I am..... a diabetic.

    Diabetes. Yes, I said it. It sounds like a bad word, and for some, it is.  For some, it sounds like a death sentence, like (some forms of) cancer, HIV/AIDS or other deadly diseases. But diabetes is not a death sentence....if it is caught early enough AND if  you do your part to prevent it, if you can, or manage it if you cannot, which some of us can't, no matter what we do. This is a basic definition of diabetes, quoted directly from Wikipedia:

    
     Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.^[2] This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).
There are three main types of diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 1 DM results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes". Type 2 DM results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. This form was previously referred to as non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or "adult-onset diabetes". The third main form, gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. It may precede development of type 2 DM.
     All forms of diabetes have been treatable since insulin became available in 1921, and type 2 diabetes may be controlled with medications. Both types 1 and 2 are chronic conditions that cannot be cured. Pancreas transplants have been tried with limited success in type 1 DM; gastric bypass surgery has been successful in many with morbid obesity and type 2 DM. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery. Diabetes without proper treatments can cause many complications. Acute complications include hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, and diabetic retinopathy (retinal damage). Adequate treatment of diabetes is thus important, as well as blood pressure control and lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation and maintaining a healthy body weight. Globally, as of 2012, an estimated 346 million people have type 2 diabetes.^[3]
     

   I could go on and on, but you get the point.Why am I bringing this up now? Because it needs to be discussed. I know with certainty that (virtually) everyone who is reading these words EITHER already has diabetes (in some form), whether you know it or not, has risk factors (and/or genetics) for it, and/or has family or friends who either has it and/or knows someone who has it or a combination of some or all of the above. How do I know? I have family who has diabetes. I know folk who have family and friends who have it, if not themselves. And, I must now report, I have recently been diagnosed with a early stage of diabetes myself. So that means you ALL fall in the above categories. Sorry.

    Don't feel sorry for me. I have family history for this and other things. This is not a total surprise. However, I AM STILL HERE. I am otherwise HEALTHY. I don't have a perfect physique (but few (allegedly) do. I found out from a routine blood test from a physical I recently took. My condition is (and will) being controlled with a combination of exercise, minor adjustments in what I eat and drink (drinking more water, exercising more, eating less high-sugar candy, cookies and/or desserts and drinking less juices and other drinks with high sugar content. I also (must) take a pill once a day for a while to help control my blood-sugar. I may only have to take pills for a few months or maybe a year or two and then things will be controlled. I may have to take pill(s) or more for the rest of my life. But that is a small price to pay compared to the alternatives (shots or worse), including developing other things. Regardless, it is up to me to do the right things, and to my loved ones to make sure I do so CONSISTENTLY. No days off. Never stop. Just like being a alcoholic who is beating that habit. Different deal...same resolve is needed every day to win, even in the face of temptation.
    I caught this early. I am blessed and lucky for that. I have healthy kidneys. I am not seriously out of shape. I do not have cancer (hopefully not ever). My prostrate is great. Everything else on me is (at the proper and/or) a nice size and is working well, even at my allegedly advanced age! (You may laugh, but I am serious about this, even with the chuckling!) Do not wait to be checked out until you start feeling bad. Do your physicals every year, and dental thing every 6 months. It may be too late by then! Some diseases and/or disorders HAVE NO WARNING SIGNS! Even in the most advanced stages! Old or young, petite, full-figured or obese, male or female, straight, gay or bisexual, Black, White, Asian, Latino; beautiful looking or less-so (in the eyes of some or maybe most)...diseases have no caring about ANY of these things!
   NOTE to ALL MEN at/over age 35 to 40, especially those who have a family history of cancer: Get your prostrate checked every year, more often if necessary. It doesn't take that long and it does not hurt that much to have THAT exam done, even if your rear is as tight as mine (I am blessed but the obvious is true too, so I won't go there)! Male or female doctor, it doesn't matter (no sexist jokes here please!)....get over the embarrassment of dropping pants and bending over and just do it! NOW! Women deal with worse exams from a early age with much worse instruments than a gloved finger for a whole hell of a lot longer than men do and (mostly) do not complain, so get over it!
    Not all of us are that lucky. Regular physicals make a difference. (Breast) self-exams help too (men get breast cancer too, so check yourselves as well!). If you never read or care about another set of words in my blog, take these words to heart and heed them! Please. The life you save may be your own and/or someone you love.
    

What the hell happened to personal responsibility?

