Reporter's untold story of Pearl Harbor attack is finally published | Nation & World | The Seattle Times

Reporter's untold story of Pearl Harbor attack is finally published | Nation & World | The Seattle Times


Excellent read; I highly recommend this!

'Fox hole' opens passage to Neolithic past, possibly Hades by WBEZ

'Fox hole' opens passage to Neolithic past, possibly Hades by WBEZ

Jason Pierre-Paul, the Late-Blooming Defensive Wunderkind - NYTimes.com

Football season is nearly here and this young man is truly fun to watch. 


Jason Pierre-Paul, the Late-Blooming Defensive Wunderkind - NYTimes.com

The Watchers - Great Arctic Cyclone of 2012 - Rare and unusually strong storm formed over Arctic

The Watchers - Great Arctic Cyclone of 2012 - Rare and unusually strong storm formed over Arctic

Not something we see everyday so I though I'd share it here.  I've been watching the earth's changes for a long time and I'm never bored.

Greed vs. the American Dream

My husband and I live a meager but comfortable life in the Eastern Panhandle of WV (the part that looks like a foot jutting out between MD, VA and PA).  I am on workers comp but my husband works full time for a local company.  We make it ok but things could be better.

Recently, we had our Comcast bill go up quite a lot.  We were aniticipating this as our one year agreement had expired, so I called to see what type of "bundle" they'd offer us being that we were customers for quite a while. 

The Customer Service rep offered us a package which was a very, very basic cable subscription with our "blast" internet for $80/month.  Only a couple of channels were included that we watch quite a bit of so I asked if there was anything else as the rate had risen quite a bit - from $120/month to $180/month for our current channel line up.  The rep replied that if the current line-up didn't fit our income that WE needed to make some changes and that Comcast wasn't responsible for our financial situation.

I remained as polite as possible, advised the young woman that we would be cancelling our cable shortly and ended the call.

NOW - DirecTV offered a similar package of viewing pleasures with some extra programming we probably will never watch but offered NFL Sunday Ticket at no extra charge the first year of a two year contract AND at a very palatable price even in the second year of the agreement.  I discussed it with my husband and he agreed we would order.  So we did.

Then came the derecho and storms that had us without power for nearly a week, so the installation was postponed.  After getting back home there was much cleaning up to do so the installation was postponed for yet another week.

TODAY I hear that Viacom and DirecTV have a disagreement over a 30% price increase that apparently all the other cable/satellite companies paid but that DirecTV refuses to pay on principle.

I AGREE TOTALLY WITH DIRECTV!!!!!!

Apparently the agreement was reached some 7 years ago before the housing marked exploded, Wall Street fell, and Bernie Madoff made-off with everyone's money.  Not to mention the fact that there has been an enormous unemployment rate AND many are still in the throes of losing homes, jobs and other life events which effect us which aren't reported in the statistics that the politicians throw around.

What VIACOM is doing is very petty.  Taking shows away from DirecTV is one thing but to deprive everyone is another thing all together.

GROW UP VIACOM!!!!  Everyone is entitled to the American dream, not just big money!!

Out of the mouths of babes

When someone approaches you and asks what you think about a subject do you answer with something off the wall or do you think about what the person has asked you and answer with an intelligent reply?  Do you respond to a query with an answer to the dilemma or do you just mouth some niceties and go on about your way?  What if that person were your child?  Or someone else's child...  Perhaps what they're asking seems unimportant or trivial to an adult who has disconnected with how is was to be at that age or stage...

I write about this today because of a headline that caught the eye of a friend on social media who "shared" it with those of us on his "list".  The story of how an attendant on a school bus was assaulted by some middle school students.  There were a few comments in relation to my friend's shared headline that I'm sure were sincere but I realized as I read these things how estranged each of us has become from the other.  How our society is crumbling in the wake of a generation of human beings that haven't had the luxury of growing up where you can rely on others being there when it counts.  There are some people like that around - but not nearly enough.

The most important duty we have as humans is to make sure the following generations will be able to survive what comes.  It is important not to forget that these things are not exclusive to academic and financial achievement, but also include how to treat other human beings.  Without being able to respect one another we will be lost forever to our own misguided leanings.  We must be relentless in showing the way and teaching others with our own actions is the most efficient means of doing so.

Stop and think before you react.  We can effect the way the world evolves in tiny ways that become a much larger movement.  Life can be a better place while we're here.  Do your part.

When death visits

I haven't written in a long time.  It seems that everything I wanted to say had been said many times over in several different languages and forms so I stayed quiet.  This, however, is very personal and something that I need to write down without edit while it's still kinda raw.

I grew up not knowing my real family as I was adopted.  I was nearly of legal age before I knew that the people who raised me were, in fact, actual relatives who despised my mother and therefore kept us apart as much as possible.

So as a young adult I found I had two half-sisters and two half-brothers.  We all shared the same mother who was the neice of those who raised me.  Robert was about 18 months older (and the eldest).  I was the next in line.  Then there was Jeffrey who is about 3 yrs my junior.  Then Tina and Tammy.  This post is dedicated to Tina, who passed away today after a long illness.  She was in her early 40's.

I am ashamed that I don't know exactly how old, but assimilating a whole new family into your life after you're grown is a challenge.  I was grateful to hear that there were people who wanted to be a part of my life and wanted very much to be part of theirs.

So as young adults, my sister Tina and I partied, laughed, cried and shared everything we could think of.  She was a beautiful, vibrant woman whom I adored with all my heart.

I had to abandon all those good times when in the late 90's I admitted alcoholism and vowed to stay away from all those situations where alcohol was present and would be tempting.  After that, I only saw her once or twice a year at family gatherings during the holidays.  We grew apart again over mundane issues and didn't speak for years.

