Unsocial Media

 The time has come from me to abandon all media.  It's like the government and mainstream media is out to disrupt American culture as we know it.  Just read an article about a transgendered woman (a guy) complaining that men aren't masculine enough.  Really?  This person is part of the problem.  I don't understand how this person can say this with a straight face, much less how the media can report on it.  What gives? I'm also confused about the government's role in our society.  Liberals look for government to be the solution to the problem.  Conservatives view government as part of the problem.  I do not understand how the government thinks it's their role to decide if Elon Musk's compensation is too much.  I don't understand why they think they can advance an agenda through regulation.  I don't understand why the government is deciding why a business can or cannot merge with another because it harms the consumer?  I don...

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 Bias is defined as a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.  I started thinking about bias and how it colors perception.  For example, I have a strong, conscious bias against electric cars and their drivers.  I see electric cars and their manufacturers as being fraudulent and deceptive.  I see their owners as being liberal, stupid and gullible virtual signaling eggheads that have bought into the hoax of climate change who have more money than common sense.  I'm sure electric car drivers see me as an unenlightened, stupid conservative redneck.  Is either bias accurate?   Walking through a public space and saw an obese person sitting at a table eating a double cheeseburger and fries, drinking a soda wearing baggy clothes looking akin to a car cover not a wardrobe.  I perceive this person to be lazy with intense body odor, bad breath and rotten teeth. Father ...

 I found a series of interviews with John Williams on YouTube.  If I close my eyes listening to John Williams talk he sounds like Steve Jobs.  Genius's think different than the rest of us with their profound intelligence and way of looking at the world.  I find that interesting. I've been collecting John Williams music since we got our first cd player when I was a kid.  Collection now has over 100 titles.  Some of them our film scores and others are recordings with the Boston Pops playing music by other people.  Just an all around fan of his work. I still haven't heard all of his work.  One thing I find interesting is even though I've had access to much of his work, there are some albums I haven't previously been interested in.  Think of it was the "deep cuts" of an artist.  The more obscure, less popular work produced by any given artist.  Think of albums like "War Horse", "Seven Years in Tibet" or "Nixon."  Ive seen those al...

 I've been interested in the Baldrige award for quite some time and the quest to improve quality and become a top notch organization...  Rudy's in Austin was owned by a franchise and they won the award in 2010.  St. David's Hospital in Austin also won the award in 2014.  What if an airline set out to win the award or be recognized performing as a high quality organization across all facets of their business?  Can it be done in an industry as complex as an airline where there are so many variables outside of their control?  Serving different kinds of customers?  Operating in 100's of locations in shared tenant environments.  I think it'd be quite an undertaking and I wonder if it's possible.  Who would be willing to try it and how long would it take and how much would it cost?  How would you get a 20,000 person workforce marching in the same direction sharing the passion to meet the challenge?  It would be so cool.. that would be the...

From 1965 spoken by Paul Harvey: If I were the Devil . . . I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would, of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States. I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.” To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square.” In the ears of the young marrieds, I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be extreme in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them...

This is the last weekend the family is together before my oldest heads back to school.  We wanted to go out to eat and narrowed it down to two choices.  Chilli's or Olive Garden.  We set out for Chili's because we had a gift card...  Got there and it was a mess.  Hardly anyone working, a line, staff complaining about being short staffed, kitchen being slammed, etc.  So put our name on the list and after hearing the staff continuing to complain, we decided to leave and go to Olive Garden across the street. There was a wait at Olive Garden, too.  No big deal.  When we were seated our waiter came and introduced himself and he was most professional, polite and attentive.  Good enough.  We ordered and he brought the salad and breadsticks.  And a bowl of pre-grated cheese for us to share.  Nice touch.  He said he didn't like reaching over people to put the cheese on.  OK.  Anyway, the food was awesome.  It was bro...

 BlueBell is putting out their famed Tin Roof flavor for a limited time.  Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and dark chocolate covered peanuts.  It's one of the classic blue bell flavors that's been discontinued for some reason and released in limited quantities.  I read it is out again earlier this week.  Tonight we wen to the grocery and I wanted some.  I got the last container in the store.  Waiting just for me.  It made for a pleasing evening.  One of life's little pleasures.

 Tonight my wife and I were talking and she suggested I bite the bullet and go see a real John Williams concert with him conducting.  There are two of them scheduled.  Both in February.  One in Philadelphia and one at Carnegie Hall.  Tickets are expensive.  She kept trying to talk me into it stating he's getting old and his days are numbered...  His music means so much to you...  etc...  I started looking at tickets and while I could do a once in a lifetime splurge to see John Williams, I don't think I am emotionally equipped for an experience of that magnitude.  I looked at the tickets.  I thought about it and I just said I don't think I can do that.   Just thinking about being in a concert hall as he takes the podium and I get all choked up emotionally - the tears start welling up.  My voice cracks as we talk a little more about it.  No, I don't think I could process the experience.  I think I'd just start cryi...