Simplicity

It's one of the things that I increasingly appreciate as I get older. As I get older, I also understand the complexities and nuance of issues. Without sounding like I am blowing my own horn, I am a pretty smart guy. In short I get it. What I 'get' is the entire Taoist imperative of understanding complexity in that which appears simple and understanding the simplicity in that which is complex.

I have read that Napoleon, in formulating grand strategy, would bring in a lowly corporal and lay out the plans he had. Were the corporal unsure of certain aspects of the plan, then things would be reorganized. Apparently French corporals were unaware of just how damn nasty the Cossacks would be during the Russian campaign......but I digress. Keeping strategic plans simple and understandable is crucial. Leave operational issues to the individual field commanders. So what am I really getting at?

Three rants today that's what.

1) Ronnie Lee Gardner. He's that fine citizen that killed a guy in '84 at a bar. Shot him in the face. In '85 while being charged with the original crime, was passed a gun and made his escapse. He shot an attorney that was getting a drink and hindering his escape. He also managed to wound a bailiff. It is now 25 years later and they are only now getting around to executing this guy. I am not an attorney. I lack the knowledge of the appeals process and all the wrangling and timetables that accompany it. Yet, I have to wonder........after all justice delayed is justice denied. If anyone is reading this, I realize that innocent people have been executed in the past. Others on death-row have been vindicated and freed. I also agree that it is better than ten guilty go unpunished than an innocent is wrongly punished. We all praise the rule of law and procedures and order. But secretly we thirst for blood. I am a vegetarian, or rather I won't anything with a face. I cannot stomach cruelty to animals. Yet I would be like Torquemada, and able to sleep like a baby were I to be in charge of Ronnie. I realize this all sounds a bit like Hitler. I despise Nazis and white supremacists. Where I dying of something terminal I would be like John Wayne in his final movie "The Shootist". I would keep it fair however. I'll use a couple of bats just to keep it fair. If I went into the compound of one of these hate groups and I were armed properly, I would stand a very good chance of killing them all and making it out alive.

2) Bank regulations that are being proposed by the Obama administration. There is all this stuff going on about Goldman Sachs benefitting from betting against sub-prime mortgages. The same sub-prime mortgages that they were pimping. Let me make it simple. If a investment practice or vehicle is too complex for me to understand then it should NOT exist. Things are only and always made complex in order to screw somebody. Don't regulate derivatives. Ban them. Make the rules simple. Make how things work simple. Reduce the sheer number and complexity of these things and do it now. Yes folks, it really is that easy! Some might say that I don't understand markets or how the international economies work. Really? And who caused this? It wasn't me.

3) Muslim (or any other) extremists. The boys that make South Park were threatened by some New York based group of Taliban wannabees. South Park is offensive to be certain. It is also funny. It has bashed my own faith in different episodes and just about every other faith too! These guys even made a movie called Captain Orgazmo about an LDS missionary. Offensive? Yes. Misinformed? Yup. Funny? Admittedly.........at times. So back to the death threats. This is something that transcends politics and gets the heart of being an American. We have free speech here. These people that enjoy it, have to take the good with the bad. You can argue, and persuade, and express disgust. You cannot threaten to kill. I didn't particularly like the last President, though I will admit he did some things right. Unfortunately he did some other things colosally wrong. When people shouted "No more Bush!" I joined in. When left wing nut-jobs talked about killing Bush I would get in their grill and explain for better or for worse he is still the C in C. I am also still under oath to defend this country from all enemies foreign and domestic.

So taking my cue from Jon Stewart, and with a 'gospel' choir to back me up. I'd like to sing out. To Ronnie Lee, Goldman Sachs, and Muslim extremists. To the tea-partiers, minutemen and everyone else that hates people because of their skin color. GO F**K YOURSELVES!!!

not enough time

I had several things I wanted to rant about today, but since I have to leave for work in about 30 minutes I lack the time. I had thought about lauding the virtues of "torch music". How it is a genre that highlights true vocal skill by utilizing control and at times absolutley soaring, all the while anunciating the words. Well, enough said. Don't believe me? Listen to 'Busy being Blue' by k.d. lang from her Shadowland album.