     In the past week, there have been two tragedies involving players with the Kansas City Chiefs (starting linebacker murders his girlfriend (mother of his infant daughter) after a argument, drives to his team's stadium, talks to and ultimately commits suicide in front of his head coach, assistant coach and the team's general manager less than two days before a game) and now, the Dallas Cowboys (backup defensive lineman (allegedly) drinks and drives, drives too fast and wrecks (flips) his vehicle on a road hours before the team is to leave for a road game, killing a friend and (former college and current pro) teammate riding with him in the process). Both are horrible (and preventable) tragedies. No more need to be said about that (others have and will continue to do that). Condolences to all of the families affected. Yesterday, a ESPN writer, Jeffri Chadiha, wrote a article giving his thoughts about the Dallas situation. I read it and I disagreed with his thoughts. I posted my reply on ESPN's site and on my Facebook page if you want to read it. So did others, though they attributed such to lack of sense and/or a ESPN bias. Maybe, maybe not.
   There is a big picture here. Some blame the NFL for not doing more to prevent these kinds of things. What? That is total horse****. For one, the Chiefs did offer counseling to the KC player and the lady in question weeks before this tragic event, which was used, but apparently did not work. Second, I heard (from other posters) that (allegedly) the NFL has a program that allows any NFL player to request a taxi for free(?), wherever they are (meaning NFL cities and nearby suburbs, I would think) if they need it (to prevent drinking and driving) or worse. If this is true, admirable by the NFL. Regardless, the Dallas player has no excuse for what he did. He is facing 20 years in jail for the felony(ies) he is being charged with. Worse yet, this is the second alcohol-involved incident he has been involved in. Two too many. Honestly, life in prison is more appropriate for this (now-former) NFL player, considering he killed a man due to him driving while drunk and driving too fast. He made a series of bad choices and now must pay for them. If the KC player had survived, he deserved life in prison (or the death penalty) for the murder he did, as well. Period.
    I don't advocate capital punishment lightly. I do not like the death penalty. I would prefer not to have it. With that said, I like the prospect of housing a murderer (or persons who commit similar-level crimes) in prison for 10-50 or more years at taxpayer expense even less. What if the person breaks out somehow (and commits more crimes before being recaptured or worse)? I do not think that is a good way to spend our resources. Those who commit (and are fairly convicted of) certain crimes like murder, especially of a child and/or due to DWI deserve to die. ASAP. Life in prison does little other than to be a example of what occurred and what the punishment could (or should be). Death (by electrocution, lethal injection or whatever else) saves time, money and is more final. Such gives closure to all involved. It lets everyone move on. The murdered person(s) cannot be brought back to life either way, right?
    Now, is all this the NFL's fault? How can it be? The NFL is a employer. A very large and very visible employer, but still a employer. So is WWE. So is the federal (stare and/or local) government. So is your local grocery store. It is NOT their (or any employer's) responsibility to track and/or (try to) regulate their employees behavior 24/7/365. What they do on the job, doing work-related activities is one thing. But once work is done and they are off the clock, at home or wherever else, what the person does (or not) is the responsibility of that individual. Period.
    Parents (and other responsible adults) raise their kids and to know right from wrong and do the right thing and stay on the good side of the law, both as kids and ESPECIALLY as adults. Do not get it twisted, we all do illegal things at some point. We drink a little bit at dinner with the spouse and drive a short drive home. We party too hard. We drive too fast. We might even do some intimate activities with our lover in the car and/or in public because we get too excited and cannot wait to get to (the) bedroom and so on. Many of these things are against the law. Some are felonies. Some are not.
     These things WILL happen. Human nature. However, if you commit the crimes and are caught and/or admit to such, you have to be prepared for the consequences. Millionaire athlete or actor or average housewife. The law, in its purest form, is supposed to not care about one's resources or celebrity or stuff like that. Neither should the rest of us who are outraged when these things happen. Money, celebrity and/or the ability to perform at the highest levels on a stage, field, court or other athletic or entertainment and/or political venue should matter not at all. But it does. Another reality. Millionaires get convicted for crimes too, however, if they are convicted of the crime(s). So be it.
     Leave the NFL and other employers alone on this matter. I blame the perpetrators for these crimes and those who might have prevented these things with a simple word or a call to someone who could help or at least prevent the worst case scenario, which occurred in these two cases. These employers are spending a lot of THEIR resources to help prevent tragedies like this that often could have been prevented if the parents had done their jobs when the kids are little (or not so little) and the lessons had stuck. All tragedies cannot be prevented. That is part of life. But better some than none. That would save money, time, resources, tears, prison space, and space on websites for stories and blogs to argue over stuff that a little common sense and better decision making by the INDIVIDUAL would help keep from being another sad headline. THAT is a stone cold hard undisputed fact.
  

Why can't you be (possibly) LGBT and a Scout too?

     By now, you have heard the story about Ryan Andresen, the (now 18 year old) Boy Scout who was denied its highest honor, becoming a Eagle Scout, because he (recently) came out as homosexual. You have heard the uproar over this from both sides. On one side, the Boy Scouts of America have long been against gay (male in particular) rights. They recently reviewed their policies in a two year study before deciding to keep things as they are. There are many who support these views as part of the long-held views of Scouting. On the other are those who support gay/lesbian(/bisexual/transgender) rights who think the Boy Scouts' policy is discriminatory and the denial of Eagle Scout to Ryan is wrong. Both have a argument. My question is: What does one's (possible or confirmed) sexuality have to do with Scouting?
     Here is my thoughts. I was not in Scouting. I respect everything the Boy (and Girl) Scouts stand for, regarding the teaching of life skills, promoting friendship, tolerance and more for young boys and/or girls. However, I do not see where the (alleged or confirmed) sexual preference of the adult leaders and parents of Scouts come into play in this activity, or those like this. Neither organization promotes (to my knowledge) any kind of sexual expression of any kind among its members, who are mostly all MINORS (meaning under age 18). THAT is wrong, both morally and legally. So, with that said, the (alleged) sexual interests of a minor child should be irrelevant. The sexual interests of the adults who work with and/or support Scouts should be irrelevant too, UNLESS that adult, male or female, does something to hurt a child, Scout or otherwise. That is another matter.
    Bottom line, Ryan just turned 18, just like my daughter a few months ago. Both are now legal adults. Ryan's parents cannot tell him to not be gay, any more than I could, because he is a ADULT. Adults have the right to do what they want, as long as it with proper consent, within the law, and it does not involve hurting children! As a private organization, however, the Boy Scouts can have a policy like this, whether the public likes this or not. With this said, Ryan did the work and put in the blood, sweat and tears to earn this honor. His sexuality changes nothing. He earned this honor. I understand the view of the BSA, but he started this journey long before thoughts of sexuality came into his head. What he does in private AS A ADULT, is not the BSA's business. Give him (and others like him) his honor, whether he is openly gay or bisexual or not.
     For the record, the Girl Scouts DO have this policy that differs from the Boy Scouts, according to a Girl Scout website via a Google search I did:

