Music Monday: Falling back on a favorite from Jackson Browne
Posted By RichC on September 10, 2018
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Occasionally an exchange on Twitter can surprise people
Posted By RichC on September 9, 2018
Social networks like Twitter"can" be interesting places for people who have opposing views to debate and exchange views … or they can be just a bunch of haters. BUT … because I participate in the former, 
I do enjoy the back and forth with people who have good or better thoughts than me … or with people who respect and learn from my point of view. All to often we unfortunately dig in our heels and refuse to entertain another user’s view, even before we know who they are.
Now for the slightly humorous part of an exchange on Twitter … not from me, but from a couple people making observations on President Obama’s fund raising speech on Friday. The exchange goes something like this: Robert J. O’Neill @mchooyah makes a reference to the inability of the Obama administration to recognize and use the words "Radical Islam…" and supporter of Obama comments that [Barack Obama] "He kinda killed Osama Bin Laden, so…"
To most or at least A LOT of readers, it was pretty obvious — check out "The Operator."
The lawn is cut just in time for remnants of Gordon
Posted By RichC on September 8, 2018
Since we are just north of Cincinnati and smack dab in the middle of the heaviest projected leftovers of Gordon, I made sure to finish up the lawn cutting chores before the expected "very heavy rain" this weekend. Hopefully it will just be rain unlike Hurricane Ike a few years back when we lost trees, shingles and a gazebo! I might even prep my bigger 10KW John Deere 330 diesel generator just in case?
Tropical Storm Gordon as it came ashore a couple days ago.
Obit: Actor, director and “Bandit” Burt Reynolds dead at 82
Posted By RichC on September 7, 2018
Of course my reference by including "The Bandit" in a tribute post to the passing of Burt Reynolds has a lot to do with how I remember him; he died after a heart attack on Thursday 9/6/2018 at age 82. The highpoint for me in remembering him was the making of the Smokey and the Bandit "car" movie with Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed during my teenage years. His macho image is what many of us 
"guys" would have "liked" to have been like … and those who loved the "go-fast" and "be rebellious" movies of our youth. If there was a car we all wanted, it was a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am … black with the special gold trim and awesome decal on the hood (since I knew it was way out of my league, I decided to admired Jim Rockford’s – James Garner – toned down Pontiac Firebird, which was still way out of my league! HA! I did almost buy a 1968 Firebird tho, until my dad put is foot down or talked me out of it – I’m not really sure?)
Back to the passing of an iconic actor in Hollywood. Instead of his role as a "Bandit," there was a time Burt Reynolds wanted to be a police office like his dad, chief of police in Riviera Beach Florida — just a few mile north of where he eventually had his 
heart attack and died in Jupiter, Florida (one was north and the other just south of West Palm Beach, FL).
Eventually though, Reynolds went on to college, played football, was injured and was encouraged by his English professor Watson Duncan III, who was a "gifted Shakespeare actor," to tryout for a play he was was producing.
Reynolds stayed with theatre after receiving a scholarship to go to the Hyde Playhouse in New York. There he made connections with high profile actors current and future, retained and agent and almost gave up and moved back to Florida because he was working a variety of jobs just to support himself.
Burt Reynold’s break came as television exploded onto the scene in the late 1950 and early 1960s. He became a regular on popular series shows like Riverboat and Gunsmoke. His list of movies, appearances and awards go on for pages as do his list of Hollywood notable friends. I will still remember him as the Bandit for Smokey and the Bandit … as do most car guys who grew up in my era.
Check out the new Burt Reynolds endorse Trans AM introduced in a YouTube Video below!
Oh happy day – a FaceTime with Annalyn and Katelyn
Posted By RichC on September 6, 2018
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Running a meeting based on Robert’s Rules of Order – condensed
Posted By RichC on September 5, 2018
Although reading the full Robert’s Rules of Order is helpful, following this short quick reference version will get you through most meetings.
For Fair and Orderly Meetings
Robert’s Rules is a time-tested standard, providing common rules of parliamentary procedure for deliberation and debate in order to place the whole membership on the same footing and speaking the same language. The conduct of ALL business is controlled by the general will of the whole membership – the right of the deliberate majority to decide. Complementary is the right of at least a strong minority to require the majority to be deliberate – to act according to its considered judgment AFTER a full and fair "working through" of the issues involved. Roberts Rules provides for constructive and democratic meetings, to help, not hinder, the business of the assembly. Under no circumstances should "undue strictness" be allowed to intimidate members or limit full participation.
The fundamental right of deliberative assemblies require all questions to be thoroughly discussed before taking action. The assembly rules – they have the final say on everything. Silence means consent.
Guidelines
Building a couple of toddler vanity/toothbrushing stools
Posted By RichC on September 4, 2018
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Music Monday with The Band from 1969 – Happy Labor Day!
Posted By RichC on September 3, 2018
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Remembering Sen John S McCain – he left an imprint
Posted By RichC on September 2, 2018
The nations’ citizens, Washington DC elites and the news media devoted significant time to honor and mourn with Senator John S. McCain’s family last week and especially on Saturday. I watched the funeral proceedings and memorial events along with much of the country who recognized his devotion to country. His loyalty to the men and women who serve and have served in uniform were unwavering from the beginning. McCain in every role … naval aviator, US congressman or US senator … focused on defending our country and supporting those who serve in the military. I can’t imagine there are many Americans who do not recognize his heroism when tortured as a POW … especially if they know his story. His sacrifice in remaining at the Hanoi Hilton, suffering the constant torture as a North Vietnamese prisoner when offered an early release is difficult to imagine. If for no other reason, Sen McCain deserves every citizen’s respect.
I enjoyed hearing so many kind words from his friends as well as his political adversaries who fought bitterly in campaigns and against issues McCain fought for; some I thought were worth his digging his heels in for and others I felt he should have backed down from … particularly when his party needed his vote 
(I can’t get his health care vote out of my head — although appreciated Senator Lieberman’s explanation). I also supported his 2008 run for the oval office believing he would have been a far better president than Barack Obama. The nation thought different (although in my opinion, there was no better tribute to Senator McCain than President Obama’s speech on Saturday).
Looking back, John McCain’s story of patriotism as a Navy guy had an impact on me as well. His military background, in part, is what had me applying to two military academies when I was in high school (thank you John Glenn for writing my nomination letter). I’ve always respected those who serve and served our nation. I hope the next generation sees his kind of service as heroic … and aspire to be more like John McCain … or at least show respect and appreciation for those who do.
Human-Induced Climate Change – Take it with a grain of salt
Posted By RichC on September 1, 2018
Some interesting results using my birth town and the "number of 90 degree days" in a New York Times "tool" which I interpret as wanting to alarm us into action over the "human induced climate change" projections. If you haven’t already dug your heels in with an opinion (likely influenced by politics either way) … it is not hard to recognize the slant and agenda of "Climate" writers for the NYTimes.
I’m not educated enough in climate science to know how much to panic and how much to take with a political grain of salt. Deep down I wonder if the gradual environmental improvements we have made (and I have witnessed) in the US over the last 50 years is an appropriate path … and if the focus should be on countries where there is the most room for improvement even beyond "carbon emissions." It also occurs to me that we are not as brilliant as we think; there are often unforeseen events in nature that change opinions over time … in fact 40 years ago we were fearing "global cooling!"
But below is the recent NYTimes Interactive look at my birth city of Toledo Ohio from 1960 to 2017 (more…)
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.