About two years ago I learned that she was gravely ill with what was thought to be cancer.  I never really got the whole story as I'm not in the "loop" for family affairs.  After all, I was absent for so many years I guess it was easy to forget I'm still around.

I've been told that I'm the "strong one" and can take care of myself - which may very well be true.  I still need comfort and understanding from family who wanted so much to be there but faded after the initial thrill was gone.

Anyway - I love my sister and I missed her everyday even before she passed.  I was told that I shouldn't call her anymore because I upset her, so I didn't...even when I felt I really needed to talk to her.  Now I no longer have the option and I'm overwhelmed at that prospect.

I will hold you in my heart always, Tina Michelle Vieth.  May you rest in peace.

Did I do that?

If you had to ask the question, you were probably the culprit.  Especially if something fell over in your wake.  When I walk past something and it falls I usually attribute it to my large posterior which sways when I move, so I don't bother asking.  But SOME people must think they're infallable; I mean that stack of tomato soup cans falling wasn't MY fault - even if I DID hit it with my shopping cart...

Responsiblity for ones actions is something that doesn't seem to be the first thought in people's minds nowadays.  "Hell, the clerk will clean it up; that's what they get paid for."  Well, yeah they do.  But being unaccepting of something that one does can be a hazardous thing as well.  Say you leave the fallen cans all over the aisle and someone falls on one of them.  That's a lawsuit against the place you're shopping at.  And, it's most likely the prices of things will go up to a degree to cover any damages that the company might incur as a result.  If it's a small business, well they just might lose their business in the financial climate that we're currently in.

So, take responsibility for your actions - whatever they are!!!  NO, it might not FEEL good when you have to say, "yes officer I was the one to hop the curb and hit that mailbox splilling all the mail out into the street filled mud from the recent floods because I was texting my best friend about this cute guy who smiled at me from the car next to me in traffic..."

Yeah, it's the RIGHT thing to do - so DO IT!!!!!!!!

Occupy

When this movement began here in the US, I had no clue as to what the movement was about.  I thought it was in protest of where our country was going with the present system in place.  I still believe that however it IS much more.

I occupied a street corner for a bit on a Saturday in the beginning of the movement.  There was positive response from most of those who passed us – even an offer of legal advice from an area attorney.  It made my heart feel good to know that regular folks understood why even though for their own reasons they could not do the same.

I have not participated since that time; personal reasons other than what the movement is about prevented me from walking and standing for long periods of time.

So I began being a participant online.  I forwarded emails and information.  I reposted pertinent information on social media.

Most importantly, I have listened to their words and looked for myself at those things they were saying.  I have found no untruths in what I have been able to read on or see publicly displayed via media online, through television and of course, the written word through a credible source.

This is big trouble for everyone.  A cure for the problem would be impossible to administer with one fell swoop.  It is something that each and every person will have to address to the best of their abilities every day – relentlessly.  We can change things.  We can make a better tomorrow for all living things  But the movement isn’t out on wall street or main street; it is within each of us.  It’s time.

Out of nowhere

Did you ever have one of those friendships that was so one-sided that you wondered if it was really a friendship at all?  People who only want to talk to you when they need to vent or otherwise need you for "something".  When you start to talk about your issues or concerns they abruptly have to go because of some issue or another.  They never seem to be around when you really need them, even if it's just to listen for a minute.

So, are they really your friends?  When asked about friends I usually reply, "Only a couple."  I actually had an acquaintance make fun of me because I only had 30 or so "friends" on FaceBook.  They were people I actually knew even though many I wouldn't really consider "friends".  This is how I see it:

1. Family members do not count - I may like some of the members of my family more than others, but I still cannot call them friends.  They're family.  They're supposed to endure all my BS regardless and I'm supposed to do the same for them, right?  Ok, next one....

2. Co-workers - These are folks that I have to be around if I want to get that glorious thing called money.  Some are harmless enough and I can ignore them.  Others have a way with incorporating the whole office (insert your own descriptive word here for the workplace) into their drama.  These folks really need a good therapist; someone who WANTS to hear the drama so that they can HELP them through it.  Occasionally, you will find that one soul who doesn't make you want to choke the life out of them and you try to make them your friend.  Depends on how they feel about you and your ideals in life.

3. Customers/Clients - OK.  These folks you have to be nice to in order to do your job.  So they really don't count either because they think you're such a sweet, wonderful person when perhaps you're not as you're just doing your job.  Again, perhaps there's one, now and again, that may actually have the potential to be a friend.

4. Neighbors - Kinda like co-workers.  You have to put up with them if you want to live where you do.  If not you can either fight or move.

I could probably go on forever on different categories of people we encounter in our lives through which we MAY find a friend.  But just because we know their names and/or they know ours doesn't a friend make.  So, what makes a friend?

To me, a real friend is there no matter what.  Good days, bad days.  Flush with money or flat broke facing eviction.  Healthy as can be or sick as a dog.  Kinda sounds like marriage vows...hmmmm.

Maybe I'm expecting too much and that's why I don't have that many friends.  Or maybe I realize just how precious the real ones are.  Well, at least I have the rest of my life to ponder this one.

Be well and be safe...

Ok, now what?

I often thought of having a blog.  You know, somewhere to wield my writing skills and vent those pent up ponderings rattling around in my head.  I really don't think there's anyone out there who wants to know what I think, but I'll write it down anyways - for posterity's sake.  Perhaps my great grandchildren can read my ponderings and find something that will remind them of from where they come.

I hope (for your sake if you're reading this) that any future postings to this "blog" will be enlightening or at least make you laugh as laughter is very, very good medicine.

Until then, be well and be safe.

Mamma Chance