Quote:

    We (the Girl Scouts) recognize the basic human rights of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. All citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, have the right to housing, employment, and to be free from violence and harassment. While we condemn violence or harassment of anyone, we do not accept that individuals should be given special rights based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
 

   We have provided the information in this section to make parents aware that Girl Scouts of the USA is increasingly promoting LGBT issues to girls by featuring prominent LGBT rights activists as role models at Girl Scout events, in Girl Scout materials, and by referring girls to websites that aggressively promote special LGBT rights. 

We believe it is inappropriate to promote LGBT issues to children. 

   The above is very clear and concise. Lesbians and/or bisexual (women) CAN participate with the Girl Scouts and their activities. Homosexual and/or bisexual men CANNOT currently do the same with the Boy Scouts, per their century-old (rules and) principles which, from what I have read, are opposed to having anyone who does not support their views and principles, which include being "morally straight" and being one who "believes in God and supports His laws". That means no one who is (openly) agnostic, an atheist and/or who is (openly) part of a alternate lifestyle (homosexual, bisexual or transgender) can be involved in the Boy Scouts, as a member or as a adult leader. I guess the BSA is not as realistic or progressive as the Girl Scouts. Too bad.

   Please note, the Boy Scouts of America does also has the Exploring program, which is part of a separate program the BSA offers called the Learning for Life program. That program, unlike Scouting, is open to (young) men and women over the age of 14 and there are no "restrictions" on who can be in or work with (adults) THIS program, meaning one's gender, religion, and/or sexual orientation is irrelevant.

                 The last sentence above should be the one that matters to all: 

Quote: We believe it is inappropriate to promote LGBT issues to children.

     We all should be able to agree on that. We (meaning adults) should not be "promoting" sexual views (in either direction) on minors, in Scouting, in youth activities or sports or anywhere in public, including in church. The policy of the BSA and the children they have excluded from this organization does exactly that. It is a promotion of LGBT issues to children, even though it is in a negative light.      

   The exception to the above should be when parents are talking to their children about "the birds and the bees", or if a teenager (14/15 to age 18) is privately talking to a trusted adult (clergy, adult authority figure and the like, if the parent(s) is not a option). These are private matters discussed in private. Once the child turns 18, THEN they can talk to any other ADULT about these things, preferably in the appropriate time and/or place(s), usually privately, if they choose.

     I do not know how many young men (or women) who participated in Scouting, Boy or Girl, are now (or have been) involved in a alternate lifestyle as a adult (or even while they were in Scouting as a minor or as a adult leader). Judging from the fallout from Ryan's situation, it appears to be FAR more than one might think. So I ask, why is one's sexuality, which should be private matter, whether you are openly LGBT or not, matter so much when one is involved in NON-sexual activities outside the home? I am no prude...but there are some things that should be private and some things that should have no bearing on what one does in public. Who you love, your religion and your sexuality (in general and in specific) are three of them. People are people, regardless of race, gender, religion, what they wear in public or to bed, or whom they love (or do not).

    I feel that if you work with and/or know and/or are friends with someone, whether it is in office, in a social activity (Scouting, fraternities, sororities, sports, etc), or ride the subway with, you should respect them, at the very least on a personal level, if not also professionally. It DOES NOT mean you have to agree with everything the next person believes, feels or does. I feel that whom you share your house (and specifically, your bed) with for whatever "intimate" activities that go on there (or elsewhere) is not my concern. Nor is your religion. Nor is how you spend your off-work hours, even if some of the things you do conflict with your values (alcohol, gambling, and other "alternate" activities for some) as long as it doesn't conflict with what I do, believe in and the like, directly. We are all part of one big family...the human family. Having differences over small stuff like this is a waste of energy. I will have a intelligent, civil discussion with anyone about whatever subject, even the uncomfortable (for me) ones. If there is some mutual respect between us, why not talk and debate things? We don't have to agree at the end. We may not. But we may learn something from one another, or at least get food for thought. That food for thought may help you (or help someone else) down the line. Pay if forward (or backward) if you can. Why not?

   

 

"Full-figured is just rude"? Get real!

