Feeling kinda wiped out after a couple rough days at work, I thought I'd vegitate in front of the tube. The future looks bright for Blockbuster.

My wife just saw an interview on FoxNews and pointed me to a new blog, Through A Soldiers Eye by SPC Nally of the 10th Mountain Division. He is stationed in Iraq and his words give a new perspective to the situation over there.
What we see and hear in the regular media is not the whole story. I've heard of political types who have gone over and returned with similar stories but this is different. This is one of the guys who has been there, I and I suspect if given the chance will return, on the ground doing the job.
Make his first entry, The Basics, your first read. Tells why he's blogging the conflict. You can hear the frustration with the media in his words.
I've added a link on my blogs page.

With the press of the holiday business now behind us, we'll be looking back, like the rest of the business world, to evaluate how things went. My feeling, no hard numbers yet, is that volume, especially parcel volume, was down. The way mail is processed now days it is harder at the delivery office level, to get a feel for things unless you are a carrier.
So my seat of the pants evaluation of letter/flat volume would be of little value. However, parcels are still sorted by hand at the delivery office so I can evaluate volume much better. To other clerks, supervisors and managers, and myself the feeling is that parcel volume is down over SPLY (Same Period Last Year). If that is the case, and for it to be as noticeable as it was for us, the downturn has to be significant.
If this is true, the Postmaster General Potter’s commitment to hold rates till 2006 is going to be sorely tested. Productivity gains will be increasingly harder to achieve and there is less than full confidence that the plan to fully automate flat mail will reach full implementation. If sufficient productivity gains can not be achieved to offset possible revenue losses, management will be reevaluating the plan for the balance of this year and the years to come, probably adjusting work hours, capital expenditures, and so forth downward.
We've already cut pretty close to the bone in a lot of areas. While there are more consolidation of processing centers to go, there is a lot that can be saved through consolidation of many of the small, none contributing (net loss revenue) offices. The problem here is congress. Whenever we try to close these types of offices the patrons petition their congressman who gets on the phone with the PMG and ultimately puts a stop to it.
We cannot operate under good business principles with congress involved. (Surprised?) It's not that service would discontinue to these customers, they already have free home delivery available which would continue and they would be able to move their PO Box to another office it they needed one. The biggest objection is loss of community identity. Well, if that is dependent on the presence of a post office...need I say more.
The competition, UPS, FedEx and so forth have been lobbying congress heavily to prevent any reform plan from going forward that would allow the postal service to compete on a level field. They were able to hold up Rep. John Mc Hughs house committee that was making great progress until his term as chair was up and the process had to essentially start over.
Delivery services like UPS and Airborne are able to transfer delivery of non-productive areas to us by drop shipping deliveries to sparsely populated rural areas at the local post office for delivery. We always go by every delivery point on the route and gladly take their revenue. That revenue helps us, but we cannot, because of congress, consolidate where these other services can.
I don't want to see delivery service discontinued to certain areas, I just want us to be able to do so efficiently. Until congress is out of the decision making process, efficiency will be difficult to come by in these critical areas.

