Winter approaches

The cool, crisp mornings

Frost casting highlights on grass

Gives way to sun warming the day

Leaves turn – oranges blaze and reds ripen

Trees and animals prepare for the hibernation

that comes from nature’s reflex

As evening approaches, the temperature falls

Soon, the frost reappears to begin a new cycle

Until spring appears

Three beautiful words that communicate what almost everyone wants – Grant us peace.

These words are particularly appropriate today in light of the tragic events at Fort Hood, Texas.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Of secondary importance is the deployment of nfoav8or, a courageous and patriotic American currently serving his country in the US Navy.

Dona Nobis Pacem – preserve and protect your servant, O Lord.

And, most importantly, dona nobis pacem to his loved ones, particularly his beloved wife.

Dona Nobis Pacem.

JustJon

New York, New York

The home of the now 27 time World Series champions, the New York Yankees.

Isn’t life wonderful?

JustJon

PS – Congratulations to the Phillies on a great season.

Notice anything wrong with this picture?

Mr. Odumbo has no idea how to behave as Commander in Chief, does he?  At least his two staffers understand.

Hey, Mr. Odumbo, you, as a civilian and in civilian clothes, DO NOT SALUTE – you place your hand over your heart to show respect.  If you are not “under cover” (wearing an uniform hat), you DO NOT SALUTE.

You, who have never spent one day in the military, should still understand this concept.  It is OK for John-John Kennedy to salute his Daddy’s casket at the age of three, but you are just a few years older than that age.  Learn proper protocol, Mr. Iamoutofmyelement.

JustJon

The Democrats today introduced their health care reform bill – all 1,990 pages!!!!

Good evening – I learned the above while at my dentist today.  It seems that a crown and root canal that were done God knows how many years ago (and I really mean that comment) needs to be redone.

Anyway, we were watching CNN, which is always on in his office.  I saw Nancy Pelosi, our calculating, liberal third in line for the presidency, made a statement that absolutely flumaxed me – she stated that Congress would have 72 hours to read the bill.

72 hours to read 1,990 pages of legalese and determine how to vote for the bill.  Are you f’n kidding me?   Is she nuts?  No one could adequately review such a bill in 72 days, much less 72 hours, but she PROMISED Congress would have 72 hours.

Anyone want to bet what wonderful surprises are hidden in this bill?

JustJon

Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on, of all things, concussions – yes, the committee charged with vetting candidates for the Supreme Court of these United States decided that the best use of its time was to hold a hearing to, amongst other things, badger the Commissioner of the National Football League for not doing enough about this issue.

Let’s see – there are certainly any number of federal judge positions empty, the country remains in a prolonged recession with unemployment approaching double digits and, no doubt, there are numerous other issues that demands this committee’s attention, but they decided to focus on villianizing the NFL for the effects of concussions.

Mind you, one of the main questioners in this comedy is our loveable liberal, Maxine Waters, whose husband Sidney – wait, wait, – played in the NFL.  One of the great porkers in Congress, June 2009 Porker of the month, has a fundamental issue with a simple concept called Conflict of Interest.

Now, I, in no way, shape or form, wish to dismiss the effects of Concussive Syndrome on athletes.  I have worked in health care almost since the day I graduated from high school, having served as an athletic trainer at both the high school and college level, amongst other positions.  Athletes who suffer concussions require special attention to insure that they do not return to competition until the effects of the concussion has cleared.  Athletes who suffer multiple concussions need to be closely monitored for longer term affects.

However, should the Senate Judiciary Committee dedicate an entire day to this topic?  I think not.  As succintly stated by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) “We cannot legislate the elimination of injuries from the games without eliminating the games themselves.”

Get your priorities straight Congress – deal with the important issues that affect this country.  The depleted federal judiciary, the continuing problems with the economy and double digit unemployment, health care reform.  Any number of topics are more worthy of a day’s work than a hearing on Concussive Syndrome, which is a medical condition and warrants medical research, not Congressional grandstanding.

JustJon

Senator David Vitter (R-LA) has proposed an amendment to a spending bill that would prohibit the 2010 census unless a citizenship question is included.  Kudos to Senator Vitter.

Senator Vitter’s whole pretext is that areas with large immigrant populations are disproportionately represented in the Congress of the United States.  States with large immigrant populations – California (five seats), Texas (two seats), New York and Illinois (one seat each) – benefit from counting these immigrants, legal and illegal, in their census that decides the appropriation of the Congressional representation.

The Constitution requires that Congressional districts be reapportioned on the basis of a count every 10 years of the “whole number of persons” in each state.  Should legal immigrants be counted?  Illegal immigrants?  They can’t (legally) vote for the representation, so it remains a valid question.