      For those of you who don't have cable or watch TV, Christina Hendricks is a actress in her late 30s who has had a prominent role on the award winning TV drama Mad Men, set at a 1960s-era advertising agency for several years. She is known in Hollywood for her role on this show, her red hair (which I like) and her.....curvaceous figure. Okay, more specifically, for her rather large (allegedly natural) breasts. She has gotten much notice in the last 3-4 years those...assets, which cannot be totally....hidden no matter what she does. Earlier this year, a couple of photos were "leaked" that were allegedly of her bare breasts. She denied it, but I don't know.....lol. It is hard to disprove such without actually showing such, unless such occurs in a movie role. No such role is forthcoming, to my knowledge.
    More recently, she cut a interview short when the interviewer asked her about being a "inspiration to full-figured women." She ended the interview, saying "I think calling me full-figured is just rude". Really? So what should people say about your physique? Big-breasted? Big-boned? Top-heavy? Just talk about your hair? What would you prefer?
     Truth be told, I am a breast man. I also have always been more attracted to...fuller figured ladies. Fuller figured ladies are usually women who have more curves (as a whole) than most women, especially in the breasts and/or rear and/or hips/thigh areas. I have dated petite ladies too, in the distant past, but you prefer what you prefer. Many (if not most) of the women I know and/or are friends with are fuller-figured ladies, due to curves, weight, height and/or some combination of  the above. That is in addition to most of the women I have been and/or currently involved with romantically.
      Ms. Hendricks is a attractive woman, with or without her assets, but men (and certain women) will notice certain assets first, irregardless of anything else. Her reaction may be saying that she is offended by not recognizing her as a true actress first, which is understandable. If so, that is fair. But to get mad when told that  other (larger) women look up to her as a role model? That shows ignorance and lack of confidence on her part. We live in a country (and in a world) where, despite there being more women that are "larger" (meaning either having larger breasts and/or having larger....proportions elsewhere, like rear end and so on), virtually all TV shows, magazines and the like promote and seem to "prefer" petite women and often...diss larger ladies for no good reasons.
     Simply put, women who are (obviously) larger up top, whether naturally (as she claims) or due to artificial enhancement (which is another story for another blog), get a lot more attention than their smaller counterparts. Those who make sure to show a lot of cleavage all the time in public get even more attention. Ms. Hendricks does NOT needlessly show off such in her role (especially considering the era her show is in and the job she has), but she does show off a bit at other times.
     However, she carries a size where she cannot escape attention...notice no matter how much she tries to minimize things. She needs to have a thicker skin and realize that the paparazzi will work hard to catch her and her...assets in a exposed moment at any time. She also should realize that she is a rarity in TV (and movies) as well and not diss women due to her discomfort with her celebrity. If the attention bothers her that much, get a breast reduction down to a A or B-cup and never wear anything revealing in public. That would solve that (for the most part). Otherwise, chill out, Ms. Hendricks! Being full-figured is NOT rude! Those who diss those who are such IS rude!

Stolen (Glory) in Seattle

     Okay, by now, all NFL fans have seen the final play of the Monday night game in Seattle where the Seattle Seahawks beat the Green Bay Packers with a "miracle" TD catch by receiver Golden Tate in the back left corner of the end zone on a 4th and 10 play from the GB 24. Seattle rookie quarterback Russell Wilson threw a great pass from the GB 39 with a rusher about to hit him (he may be a real good QB, folks). Tate did his job (more in a minute) and the Packer defensive backs were there. But things went to hell from there. "Replacement" officials or not, this was horrible. I am not going to say that if one of the regular group of officials were covering this play that it would have been called right, ESPECIALLY after going to replay (per requirement for all scoring plays, probably one of the better rule changes in years), but these guys are experienced enough to know what to do.
    Here is the bottom line. Forget the bitching and all that. Sportscenter showed the NFL rules on simultaneous catch (if you didn't see it, go Google it). Forget about it, that rule does NOT apply here. Here is what happened. Tate pushed one of the three GB players down (the NFL admitted this) which SHOULD have gotten a offensive pass interference call. Because the clock had run out and (more importantly) it was 4th down, the game should have been over, and everything that occurred afterwards UNLESS there had also been one of a certain number of defensive penalties called on the Packers (which would have made it offsetting penalties). If so, then there would have been one more untimed play from the same spot. The fact that the side judge, who was only 3-5 yards away from the action did NOT throw the flag for that is inexcusable.
     (Offensive) pass interference (today) is very similar in all levels of football, BUT officials are hesitant to throw a flag on the final (few) play(s) anyway, preferring to let the play go and what happens, happens, unless the infraction is so obvious and/egregious that you have to call it. This was one of those plays and the official blew it. Now, here is what the replay CLEARLY showed, in my opinion. The GB defensive back clearly got up over Tate and the other players who were there, grabbed the ball with BOTH hands, and pulled it to his body. Tate who was going up as the defender was coming down, grabbed at the ball and they both landed struggling for the ball, even while two officials looked down at them before making the call. The Black official who had been on the back line of the end zone, who could not have seen the pass interference made the right call, GB interception and touchback, signaling such with the crossing hands over the head. The aforementioned side judge, a White man who had already failed to throw a flag when he had a perfect view of such, called it a touchdown.
    Okay, this does happen. So what does the referee, another White man do when the replay official buzzes him for a official review (slightly unnecessary since scoring plays are automatically reviewed, remember?)? Instead of going to the end zone and talking to either official who made a call, he goes straight to the review booth, reviews it for 10+ minutes, and without ever indicating what the original call was called it touchdown. Seattle wins. WRONG CALL!!!!
    First, retired NFL referee Gerry Austin (one of the best ever, in my opinion), who ESPN had on call and who reviewed the play (he may have been in Seattle...don't know, don't care) sort of agreed with my assessment above, but he also said that per current NFL rules on replay, the referee (and replay official) could not have overturned a TD ruling due to lack of conclusive evidence. B***S***! The video was conclusive that it was NOT a simultaneous catch and that it was a interception, in my opinion. However, and more importantly, the referee on the field never announced what the original call was. He just took the other White officials call as TD as the call without talking to him OR the Black official who called it the other way beforehand. If he had and had made the original call interception instead, THEN there would have not been conclusive evidence to overturn the call. The referee bowed to the home team (Seattle) and made the call that made them and the home fans happy instead of (making sure he) getting it right. If this has happened on a neutral field or more importantly in Green Bay, exactly the same way, would he had made the same call? I say, probably NOT.
     Still, the NFL's statement was no surprise. The NFL has NEVER (to my knowledge) overturned a result of a game after the fact due to a (any kind of) error by the game officials during such. There is NO (real) appeals process to protest such. Of the major sports, only NASCAR (and other motor sports, I think) has a process where they will overturn a final result after the fact, but that is only because the winning car (and certain others at random) must pass a post-race inspection, in addition to the quick video tape review NASCAR does when the race ends before the winner even gets to Victory Lane (that is race results are UNOFFICIAL for a little bit after the race ends and it says so if you look closely at the results shown right after a race ends!).
     Hockey, football, basketball and baseball has no similar process where they could overturn a result the next day after a review. A written, dry statement is all you get, if that, which may include a apology if a mistake was made (unlikely). Game officials can get cussed out, but their on-field final decision ALWAYS stands and will NEVER be overturned by the league. All players, coaches and teams know this. This is not the WWE, where official decisions can be overturned by the GM (or maybe the referee) right after a match (of course, this is sports ENTERTAINMENT, so (allegedly) all results are scripted anyway right to the end!), but that is rare!
     Green Bay handled the loss well, for the most part. If this does not convince the NFL to make a reasonable deal with the locked out "regular" officials NOW, nothing will. The fans got cheated out of a great final play by these officials. Mistakes can happen, and the rule constraints of the use of instant replay sometimes cannot overturn a bad call on the field. But all calls are only as good as the person(s) making them. If this NFL season wasn't already tainted due to the poor officiating (it is), it certainly is now. Heads need to roll, probably starting with Commissioner Goodell. Considering how the New Orleans bounty-gate situation is playing out and the decisions that he has made in the last few years (I haven't heard of any fines on the NE coach for his shoving incident yet), it may be time for him to go before things get worse. Well, it may already be too late for that. Well, at least my Raiders weren't involved...THIS time!!!
 