Howard Dean is reportedly using religion as his next campaign strategy and so far people don't seem to be buying it. Last week Dean was blasted by Rev. Arthur Hilson of New Hope Baptist Church in Portsmouth, NH for using the Reverend and his wife as backdrops (unawares) for Dean's southern campaign strategy. Seems Rev. Hilson didn't like the idea of being used in this manner though historically democratic candidates for any variety of offices have campaigned from the pulpits of black churches under the guise of "sharing the Word."
I have always thought this was ethically improper for these churches to allow and hypocritical of the candidates and liberals in general to do. Aren't these the folk who constantly chant the mantra, "separation of church and state?" Remember the flap over the Bush visit to Bob Jones University in SC during the last presidential campaign. While that attack started with John McCain, the liberals pushed it forward and had to misrepresent school policy to stir up a firestorm. While the stated complaint was racial bias, the bottom line was the Christian stance of the university and a “rule” that only seems to apply to conservative politicians and their supporters. Bob Jones revised their policy, which had it's roots in concerns by an Asian family, in March 2000.
Now Dean has begun talking religion and it's "role in his life." Never mind that that role will only play a part in his campaigns southern swings. Seems his religion isn't something he is comfortable sharing with his Yankee brethren but southern dems are deemed to be more receptive to Dean's new found religion. While Dean says “you have to respect other people's religious beliefs and honor them, but you don't have to pander to them,'' it seems that is exactly what he is doing. Pandering to the southern vote, the southern black vote especially.
To be fair, Dean for years claimed membership to the Episcopal Church until there was a rift. Apparently his opinions on environmental issues were stronger than doctrinal convictions and Christian brotherhood and forgiveness couldn't breach the differences over a bike path. Now Dean claims to practice Congregationalism though he rarely attends church.
During his campaign Bill Clinton used a similar strategy and it worked. Later in his term of office it became readily apparent how shallow his religious convictions really were. George Bush also claims strong religious convictions. The difference here being Mr. Bush's convictions are very personal and he discusses them on the record when asked but refuses to use them as a prop the heat of political campaigning. Mr. Bush prefers to live his convictions and put them into practice in policy. None of this business of what many candidates seem to hold to; that their "convictions" are strong enough to use to influence the voter, but not strong enough to influence their own lives and decisions.
I suspect that at least some of the electorate will fall for Mr. Dean's strategy. The problem with American politics is two fold. First, it's hard to find a politician honest enough to be straightforward about their lives, their politics, their belief and philosophies. Secondly, the American electorate is a really dumb and gullible animal. Lazy too. We want everything given to us on a silver platter and are dumb enough to believe that it won't cost us. If a politician promises the world, we tend not to question how he's going to do it and what it's going to cost us (ultimately everything, I mean everything ends up saddled on the consumers back). We also do not question what a candidate tells us, failing to submit it to the smell test. "If it sounds good it must be true." But does it smell? If our candidate has a record to the contrary of what they espouse we don't want to know. But if the voter cares to take a wiff, what sounds good may well smell rotten.
So, to Mr. Dean, sounds like a good strategy to use with a disinterested, selfish electorate. To the voter, buyers beware.

Now that Christmas is past us we can now look forward to the coming year and what it will be bringing. Before we leave the Christmas holiday completely I was thinking about the music of Christmas and it occurred to me that of all the music we listen to and sing, it seems the songs that touch us most deeply are those that speak of home.
I'll Be Home For Christmas and There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays are the two that come to mind. Whenever we hear them performed, or join in singing it seems nostalgia and longing for the warm memories of Christmas Past overtake us. Perhaps this is a part of us wanting to recapture the comforts and simplicity of life enjoyed as a child.
The struggles of life, the daily stresses of living, the demands of work and family didn't exist then.
Our big decisions were when the next meal was going to be served and what games we would play. Mom and Dad took care of us, made sure there was food on the table and clean clothes in the dresser. A warm place to sleep would meet us every night and breakfast was on the table when we woke up. And when we woke on Christmas morning the tree was magically surrounded by piles of brightly wrapped gifts and toys we had dreamed of for months.
That all this was the result of hard work, many behind the scene sacrifices, planning and often spending money that wasn't there never entered our minds.
I've no doubt there are those whose memories of childhood are not so pleasant. For them I am sad. To have been raised in a difficult environment where one wasn't afforded the luxury of being a child, shielded from the cares of life would be sad indeed. But even then, on close examination I'm sure in most cases there would be good memories of pleasures borne of the struggle.
Yes, there really is no place like home for the holidays. I enjoy the life I have today, enjoy sharing the Christmas season with my wife's family. Still, after about 18 years of not doing so, I really do long for the time when I can once again spend some time at Christmas with my parents and siblings all together. I know that the Christmases of my mind can no longer exist, just being together once again would be wonderful. There truly is No Place Like Home For The Holidays

Christmas Eve, the shopping's over, the shipping is done, the wrapping is wrapped and the cooking has reaching its peak. Tonight and tomorrow families and friends will gather to share food and fellowship, watch parades, ballgames and movies, exchanging gifts and stories. Reminiscing about the memories of the past. Bringing to life again those who have gone before us as we remember, and laugh, and cry sweet tears of remembrance.
The fireplace will burn bright and someone will stuff all the wrapping paper in it creating an instant firestorm. The decorations will be admired as we again stuff ourselves to satisfaction and then some. Then as we head back out into the evening to return home we will carry with us more memories for next years holiday season.
Hopefully we will find time during all this to remember what all this celebration is about. Many living in America and Western Europe have lost the meaning. The holiday has for them become a great party of food, gifts, games and laughter. Rarely does that first Christmas day enter our minds.
As I drove to work this morning about 12:30 I saw a solitary star peak through the clouds to remind me of that star so long ago that guided the wise men in their quest to find and worship the child.
The rolling hills reminded me of those hills around Bethlehem where shepherds gathered around a fire to warm themselves while their sheep rested nearby. And suddenly a choir of angels announcing the birth of the King interrupted their tranquil night.
The old barn hidden in the shadows of the trees made me think of that little stable where a new mom and dad huddled around their newborn baby. This precious gift, this miracle of birth, this promise, this one born to save his people and all mankind.
As you go about your holiday activities, don't forget the child. Because of the child whose birth we remember and celebrate at Christmas, we can remember and celebrate Easter. When the promise wrapped in swaddling clothes was fulfilled in the victor over death, hell and the grave.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas!