Ahhhhh, forget it. I know exactly what I want to talk about. I hope I don't sound like TAP.

I wish to discuss PI's. Not private investigators, but the perennially indignant. Much talk is going on about reforming health care. It needs to be done. I think everyone can agree the system is broken. This is not going to be a discussion of what is going on in Congress right now, rather a deeper issue. An issue that has been generations in the making and one that is not going away until something drastic happens.

We have a permanent class of people in this country that will be forever dependent in the State (meaning federal, state, and local governments) for support. Their parents were, they are, their children are, and they're gonna be granparents themselves by 40. These people. It transcends race so let's not go there.

Anyway, the way I see 'assistance' working is not unique. Organizations like the United Way do it. In addition to evaluating your 'needs' they also look at what you are spending money on. Cable TV has to go. Cigarettes, beer? Stop! Any luxuries at all? Get rid of them. NOW......we will help you with what you need. Every month, we will reevaluate your situation. Churches do something similar except of course they want you to come to church also.

The point being is no two people need the same type or level of help. Some need very short-term assistance. Some need longer-term help. Others are lifelong.

So who are the PI's? We all know them. They exhibit obnoxious behavior and a perpetual sense of entitlement. I could spend hours recounting examples of PI behavior. Who are they? I'll make it simple. DO you remember sharing your orange with a kid at school only to find out that another kid shared his orange with them to? Well you and the other kid each have a half orange now and the PI has one. You know what? The PI is pissed because he didn't get the better halves!

Until we devise a system that destroys the ability of the PI's to exist, no health care (or welfare, or education, or criminal justice) reform will work.

Now, it's time to go to work.

Resolved

I still suffer from the same affliction that I alluded to in my last entry.......from November. I think of things to write but by the time I get home my energy has flagged or I want to play something. The result nothing happens.

Today hope springs eternal. The weather was warm enough that I was able to go close to Lookout Pass today. The snowline was a bit low to go all the the up. I hiked for about 4 miles. DIdn't pick p all that much elevation though. Maybe a couple hundred feet is all. About 3/4 off the road was a fence. A well maintained one at that. I'm not sure what if anything is being kept out or in. The occasional antelope and deer won't be barred (and no I didn't see either of them playing today). I see sheep herder trailers out there a fair amount but never any sheep. The place has been cow-bombed in spots though.

Anyway, I walked the fence line for a while. After about another mile or so I came across about a half dozen wild horses. This is in itself is not so remarkable. We have a large population of them in the West Deserts. Seeing them this far east was new though.

Afterwards I found my self singing an old Arlo Guthrie tune. A staple of 'patriotic' people and events everywhere. The only trouble is we were only taught three of the final verses as kids. As adults we choose to ignore facts. Most folks only know this one tune by Arlo Guthrie. If they knew more than this then the last two verses wouldn't come as a surprise.

As I was walking
I saw a sign there
And that sign said
No Trespassing
But on the other side
It didn't say nothing
Now that sign was made for you and me.


In the squares of the city
In the shadow of a steeple
Near the relief (this term needs updating I suppose) office
I see my people
And some are grumbling
And some are wondering
If this land's still made for you and me

I wonder myself at times. I lack confidence in the organism that is government. I have long maintained that government service should be something akin to jury duty. Let me tell you about my neighbor Mike. We all probably know a guy just like him. Mike has never done anything that most folks would consider extraordinary or possessing the qualities of greatness. All he and his wife have done is raised their family according to their own terms. Every one of his kids turned out good. He watches out for others, while still minding his own business. He works hard and tirelessly. And Mike is a really smart guy. So why isn't he in elected office? You'd have to ask him to be sure. I suspect that Mike is like me though in this regard. He has no stomach for double-talk, back room dealing, or cozying up to scum-bags to get elected. He would rather do his job well and focus on his job the whole time. No worries about raising money, appealing to demographics, or re-election. Just hard work.

Trust me on this one. He would make a good public official. He would do his six-year stint (one year to learn, four years of performance, one year to train a successor) and then happily go back to doing his thing. I think elections used to be just such a thing. In some smaller communities it might still be. How to bring it back? I dunno.

it's been over 3 months

perhaps I am just getting lazy. I think of something to blog about. I't s perfectly structured in my mind. By the time I get home, I'm tired or distracted or whatever. Today, I didn't do that.