September 11, 2001: Eleven years later

Eleven years ago today, this great nation suffered the most horrific attacks against its civilian citizens that we have ever had in our 200-plus year history. Thousands of men, women and children were lost in the attacks upon New York and at the Pentagon just outside of Washington DC that day. Thousands more of our brave citizens have been lost in the days months and years since. These cowardly attacks, done using civilian passenger planes, changed the lives of every American...and perhaps most of the people of the civilized world...forever.        Before this day, Americans believed that they were (mostly) immune to the increasing attacks of terror around the world, mostly done to kill and main (mostly) defenseless civilians for unknown reasons. Even with the incidents in New York and in Oklahoma City in the 1990s, America believed they were isolated from the terror...much like how we were seemingly isolated and "safe" from war in the late 1930s and into the 1940s as war raged across Europe. The attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, pushed America into World War II full-force, largely with our collective pants down. Only luck, resiliency and tactical errors (Japan thinking that we were beat) might have helped Americans survive that horror and ultimately help our European allies to win World War II nearly 4 years later.        Nearly 70 years later, we, as a nation was hit again, and again with our collective pants down. The differences are simple, yet very shocking. Japan attacked a major military naval base in 1941, with mostly military equipment and personnel there and used military equipment to do it. They didn't deliberately target civilians, though they could have since Honolulu was nearby.        The group of men, funded by evil men from the Middle East, who attacked America deliberately so with suicide attacks against civilian and military targets in 2001, using civilian planes to carry it out and those on board to be their shields, along with the sheer surprise and brazenness of it all. They came from different places, with the goal of breaking America down, and hoping to watch us fold and run. Like Japan, they sought to break our will, sow doubt and confusion and ultimately, total anarchy here. Both in 1941 and 2001, our enemies FAILED to cause any of this.       Why the history lesson? I do this to remind us all how important it is to remember the past, both good and bad, so that we can strive to shape our collective future as well as can be. Time can heal virtually all wounds, but we must all have the prayers and the rememberances and do the good deeds to preserve memories, and to never let them fade away. We do what we must to stay strong, but gentle....Do what you do to remember this day now known as Patriot Day, but more importantly, NEVER ever let the memories or the emotions of this day fade from you. Do this for yourselves and for the younger generation, so that this day is never forgotten. Never let the sacrifices of others be in vain. Never.

