Conspiracies

I don't buy into conspiracies. They often require a suspension of disbelief that is of vast proportions. The more elaborate, the less believable. I hear you. You are saying that some things are so unbelievable they can't be made up. Yo, I read sci-fi and high fantasy. Writing about the unbelievable is really not hard with the right imagination.

The reason most conspiracies (conspiracy theories if you will) fail in my book is because they require organization, cooperation, money, time and luck of a sort that is far from realistic. Either the figures in the conspiracy are reported to know and work well together when in reality they have never shown even the slightest inclination of liking, let alone, work with each other; they require a level of intelligence and cooperation in a lot of people that is simply NOT probable; or, they require amounts of money and time that would be mind boggling to even some of the richest one percentors. That and motive never seems to figure in. Why do the alleged people behind the conspiracies hate so and so, or the American people, or animals, or countries, so much?

I know there are big, deep pocketed individuals out there who are definitely doing all they can to manipulate the system in their favor. Absolutely. But a comic book style evil genius? A Dr. Moriarty or Lex Luther for the modern age if you will? Uh, no.

Now there is one Conspiracy Theory out there I will comment on. After doing the research, it does indeed appear that the Pentagon was shot with a missile and not hit with a plane. I do agree with that. But I think the true reasons for the "official" story are more simple, sad and embarrassing rather then manipulative, evil or self serving. I believe the Pentagon has defenses of its own. Makes sense don't you think? Remember that a shoot first order had already been issued by the time that particular plane flew into the Washington DC area. I believe the government shot the plane down over the ocean and then (before, during or after) accidentally shot itself.

No government wants to telling grieving families they had to shoot their loved ones down in a plane for national security. I think the accidental shooting of the Pentagon simply gave them an out.

Cover ups are nothing new. We start learning to cover up when we are barely out of diapers. Conspiracies are simply extravagant cover ups of cover ups. It is better to look smarter and even a little evil than stupid and careless, no?

Not Forgotten

I have a passion for food I admit. And over the years I've eaten some pretty good stuff. Unfortunately, a lot of it has disappeared due to restaurant closings, chefs leaving, menu changes, etc. So I wanted to write an ode to food I will never forget:

Broccoli Cheese & Noodle Soup - Filling Station, Pierre, SD (closed)
Lutefisk Supper, Lutheran Church, Kennebec, SD (chef change and probably not held anymore)
Stuffed Mushrooms - The Mother Load, Deadwood, SD (closed)
Cherry Pie - Hardees, everywhere (menu change)
Tex Mex Enchiladas - Last Chance Casino, Deadwood, SD (closed)
Tamales - (can't remember name of casino), Deadwood, SD (closed)
Spagagna - Chedders, Houston, TX (menu change)
Philly Cheesesteak sandwich with home fries - Sunrise Diner, Mt. Pocono, PA (closed)
Mac n Cheese Bites, TGIFridays, everywhere? (menu change)

Gone? I don't know:

Pizza Burger, restaurant off Rodeo Ave. on the water, Chamberlain, SD (probably closed)
Cheeseburger with tater tots, A&W Restaurant off new I-90, Chamberlain, SD (probably closed)
Strawberry Pie, Ramkota Inn, Pierre, SD (probably closed)
Grasshopper Maki and Beef Tataki, Nori's, Houston, TX (closed or moved?)
Carne Asada, I do not remember the name but it was on Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX in the corner of a strip mall a few blocks North of Westheimer (closed or moved?)

I'm going to keep adding to this list whenever something great to eat disappears.

Trish

America the Great

I've been hearing from all sides how America is failing. Depending on your point of view it could be blamed on: single parents, big corporations, China, gays, President Bush, terrorists, economy, the left, capitalism, the poor, President Obama, immigrants, Wall Street, the middle east, the rich, socialism, pundits, Japan, the right, war, media, and so on. I have issues with some of these, but I don't believe any will result in the failure of America. But I am starting to feel alone.

I think it really boils down to the recession. If it hasn't effected you personally, it is probably effecting someone you know if not a lot of people you know. It sucks when friends and relatives lose their jobs and aren't able to find another; hearing about retired or soon to be retired relatives with dwindling retirement packages or lost pensions; seeing people struggle to make mortgage payments or just give up and sell or let the bank have it; bankruptcy; unemployment; medical bills piling up; etc. Damn straight we are depressed. I just wish people would stop thinking that means it is the end of America.