Every ten years, this country enters a debate on what, and how, to count the census.  Should we do sampling instead of an all inclusive census was the big debate in 2000.

In my opinion, the legal immigrants should be counted – they are in this country legally and deserve representation in the making of the laws that govern the country.

However, the illegal immigrants, should not be counted, IMO.  Estimates vary, but as many as 20 million illegal immigrants are in the US at this time.  California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina account for about half the undocumented population – the inclusion of these illegal immigrants would disproportionately allocate house seats to these states.

Likely, this amendment will go nowhere – in the liberal, left wing environment that exists in the House and Senate today, the Democrats would be petrified to consider such a count – it would anger the voting populace that ties its heritage to those countries who account for most illegals.

But, Senator Vitter’s idea deserves a fair debate.  Should the definition of “whole person” include those individuals who are in this country illegally?  Legally, but without citizenship?  Alas, we will probably never have this debate.

Yesterday was a complete washout here – and in NY where they postponed the Yankees – Angels game.  So, no chance to play golf.

The weather forecast, however, for Sunday was perfect – sunny and in the 60’s.  So I figured I would play golf this morning.

Not to be – I have spent since around 9PM last night fighting my guts.  I truly empathize with those individuals who deal with dietary problems or the effects of chemotherapy (one in particular these days is foremost on my mind).

My problem was of my own dealing – I ate something yesterday which, if I revealed what it was, would cause every mother (and Empress) to tell me it was my own damned fault – but damned it was good.  Unfortunately, the food had an undesired effect on me, so, instead of getting up this morning and going to play golf, I have stuck around to be sure that the porcelain pony was close by.

So, what else in new?  I am giving thought to taking a cruise on the Carnival Fantasy out of Charleston SC while John is the CD.  Have to see how things go.

I continue to look for a new job – one has opened at corporate that I am going to apply for.  Still no bites, though.  The opportunity in Wilmington went kerput, as “they decided to go in a different direction.”   So be it.

Hope your day is better than mine has started out to be.  I know that Bee’s will be tits.

Jon

Tonight, I get to watch my beloved Yankees as they attempt to win the American League pennant and advance to the World Series for the 40th time.

Of course, it is October 22nd.  When I was growing up, the World Series would have been over for two weeks by now.  This season, the World Series could potentially extend until November 5th – unbelievable.

Obviously, the almighty dollar wins out no matter what.  If the Yankees win tonight, there will be no games until next Wednesday – why?  Television, of course.  Can’t have TV changing its schedule, so we have to sit around twiddling our thumbs waiting for the World Series to start.

The baseball season is simply too long – no two ways about it.  It begins before April Fool’s Day and soon may extend through Thanksgiving the way things are going.

So, how can baseball shorten the season?  Well, the almighty dollar will have to be sacrificed to some extent, but here are some ideas.

Doubleheaders – it used to be that families could enjoy two games for the price of one in a phenomenon know as doubleheaders.  These days, they are known as separate gate doubleheaders, because the park is emptied between games.

My suggestion – each team must play ten home doubleheaders a season.  If the owners are so worried about the almighty dollar, then consider these doubleheaders premier games and charge a premium for the tickets, say 1.5 times the price of the regular game.

Playing these doubleheaders (ten at home and ten away) takes 20 days out of the schedule.  Suddenly the schedule that begins April 1st and ends October 1st can begin April 10th and end September 20th.

As for the playoffs, begin the World Series when both teams are available and ready – not waiting six days to start.

So, here is my sadistic wish for the World Series this year – the Yankees and Phillies are tied 3-3 with the deciding game 7 scheduled November 5th in New York.  An arctic high moves south out of Canada far earlier than normal and collides with a classic nor’easter, dumping 33 inches of snow on NYC on November 5th, leaving the World Series title in question.

Maybe then, Major League Baseball will understand that the game played by the Boys of Summer is best played when the temperature is above freezing.

JustJon

So, I noticed a crack in the windshield on Saturday – nothing big, maybe repairable with one of those kits that supposedly repair glass to like new condition.

Then came the hard frost Monday morning.  That little crack suddenly extended all the way across the windshield.  I didn’t notice it at first – my morning commute takes me right into the rising sun – but, when I turned away from the sun, I was shocked to discover a better than two and one-half foot crack in the base of the windshield.  I actually feared taking the car on the interstate, so I came back home and drove the truck to work.

Yesterday morning, I took the car to the local auto glass dealership to have it replaced – $170.  The price makes me wonder.  You see, shortly after I got the car, I took a stone in the windshield and had it replaced as an insurance claim – I had to pay my $250 deductible.  So, tell me why I was able to get this windshield for $80 less???

JustJon