Thoughts on the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001

      I just wanted to ask everyone here, on this somber Sunday, before we get excited about watching the NFL or MLB or before we talk about the race in Richmond or the college football games last night or even before we go to church and/or do whatever you plan to do today, September 11, 2011, to take a moment or two to reflect on the events that occurred ten years ago today. Ten years. It seems like a lifetime ago, and in a sense, it has been. I am in a different place, both literally and figuratively, than I was 10 years ago. I am ten years older, maybe a little wiser (I hope), and a little heavier with a few more white hairs on my head and less of other things than I had on September 10, 2001. But even as I sit writing this on the other side of the Earth, I still remember this day like it happened yesterday. This country was changed forever by these events, much like the lives of our grandparents and great-grandparents were changed on December 7, 1941, which ultimately brought us into World War II. Whatever innocence we had, or thought we had up to September 10, 2001, is gone now, never to be recovered. We still struggle with that fallout every day. I remember what it was like to not have to go through TSA checkpoints to get on planes or to be able to carry large drinks from home straight to the plane and even not having to pay for checking baggage on a plane. No more of any of that, unfortunately.
    Those of us who are old enough know where we were and what we were doing on this horrific day when we lost thousands of American citizens, mostly civilians, in New York, Virginia (at the Pentagon) and in Pennsylvania and the thousands more we have lost, directly or indirectly from the war on terror and from the grief of less we all feel every day. We each will remember this day in our own way, in our own style. Allow each other to do that. New memorials are nearly in place now and they will be constant reminders of what we have lost, but they also will remind us of what we have gained. We gained strength and love for each other as Americans. This generation of young(er) Americans now understand better what Pearl Harbor meant and felt like to our grandparents and great-grandparents. We now understand better that the price of freedom is a rather high price. Indeed, it is not paid in one payment 200-plus years, but paid every day in our vigilance and often in the loss of brave folk, both on and off the battlefield. War is hell, without a doubt, but remembering those we lose as a result of such, is no easier.

    I thought that September 11, 2001 would be an “average” September Tuesday, but it wasn't. This day has changed my life forever and my definition of “an average day”. These attacks have changed the lives of every American as well, even for those who were yet to enter this world, like my son and so many other children born on this day and since then. For those of us who (have or used to) work in the travel industry, owners, leaders and employees alike, this day have great professional meaning to us too. We kept things in perspective, and even with dealing with our own grief and pain, we did our jobs the best we could every day since, even with every change the industry withstood, even with every lost job and/or every revenue stream lost.

    We in travel (did and still) do our part to help people travel around the country and around the world, both for business and for leisure. If we hadn’t done our work (even with heavy hearts) like we did, the terrorists would have won. Travel professions do our part to keep America strong, every day and night. Be proud of this, and never forget that, even if no one else ever says so.

     I have traveled around the world and seen a lot of things, both good and bad, in the last ten years and made a few friends, and made some enemies. So be it. First and foremost, I am proud to be an American and proud of my fellow Americans and our country. No matter where I have been, or where I am, or where I lay my head tonight or whom I lay my head next to tonight, tomorrow or whenever, this day will always have deep meaning for me, personally, even more than it had before.

    September 11 already had great personal meaning for me. Those people out there who know me best know what I mean. In the last ten years, that personal meaning has increased to unmeasured levels. That will never change. We know (and will never forget) who many of these people that caused these attacks are. Some are dead, some still hide like the cowards they are. But many of them are still in the shadows, and may always be. Please say a prayer for all for the people who were lost on this tragic day, and on those other dark days and for those brave souls who passed away in the days after, defending our freedom and/or trying to save the lives of fellow citizens, familiar and stranger alike. Say a prayer for all of those people that were left behind, young and old, who have to continue to live life, pick up the pieces, and have to try to be strong in the face of unfathomable grief, both near and far, especially today.
    Say a prayer for those who have had to take the place of those we have lost, both at home and abroad, who are doing the job of defending us and/or supporting these brave men and women, and to those friends and/or family who travel with them and support them unconditionally and/or who must stay behind and keep the faith and the home fires burning. They all willingly sacrifice a lot (more than most of us can know) to do this and we must never forget. I sure don’t and won’t.

    Say a prayer for our leaders and for President Obama, the second President to have to make the tough decisions in this new reality, he who has to send some of us into harm's way even as he tries to bring others home after they have fought to defend our way of life on foreign soil and sand and in proverbial safe harbors at home and around the world for so long after this horrible day. These horrible people that hate us so much for whatever unknown reasons and those who tried UNSUCCESSFULLY to tear this nation down and whom can NEVER understand how and why they failed and why they always will. .

    Say a prayer for the brave men and women who protect us, both at home and on the battlefields around the world, every day and every night at our leaders’ directions. Say a prayer for the brave Navy SEALS who completed the mission to (finally) bring final resolution and true American justice to the mastermind of these horrible acts a few months ago, who was hiding in Pakistan and who finally got what he deserved for what he led others to do. Say a prayer to the families of the brave men who were killed just a few days later in Afghanistan, on a mission to save their brothers from attack by the enemy, as well as for every military man and woman we have lost in these last ten years (and over our nation’s young history) defending our freedom, without hesitation or doubt. Say a prayer for all of their families who (have and always will) support them no matter how things go, good or bad, whether they are living overseas with them or when they can only be with them in spirit as these brave military folk do their work while leaving their families behind.

    We must never forget why these brave volunteers made these choices, knowing what could happen to them in battle or in peace and why they would have it no other way.  Please support President Obama and those who work with and for him as they their best to do what is right for us, pray for them to be as moral and merciful as they can and allow them to know that we, this great nation's citizens, has their back and has our thanks, even if we do not agree with every decision they make or do not make.
       Lastly, always remember that it is the job of all of us, young and old to make sure that the next generation understands what occurred that day, and in the days, months and years that followed, so they understand without question why that this day must NEVER be forgotten by anyone who loves this country and/or who supports what we, as a nation, stands for and has defended to the end for a little more than two and a quarter centuries and what we will always continue to defend with honor, respect, loyalty and dignity, Lord willing, until the day we die. We must never EVER forget this day or what we collectively and individually lost when these buildings fell and the fires raged and the horror threatened to overwhelm us as a result of the cowardly acts of a few. We will honor those we have lost in every prayer, every remembrance, and in everything we do, both large and small, wherever we are, because their sacrifices paid (and continue to pay) the price for the rest of us to live free, to travel near an far, and never be afraid of the past, the present or the future. Thank you to you all. May God Bless the United States of America!