The Great Depression should have taught us something about perseverance and hope. I completely believe we have our own '50s generation coming. Yes, what goes up must come down (I tried telling people that about the stock market back in the late '90s). But the opposite is also true. Our economy, and us, will rise again.

I'm not saying we aren't going to lose some things along the way, but I refuse to call it quits when we don't even know what we are to gain yet. In 1900 they could not have conceived of the lows and highs we experienced in the 20th century. It is only 2009. We have so much to experience yet in this century. Sure, America probably won't be the new, big man on campus anymore, but I do believe we will continue to be a powerful country and a driving force on this planet for many decades to come.

What the people of America need is hope. It doesn't matter where you find it as long as you get it. If enough people believe America will fail, it will. We have to believe in ourselves, work hard and find hope. Don't think about governments or media or celebrities. That is such a small part of our population. Don't think about politics or differences. We have so much more that we share in common. Don't dwell on what you don't have or will never have. Celebrate what you do have and what you have always had.

My own mantra, and I hope it helps America, is to find beauty in every day. Now stop moaning and smile.

Non-Issues (part one)

There are a lot of issues out there that are political and for the life of me I don't know why. Most are personal issues that should have nothing to do with government. Certainly there are plenty of things I believe the government should get involved in, but the following list (part one) is not included:

Prayer in Public Schools

We have a separation of church and state. WHAT THAT MEANS IS our government cannot tell us who or what or how to worship. Remember our country was founded on the freedom of religion. Remember that your ancestors came here fleeing religious persecution. Freedom of religion was established in the first words of the first sentence of the first amendment of the Bill of Rights: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;...".

Do you see it? It's so obvious if it were a snake it would have bitten you by now. Not only does the separation of church and state as established by the first amendment keep a government run and funded institution from telling you what and who and how to worship, but it also cannot keep it's citizens from worshiping in said government run and funded institution. Too many big words for you? Individual prayer is allowed in school. By anybody. The first amendment protects your right to pray anywhere you bloody want to. Even in school. Any child, student, teacher, faculty or bureaucrat can pray in school. The law only stipulates that the government (including government paid employees such as said teacher, faculty member or bureaucrat, and government paid for materials such as AP system, copy machine, grounds, buildings, etc.) cannot authorize, be used for, lead or otherwise endorse any religion on its students. I'm going to encourage my child to pray in school whenever he or she wishes. BUT I also intend to teach my child common courtesy so their praying will not disrupt their actual reason, and their fellow students' reason, for being there... which is to learn.

If you want your child to learn about religion, send them to Sunday school or a religious, private school. Let public schools do what they are intended to do: teach your kid history, English and math (and how to play a musical instrument, speak another language, act, report, and so on).

Definition of Marriage

I keep hearing about the definition of marriage these days. Who defines it? God or government? If government does, does that mean churches HAVE to bow down? No. I don't think so. Mostly because I believe this to be a religious issue and we have a separation of church and state for a reason (see above).

I heard about a pastor or priest in Sweden (hello! Sweden not the USA!) who was arrested for discrimination because he would not marry a gay couple. That incident was used to argue against gay marriage here in the states. Personally, in the USA, I can't see a police department doing such a thing. Or a gay couple pressing such charges. I've heard of pastors/priests who refuse to marry people because they say they won't have kids; because one is not the right religion; because one was married before; because it's interracial; etc. Never heard of them getting arrested because of it. It is kinda like, "we have the right to refuse service to anyone", you see posted at restaurants and the like. It applies to churches as well and I have absolutely no problem with it. Not like there aren't plenty of churches, pastors and priests out there who have no problem marrying anyone and everyone. PLENTY of choice out there for religion and church (Hello, county's first amendment, see above for history lesson.).

But back to my main point. Why do churches care if there is gay marriage? Why do they care who a justice of the peace, a boat captain, an internet ordained buddy, etc. marry? If they want to keep gay marriage out of their church, fine and good, they have that right already after all.