This is one of those days where nothing seems to jell. I read an article about a meeting in Washington between the U.S., the European Union, Russia, Japan, S. Korea and China over the location of the world's first nuclear fusion reactor. The long range implications of this are enormous and there are essentially 2 camps. Russia, China and the E.U. want to locate it in France. The U.S., Japan and S. Korea want it in Japan. There are pros and cons for both locations. However the article (in the BBC Online News Service) indicates the rub is the U.S. against locating it in France because of their opposition to the Iraq war. Well, I don't know about that. Maybe it is true. I'm not so sure I can't blame us for thinking that way.
Just the same, the long term benefits for this type of project for the first country to host a facility can be tremendous. Certainly France has a history of scientific innovation. That's just it. It's a history. Perhaps they can lay claim to more recent scientific discoveries, I just haven't heard of them.
On the other hand, Japan is an undisputed leader in technical and electronic innovation. They have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to excel in science and technology. Japan has nuclear power plants, so does France. So they both can claim working knowledge of nuclear fission. However, fusion is a different animal.
One thing for sure.
A project of this kind will never be located in the U.S. The environmentalist wackos would have a field day tying it up in the courts. The last thing they are interested in is scientific advancement.
They can't even agree among themselves. In CA two opposing environmental groups are fighting over the wind power plants. One says they are needed because they reduce fossil fuel useage and reduce air pollution. The other group says they kill birds that fly into them.
Well, though I'm not a believer in Darwin's "theology," I have to admit, if all these dumb birds are flying into these blades and killling themselves, the ones left are the smarter ones. Survival of the fittest.
Ah well, that's enough rambling for today.

Here it is, the Monday before Christmas, and we just finished putting up all the decorations. We have a history of decorating as if this was going to be our last holiday. Inside, outside, lights, foliage, villages, trees, wreaths, garlands, candles and ornaments. On the top of cabinets and dressers, in the bathrooms, the bedrooms, the kitchen, the living room and office. In the niches, on top of open walls, on the walls. In other words, everywhere you looked it was Christmas.
After attending a progressive dinner Saturday night where my wife received a little battery powered snowman as a gift we came home, placed him on the entertainment center, turned him on and that completed our decorating. In fact, that was our decorating. That one little snowman, on his shoulders (or ball if you will) rests the entirety of our Christmas decorating this year.
Not that we were lazy this year, or a couple humbugs. We just weren’t very motivated. My wife says it’s entirely my fault. Says she couldn’t reach the high places and since I didn’t seem willing, we just didn’t do it. OK. In reality I think she’s secretly just fine with it. No mess to clean up after the decorating. No mess to keep cleaned up with the decorations dropping bits and pieces here and there. No mess to clean up after the un-decorating. Simple, neat and easy. Just change the battery in Frosty so he keeps blinking and your done!
Next year we’ll do better. Drag out the boxes and boxes of decorations. Take days on end untangling lights, placing ornaments, arranging wreaths and garlands, building the village…then again, maybe not.
Frosty looks just fine sitting there.

As I work through the logistics of blogging I've decided that I need at least one day a week away from the blog. I'm going to make that day Sunday. You know, day of rest and all that. So don't expect anything in the way of a Sunday post. I guess you really can't "expect" anything as I may want or need to take leave from this keyboard any day of the week. But Sunday will be a given.

