading Micah Hackler’s Sheriff Lansing series. I really
enjoyed the first, second and third in the series; however, I found the fourth
not to be as good. I’ve seen this happen before. It’s almost like the authors
think they developed a system to keep their readers happy and about the third or
fourth in a series they pay attention to the system and forgo their own
creativity.
The good news is that after a downer in a series, the
author frequently comes back with their normal good works.
So where does that leave me? I’ll take a break from
Sheriff Lansing to return to an old favorite. Paty Jager has written book 10 of
her Gabriel Hawke series and I’ll hopefully rejoin old friends in the characters
in that book. After that, I’ll most likely go back to Sheriff Lansing and see if
Mr. Hackler gets back to writing what I like.
Date Posted:
Saturday, January 14, 2023
General Area:
Media
Title:
Where was the media?
In case you’re reading this when it’s no longer news
George Santos was elected to the U S congress after fabricating his past. He
lied about where he went to school, where he worked, and awards he received
among other things. The thing about this that bothers me is that it all came out
after the election. That’s not what I would have expected in this day.
If this had been when I graduated from high school, it
may have been more understandable. It was hard to get information back then.
Verification took time. Telephone calls had to be made, and they were expensive.
Places needed to be visited and people needed to be talked to. Now, much of this
can be taken care of while sitting in your easy chair watching TV with a laptop
in your lap. But, that didn’t happen.
According to the Republicans the media is always after
their blood. If the way the media treated Santos is an example, the Republicans
should come up with another line.
On the other hand. If media contends they are the
watchdog for America’s society, they better start showing it and not after the
fact.
Date Posted:
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
General Area:
Sports
Title:
Chicago Bears
The Bear’s season is over. A new GM and head coach, and
gobs of new players led to one of the worst seasons we fans have had to endure.
I must admit the watching wasn’t as painful as their record would indicate.
Watching the progress of Justin Fields made it more interesting.
That being said, the Bear’s did win the first pick in the
draft, and there’s a lot of talk about how wonderful that is. I urge caution in
the euphoria. It is one pick, and the team needs a lot of help. I can’t remember
seeing the Bears with a worse defense. Fields was sacked more than most other
quarterbacks and his receivers were underwhelming. Is one pick going to solve
all those problems? I don’t think so.
In addition to the number of areas that need help, there
is also the fact that the current regime does not have a track record. If the
Bears are going to be really good next year, it appears to me all their moves
will have to be near perfect. That doesn’t appear logical to me.
But, miracles do happen! The Cubs did finally win a World
Series. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!