There was a little snippet in the news today from Switzerland. (I refer to it as Scweiz......spelling Switzerland to some effort believe it or not). Anyway, the Swiss voted to ban the construction of minarets. So what are we supposed to make of it. It is seemingly so trivial yes? I think it is probably one of the most significant happenings in the "West" in it's relationship with the "Islamic" world.

First some background. I have read the Quran. I believe that Muhammad was a prophet, though not the final and pentultimate one that Islam presents. Islam, like other religions, is not necessarily a 'religion of peace'. Most of it's adherents are people of peace, as are most Christians, Hindu, Jews, Taoists, and even agnostics and atheists. Most people prefer peace. There are those who will take and pervert a particular faith to include violent means. Yes folks, it really is that simple.

Ok, back to the Swiss thing. Opponents trumpet the decision by the Swiss electorate as anti-Islam.....and implied in that is racist. After all, there are steeples atop churches throughout Switzerland so it must be true. They hate Muslims and ...... errrrr........well Muslims come in a variety of colors and nationalities. But the Swiss hate 'em all.

I am an American. Not a Swiss-American. Besides, I am only 1/2 Swiss. When asked what my ancestry is I answer that I am a western European mutt. But let's assume I were still back in the old country. Naturally, I would have less money, education, and be busting my ass in the fields if I still lived there. My family shield shows that Loertscher's are noble farm stock. Say what you want about my old man, but he was the first in his line that got an education and made his living with hind brain and not his back. Man I'm on one here.....new paragraph.

So if I lived in Switzerland how would I have voted? Probably the same way that I would vote here. Sure build it, just tell the mezza what's his face to text everybody when it's time for prayers and don't blast it from the loudspeaker. Some of us pray at decent hours and are asleep right now or trying to read.

Wouldn't it be interesting, if they held a referendum in Saudi about whther Christian churches can erect a steeple. First of all, there can't be a referendum. The king and the honcho iman call all the shots. You can't have a Christian church in Saudi, hence no arguments about steeples. I can't even bring in my scriptures were I to visit there. That is what the majority of Swiss were thinking when they voted.

Here is where they were wrong. The minaret now becomes a symbol that not only are we tolerant, and protecting, and all those other good adjectives. When the young return to the country of their ancestry they will be better educated, more prosperous, and realize just how f***ed up the leadership is. They will then declare themselves Swiss. Or in the case of my father and his father, they were Americans and would shoot the first damn Swiss person that screwed around with their new country. My step-grandmother was German. When my father left for Europe he was just itching to "kill some krauts"......which his stepmom mentioned she was. His response? Who knows for sure. Knowing my old man it was probably something like "better tell 'em I'm coming while there's still time to surrender!". He didn't believe in the hyphenation of loyalties.

So for the Swiss citizens of Muslim descent, I apologize. For non-citizen Muslims? Well maybe the Swiss majority got this one right.

The French have President Sarkozy saying that Muslim women should not wear the burqa since it is a symbol of women being enslaved or something like that. It's France for hell's sake. If they want to wear it let them. If they choose not to and they are persecuted by Muslims living in France then you let them know what French law is and toss their misogynistic asses in the klink. Let them remember that they are living is "Whateveristan". Besides the young Muslims who have chosen to be French will dig it.

In the meantime, President Sarkozy should spend a little more time with his oh-so-hot wife. Has anybody besides checked her out? Wow.......Jackie O ain't got nothing on her.

a good day

I started my three day weekend today by immediately going to the Red Iguana today. It opened in 1985, I started eating there on cinco de Mayo '86. Son #1 and three of his buddies wnet there tonight. My wife and I kinda crashed their festivities. Strangely enough they were seated at the same table that I first ate at 23 years ago.

I don't eat at Red Iguana as much as I should. It's mainly the distance involved....and the wait. We left there tonight a bit after 8:30 on a Thursday night. It was still standing room only. Why? For me it is the moles. The poblano is a perfect combination of sweet/spicy/smoky. I no longer eat mole the traditional way, served over pork/chicken or TURKEY (Lord have mercy!!) because I don't eat meat any more. But I got a cup of poblano and dredged tortillas through it.