An open letter to Rush Limbaugh:
OK Rush, you finally did it. You went over my line and I shut you off. I have to admit I never have been a "good" listener. I'm not a dedicated ditto head, dropping everything for the EIB between noon and 3 every afternoon. Still, I liked listening to you. You speak a lot of the thoughts and philosophies I hold to. It is good to have a voice on the air, unafraid to say out loud what needs to be said.
My difficulty with you has not been your message. It's been your method. I characterize myself as one of those "kinder, gentler" conservatives. Lets face it Rush, if your method is anything it's neither kinder nor gentler. I'm sure that's part of your appeal, the in-your-face expression of the conservative philosophy. Still, I remained on your listener list because I found a chuckle every so often as you appealed to my intellect.
However, on Dec. 10th you began to cross a line I (and from the sound of it, many others) feel you shouldn't have. And it wasn't so much the use of legitimate anatomical language. Though I could say that in my opinion you are on the "slippery slope" (remember that) of "shock-jockdom" and like the Howard Stearns of the media, you'll find yourself having to get off the curb and immerse yourself thoroughly in the gutter to keep getting a reaction from your audience.
But no, it wasn't so much what you said, to begin with. It was your lack of consideration for the opinions for your listeners. Isn't that something you accuse the liberals of. So full of themselves as to not give credence to the opinions of others. You said there was a time when you would have apologized, but you refused and tried to make a humorous bit of it. I know there are times a person has to be steadfast, but that is in convictions and strongly held beliefs. Not in methodology. This was a time when you should have been a bit humble, if that is possible, and admit the possibility of error in judgement. Yes, I know it's your show. But we, the listeners, have opinions too. And those opinions include what we will put up with.
Rush, when some faithful listeners let you know you were on the line, you as much as rubbed their faces in the dirt, picked up your bat and ball and left them there. It was as if to say, "tough, it's my game, play it my way or you don't get to play."
Thursday when you read the e-mail from a concerned listener about the coffee shop talk, then took on your self to slap them straight across the face with your Hillary t_______l spoof-ad, you went way over the line in broadcast excellence and listener consideration.
OK Rush, I choose not to play. When that ad came on I hit the off switch on my radio. I've waited better than a week just to see if I could do it, (I really had no doubts) and now I'm giving you notice that you haven't been on my radio since that day. Nor will I make you a part of my day again. OK, maybe on a rare occasion, but it'll have to be because there is absolutely no other source. Believe me, I'm starting to look now to minimize that possibility.
So, Rush, this is to say good-by. I hope you get the message as I'm sure I'm not the only one who's finally fed up with your arrogance.

So here’s the burning question of the day. Why? Why do we do it? We know we shouldn’t but that doesn’t stop us. What? What do you do you know you shouldn’t but still do. Think about it. I’m sure you can think of a lot of stuff that fits into that scenario. But what I’m talking about seems to hit its stride this time of the year. Christmas. Parties, gatherings, people together, laughing, enjoying each other and eating. Eating lots and lots of food.
You make those promises to yourself every year. “I’m not going to do it. Not this year. I’m going to be strong and resist. Just a few veggies and some water, that’s it. No more.” Then you get there. The table’s so full of wonderful looking, great tasting stuff. The cheeses, chips, party mix, sandwiches, li’l franks, potato salad, breads, nuts, cakes, cookies, pies, cheesecake and on and on. You start out slow, “I’m only gonna do just a little bit. No big deal. I can handle this.” And as you start down the line, a little here and a little there. Not much of any one thing. Just little bits of everything. When you get to the end of the table and look at your plate, “ Oh my God! What have I done! Well, I can still fix it. I just won’t eat it all and discretely throw most in the trash.”
Then you begin to nibble. A little off this corner of the sandwich, that nut, that chip, a little taste of the cake and I’m done. I head towards the trash, get stopped by Joe who I really don’t care for and usually avoid but for some reason he wants to talk. It’s the holiday and everyone is in a good mood. So to keep from saying too much I nibble some more and slowly edge away. Then it happens again, and again. By the time I reached the trash I look at my plate and I’ve nibbled my way across the room and it’s empty.
I’ve only been here a half-hour and I’ve already blown it. But hey, that carrot cake looks great! And those cookies, and what about that fudge!
By the time I head out the door I’m stuffed, miserable, mad at myself, but…what about those rum balls! Wow! Weren’t they great!

First let me say I'm in the process of personalizing this blog and will be experimenting with backgrounds and colors. Hang in there with me. This is the St. John's River looking out from Fletcher Park near Cresent City, FL.