September 11, 2001: Nine years later

    I just wanted to ask everyone here, before things get busy today, to take a moment to reflect on the events that occurred nine years ago today. Nine years, wow, that is a long time. I am in a different place, both literally and figuratively than I was then, but I remember this day like it happened yesterday. This country has been changed forever by these events, much like the lives of our grandparents and great-grandparents were changed on December 7, 1941, which ultimately brought us into World War II, and other similar dark days in our nation's history. You know the dates, so I won't repeat them all here. Whatever innocence we had, or still had even on those other days and up to September 10, 2001, is gone now, never to be recovered. We struggle with that every day.
    Those of us who are old enough know where we were and what we were doing on this day, nine years ago. We each will remember this day in our own way, in our own style. Allow each other to do that. I thought that day would be a average September Tuesday, but it wasn't. This day changed my life forever, and the lives of every American as well, even for those who were yet to enter this world, like my son and so many other children born on this day and after. Since that day, I have been to a lot of places and met a lot of people around the world and seen a lot of things, both good and bad and made some friends, and made some enemies. So be it. No matter where I have been, or where I am, or where I lay my head tonight or next to whom I do such, this day already had great meaning for me personally. The events of nine years ago added a horrible page to such. Those people out there who know me best knows what I mean.
   What almost everyone does not know, outside of close family and friends was that I were also dealing with the aftermath of a personal tragedy at this time as well. I do not watch the movies made about this day (and they were well made movies) because it (still) affects me so much, like almost nothing else I have seen could. Besides, my memories do the job of allowing me to remember just fine. But I am getting off topic, for I write this for a specific reason and it is not about me. 

    Like those other dark tragic dates in our history, this day should and MUST always have great meaning for every American. We MUST remember where we were that day and what we did in the days, weeks, months and years progressing from it, just like that sad day in November nearly five decades ago when we lost a President to a assassin's bullet, or that day in December nearly seven decades ago when we lost so many in a cowardly unprovoked attack in Hawaii that brought us into what we all (still) pray will be the last World War on this planet, and all the other days like them throughout our history where enemies, foreign and domestic chose to attack, hurt and kill our fellow citizens, famous or not, to advance their agendas and/or for whatever reasons that they justified in their own minds.

     We know (and will never forget) who many of these people are, but many of them are still in the shadows, and may always be. Please say a prayer for all for the people who were lost on this tragic day, and on those other dark days and for those brave souls who passed away in the days after, defending our freedom and/or trying to save the lives of fellow citizens, familiar and stranger alike. Say a prayer for all of those people that were left behind, young and old, who have to continue to live life, pick up the pieces, and have to try to be strong in the face of unfathomable grief, both near and far, especially today.
    Say a prayer for those who have had to take the place of those we have lost, both at home and abroad, who are doing the job of defending us and/or supporting these brave men and women, and to those friends and/or family who travel with them and support them unconditionally and/or who must stay behind and keep the faith and the home fires burning. They all willingly sacrifice a lot (more than most of us can know) to do this and we must never forget. I sure don’t and won’t.

    Say a prayer for our leaders and our President, the second one to have to make the tough decisions in this new reality, he who has to send some of us into harm's way even as he tries to bring others home after they have fought to defend our way of life on foreign soil and sand and in proverbial safe harbors at home and around the world for so long after this horrible day. These horrible people that hate us so much for whatever unknown reasons and those who tried UNSUCCESSFULLY to tear this nation down nine years ago and in the days since, can NEVER understand how and why they failed and why they always will in the years to come. Please support President Obama and those who work with and for him as they their best to do what is right for us, pray for them to be as moral and merciful as they can and allow them to know that we, this great nation's citizens has their back and has our thanks, even if we do not agree with every decision they make.
    Let us also say a prayer for our previous President, who had great responsibilities and pressures thrust on him and the rest of our leadership on that September morning when he was visiting schoolchildren in Florida. These were responsibilities that few other Presidents have ever had to bear, and none before in this exact manner. Like him or not, he did help bring us all through a horrible time, kept us together and more importantly, kept this nation safe. While every decision that he made may not have been right, in a legal and/or moral and/or any other sense, he made these decisions with the goal of defending our way of life and took on challenges that few of us would or could take on, most of which with no preparation time at all.
   Let history show the full, true story of his two terms, both good and bad, and let the reader decide for themselves how he and others should be judged on such years from now. Regardless of our own feelings toward him, let us all always give President George W. Bush, his family, and those who worked under him our thanks and our respect for their efforts and their sacrifices for all of those years.

    Lastly, always remember that it is the job of all of us, young and old to make sure that our youngsters who were either too young to understand or were not born yet to help them understand what occurred that day, and in the days, months and years that followed, so they understand without question why that this day must NEVER be forgotten by anyone who loves this country and/or who supports what we, as a nation, stands for and has defended to the end for a little more than two and a quarter centuries and what we will always continue to defend with honor, respect, loyalty and dignity, Lord willing, until the day we die. We must never EVER forget this day or those who were taken from us as a result of the cowardly acts of a few. Thank you.God Bless the United States of America!