And don't come back and say it will then lead to people marrying animals. That is just plain stupid! Until, of course, animals have birth certificates, social security numbers, are able to say "I do" and sign their names. But I really doubt we'll see that in our lifetimes. ;)

Anyway, you can get married in a church without a license if you want. You don't get the wonderful government bennies, but as far as you and your church are concerned, you are married in god's eyes, right? Churches probably have the right not to acknowledge common law or marriage done outside of the church, regardless of its legality by the government, right?

No one dies because of gay marriage. It is not like their getting married changes your marital status. Or changes the ability for single, straight people to get married one iota. Gays need to know that if they are with someone for decades and one partner dies, some third cousin can't step in and take everything they ever owned jointly. They need to know they can visit their loved one in the hospital and make medical decisions when necessary. They need to know they can keep their child if one partner dies. These are important and they shouldn't have to become a corporation for such things to be legal for them.

So what exactly changes if gays get married? Just the three things I pointed out above. Are those three things really against god's will? And I don't see why it is not legal already. There is nothing out there that says same sex marriage is illegal. I don't know why governments actually have to legalize something that already is really. I think that is why the definition of marriage has come up. Because gay people haven't realized it is already legal (or at least not illegal) and straights need to make it illegal before they find out.

Taking the Fear and Morals out of Children's Stories

God forbid our children should grow up in the real world. We are so bent on protecting our children from the least little thing, they grow up to crave it. Shielding your child from death could make him a serial killer. Yes, that is just my opinion, but I do believe it to be true. Basically I'm saying your child will be obsessed with death. Death is one of those things kids need to learn about from their parents. Same for sex, drugs and rock & roll. If you over protect them, they could very well rebel in the worst possible way. But I'm getting a little off track to my main gripe: Changing Children's Stories, specifically in Children's programming on television.

There are several terrible shows out there - rabbits and alligators as best buds; monkeys getting by doing hundreds of thousands dollars in damage with no repercussions; etc. - but I want to concentrate on one in particular, Super Why.

This show, Super Why, is on Public Television. I still swear by Sesame Street (even though Cookie Monster giving up cookies is stupid), Sid the Science Kid, and Word World, don't get me wrong. There is still plenty of great programming to be seen. I just wish it were all great.

Super Why is one of my kid's favorite shows. He really does learn watching it. But I can't in all good conscious let him watch it because it butchers classic children's stories willy nilly. Sleeping Beauty's favorite hobby is to sleep, the witch in the gingerbread house just wants to share, the big bad wolf just wants to play, etc. and so on. They've sanitized the stories so much they almost aren't recognizable. The baddest thing anyone does on that show is be loud. And by taking out the 'bad' they've taken out the morals. Sure, they've inserted their own like sharing, playing well with others, ask before you take, etc., but any real consequences are gone.

Luckily we've bought unabridged printings of Grimm's and Hans Christian Anderson's tales. And we are working on getting Aesop's Fables and Mother Goose's stories as well. So when our kid watches Disney's Little Mermaid, he'll know how the story originally went. There is very seldom a happy ending in the real world and children's stories used to reflect that. Not anymore and I believe it is doing a serious disservice to your child to let them believe there is always a happy ending, that everyone is always nice, that no harm can ever come to them. It's wrong and irresponsible as a parent to do this.

I realize you don't want your child hurt. You don't want them to get a cold either, but, if they don't, their immune system will suffer for it. You can't and should not protect them from everything. If my child tortures the cat, I warn him the cat will scratch/bite if he continues. If the cat does fight back, I do not discipline the cat or throw him out. The child was warned. And he's taught never to go up to any stray animal. Dogs injure more people than any other animal. Not every dog is friendly and I teach my child that. I also teach him that not every person is friendly, either. Better to know now than find out the hard way later.

Not teaching your child the harsh realities of life doesn't ultimately protect them from anything. When reality does hit your child, it is just going to be so much worse for them instead.

Now I'm not saying you should take your child to funerals or deliberately put them in harm's way. Of course not. Life happens so when someone does get hurt or die, simply tell the child the truth as best you can. As an adult you know 'not knowing' is the hardest thing to come to terms with. It is the same for a child. They may not understand initially, but that doesn't mean you should never mention it or hide it from them.