Listening to FoxNews today there was a brief story about comments former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made in the "green room" prior to appearing on a show. She was reported as saying the "Bush administration is holding Usama bin Laden captive, waiting to break him out at the best political moment." See the story. Ms. Albright has dismissed the comments as "tongue in cheek" but I have to wonder.
In politics little is said without reason. Especially by someone regarded as a spokesperson. The Dems made no bones about demonizing Trent Lott over his ill thought out comments at Strom Thurmond's birthday party. Comments made in jest at a party honoring a respected statesman. They have recently been embarrassed by a leaked memo from Sen. Jay Rockefeller's office strategizing the politics of an delaying a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation into the Sept 11 attacks. The intent to try to bring the greatest embarrassment to the Bush administration. (If the allegations are so important, isn't it disservice to the country to delay looking into them?) Yet comments by a former Clinton administration official made to a journalist just prior to his going on the air are said to have been in jest.
The Dems are masters at manipulating the media. They will make comments, complaints, and announcements to an news conference, controlling the airwaves and print media, getting their message out and with the help of the media have it repeated so many times speculation and wish lists become a psuedo-reality. I only wish the Republicans were so good at using the media to get their message across and answer the lefts message.
I believe Albrights comments were not "tongue in cheek" but a salvo across the bow of the Republican political ship. They are going to use these types of speculative comments to redirect and control the opinions and thoughts of the voters to try to bring distrust to this administration as we come into an election year. They see the polls rising on the news of the capture of Saddam and it worries them, so "time to bring out the big guns," so to speak. They also know it is very difficult if not impossible to prove a negative. You can't confirm what ain't.
To the Republicans and administration, don't sit back an let the Dems control the debate. If you don't put forth strong and convincing arguments they will win the debate by default.

Burr! A cold front's coming through and after starting the day this morning with temps in the 60's @ 3am and a bit of a shower, it's now 48 and falling. 'Sposed to hit the low 30's tonight. Now that's chilly for central Florida. When I moved here 15 years ago from Missouri I had worked outside there and 30 was nothin'. Now I seem to be a little more sensitive to the chill. Still, I like it cooler better than hotter.
'Course folks north of the Mason-Dixon line look down here with envy this time of the year. 2 feet of snow...Bahh! There was a time...even now I sometimes wish I could be in the snow, for a day. Just to enjoy it. But I can't imagine living in the snow belt. I'd rather battle the heat and humidity May - September than the snow/slush/ice through the winter.
I do miss having the allergies only for a few weeks in the spring and late summer. The first 5 years here were great. No sniffles. itchy eyes and so forth. But then allergies Florida style hit and they stay with ya year round.
But then, it's still nice to sit on the back porch in December-February in my shorts, sandals and t-shirt sipping ice tea and pick up the phone and dial up one of those friends hunkered down in the cold and snow. Makes me smile just thinkin' 'bout it!

It's that time of the year when things go a little wacky at work. All this gift giving, card sending and so on really boosts the volume, and with it, the work load. Love the work (without it there would be no job), the overtime is good (provides dough for some of the extras), but there is also a tired factor to put into the mix. I used to look forward to Christmas, now, more and more, I look forward to Christmas being over. No, I'm not in the "bah, humbug" mode, it just seems to have lost the joy it once held.
On another note, today on CNN Jim Bitterman in a story about fmr. Secretary of State Jim Baker going to Paris and then a few other European nations to help formulate a plan for the EU naysayers to save face on the Iraq issue with loan concessions/adjustments, made a statement something like this: "Jim Baker is there to assure the Europeans that the grownups are back in charge and the neo-Ayatollas are gone." What was that all about? Is he implying (or even explicitly stating) that the Bush administration is a bunch of immature demagogues and power mongers? Sounds like Mr. Bitterman has migrated from reporting to opining. So what else is new? Sounds like he is a "bitter man."

Well, I thought this might be a way to get some quick thoughts down without having to edit and upload a web page. Most recently the news of the capture of Saddam is on most everyone's minds. Just a couple observations.
1) I noticed several of the talking heads referring to Saddam as looking like a homeless person. What jumped in my mind was, "Oh great! Now we're going to hear from all the homeless advocates about 'the insensitivity and demeaning nature of this talk comparing the homeless to Saddam." Just wait, it's bound to come.
2) Now that Saddam is in custody, the opposition politicians will be calling for moving up the date of bringing the troops home and setting a firm date. Well duh! If I was one of the terrorists floating around Iraq, when I found out the Americans were leaving on a specific date I'd start lying low. Then as soon as they're gone, the countries mine! No more Yanks to hide from.
'Course I've come to question more and more how loyal to US soverignity, freedom and our democratic republic some of these of the "loyal opposition" really are. But even more, how much common sense they really have a firm grasp on.