I just wanted to ask everyone here, before you get busy today and this weekend, to take a moment to reflect on the events that occurred nine years ago today. Sorry for the length of this post. I will try to be brief. Nine years, wow, that is a long time. I am currently in a different place, both literally and figuratively, than I was back then. Many of us are the same. Yet I, and I am sure, most of us remember this day like it happened yesterday. This country has been changed forever by these events, much like the lives of our grandparents and great-grandparents were changed on December 7, 1941, and other similar dark days in our nation's history. You know the dates, so I won't repeat them all here. Whatever innocence we had, or still had even on those other days and up to September 10, 2001, is gone now, never to be recovered. We struggle with that loss every day.
    Those of us who are old enough know where we were and what we were doing on this day, nine years ago. We each will remember this day in our own way, in our own style. Allow each other to do that. I thought that day would be a average September Tuesday, but it wasn't. This day changed my life forever, and the lives of every American as well, even for those who were yet to enter this world, like my son and so many other children born on this day and after. Since that day, I have been to a lot of places and met a lot of people around the world and seen a lot of things, both good and bad and made some friends, and made some enemies. So be it. No matter where I have been, or where I am, or where I lay my head tonight or next to whom I do such, this day already had great meaning for me personally. The events of nine years ago added a horrible page to such. Those people out there who know me best knows what I mean.
   What almost everyone does not know, outside of close family and friends was that I were also dealing with the aftermath of a personal tragedy at this time as well. I do not (cannot) watch the movies made about this day for very long (and they were well made movies) because the events that are portrayed (still) affects me so much, like almost nothing else I have seen could. Besides, my memories do the job of allowing me to remember this day just fine. Many of us probably can say the same. But I am getting off topic, for I write this for a specific reason and this post is not about me or my feelings, one way or the other.  

    Like those other dark tragic dates in our history, this day should and MUST always have great meaning for every American. We MUST remember where we were that day and what we did in the days, weeks, months and years progressing from it, just like that sad day in November nearly five decades ago when we lost a President to a assassin's bullet, or that day in December nearly seven decades ago when we lost so many in a cowardly unprovoked attack in Hawaii that brought us into what we all (still) pray will be the last World War on this planet, and all the other days like them throughout our history where enemies, foreign and domestic chose to attack, hurt and kill our fellow citizens, famous or not, to advance their agendas and/or for whatever reasons that they justified in their own minds.

     We know (and will never forget) who many of these people are, but many of them are still in the shadows, and may always be. Never let them win, even for a second. Please say a prayer for all for the people who were lost on this tragic day, and on those other dark days and for those brave souls who passed away in the hours and days after, defending our freedom and/or trying to save the lives of their fellow citizens and others, familiar and stranger alike. Say a prayer for all of those people that were left behind, young and old, who have to continue to live life, pick up the pieces, and be strong in the face of the unfathomable grief they face every day, both near and far, especially today.
    Say a prayer for those who have had to take the place of those we have lost, both at home and abroad, who are doing the job of defending us and/or supporting these brave men and women, and to those friends and/or family who travel with them and support them unconditionally and/or who must stay behind and keep the faith and the home fires burning. They all willingly sacrifice a lot (more than most of us can know) to do this and we must never forget. I sure don’t and won’t.

    Say a prayer for our leaders and our President, the second one to have to make the tough decisions in this new reality, he who has to send some of us into harm's way even as he tries to bring others home after they have fought to defend our way of life on foreign soil and sand and in proverbial safe harbors at home and around the world for so long after this horrible day.

      These horrible people who hate us so much and for whatever unknown reasons and those who tried UNSUCCESSFULLY to tear this nation down nine years ago and in the days since, can NEVER understand how and why they failed and why they always will fail in the years to come. Please support President Obama and the Presidents will will follow him in the future as they their best to do what is right for us, pray for them to be as moral and merciful as they can and allow them to know that we, this great nation's citizens has their back and has our thanks, even if we do not agree with every decision they make, which is one of the gifts of freedom.
    Let us also say a prayer for our previous President, who had great responsibilities and pressures thrust on him and the rest of our leadership on that September morning when he was visiting schoolchildren in Florida. These were responsibilities that few other Presidents have ever had to bear, and none before in this exact manner. Like him or not, he did help bring us all through a horrible time, kept us together and more importantly, kept this nation safe. While every decision that he made may not have been right, in a legal and/or moral and/or any other sense, he made these decisions with the goal of defending our way of life and took on challenges that few of us would or could take on, most of which with no preparation time at all.
   Let history show the full, true story of his two terms, both good and bad, and let the reader decide for themselves how he and others should be judged on such years from now. Regardless of our own feelings toward him, let us all always give President George W. Bush, his family, and those who worked under him our thanks and our respect for their efforts and their sacrifices for all of those years.

    Lastly, always remember that it is the job of all of us, young and old to make sure that our youngsters who were either too young to understand or were not born yet to help them understand what occurred that day, and in the days, months and years that followed, so they understand without question why that this day must NEVER be forgotten by anyone who loves this country and/or who supports what we, as a nation, stands for and has defended to the end for a little more than two and a quarter centuries and what we will always continue to defend with honor, respect, loyalty and dignity, Lord willing, until the day we die. We must never EVER forget this day or those who were taken from us as a result of the cowardly acts of a few. Thank you. God Bless the United States of America!