The problem with eating it to start my weekend? It's all downhill from here. Barring something truly spectacular.

Naturally, my thoughts at some point turn to Ramon Cardenas. The honcho until he died a few years back from an aneurysm. I spoke with him only once. He no doubt forgot our conversation. In fact he was quite annoyed with me at the time. My wife and I had ordered a paella the day before. We had reservations and our table was set for paella. After we were seated, our drink orders was taken. I asked for an appetizer. The waiter gave me a strange look and disappeared into the kitchen. Ramon Cardenas came out, carrying a large non-knife kitchen implement, and coarsely informed me that there would be nothing else served with our paella. I honestly expected I was going to be beaten to death.

Two minutes later the paella appeared. Saffron rice, peas, clams, shrimp, mussels, chicken, chorizo, lobster, peppers. A classic, perfectly balanced and prepared dish. Everything prepared separately and perfectly and combined in the final minutes before my arrival. As we were finishing Ramon sat at our table and lamented the fact that he was not able to prepare it outside over a fire......and then he left. A few weeks later we were able to share an even larger paella with frineds of ours. Sometime after that I read the obituary for Ramon Cardenas. With it the artistry of paella was snuffed out. I've not had anything like it since. Every time I go to Red Iguana I get misty eyed. A few times afterwards, I have cried tears when I am alone.

Food carries the potential for emotional responses. I have had some food epiphanies in my life. I also carry memories of people that are attached to the food. I remember Beulah and Ray and the El Charro and the tacos and salsa that are like no other. There was Miriam at the della Fontana and the Salsiccia fresca dolce. I fondly remember the parties thrown by, my childhood neighbors, the Ybarras. There was the beef teriyaki by Mr. Ryujin at the Dai Enko Tei. And of course, the paella by Ramon.

I was feeling real good before I started this entry tonight. I review the prior paragraph and think about these good things that are lost forever. I am overcome with melancholy

Absolute value and other rants

I'll try to keep this brief. Quick points........not a lot of explanation

The gentle reader no doubt recall 'absolute value' from junior high algebra. It was a concept that had no mathematical application to me at that point. It's philosophical ramifications are quite strong. I cannot remember the exact quote, nor the person credited with it, but when asked what his two favorite things in life were the response was, "pleasures of the flesh and my personal relationship with God". These two points are related.

Another quote I am fond of is, "there is a fine line between love and hate". I think that might serve as a better example of absolute value. For example, a woman that I dated back in my single days. She was a nice girl. Not smart, but not dumb. OK looking (which made her a lot like me). After two dates and going to second base, things ended. I got a nasty note and that was that. Someone else, I was involved with, shall we say, more intimately. That one ended a bit more harshly. If somebody love you a lot and you burn them they will hurt you a lot. That's about it. Therefore I make a point of always being nice to loved ones

So what about pleasures of the flesh. It means unbridled debauchery to some. And there was a time, I sampled it. TO me it means enjoying the finest foods. Being pampered. Being lazy. Soaking in warm water for an hour or two. It also means physical exertion in wilderness. Trips through the west deserts. Feeling cold, hungry, tired, sore, miserable, sick. Musing about the perfect meal on a cold evening above 10,000 feet with nothing to keep you alive but you carry on your back. These same things are also what increases a sense of spirituality in some.

Look, I'm a pacifist by nature. I despise war and killing. I love peace, harmony, and working things out through collaboration and diplomatic means. I am also convinced that the only way to achieve these ends is by having things like the United States Marine Corps. And periodically turning them loose when there is good reason, a clear objective, and defined exit strategy. Without these we fail.

back to traditional values

Not only am I not posting frequently enough, I feel as if I have drifted away from what this blog should be about. Namely, we bitching about things.

So without further ado:

Rant 1- I saw a billbaord today that was attempting to resurrect an old 70's jingle. It read, "Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet" and underneath in smaller print "Toyota is sumo and sushi". I suppose that was their way of making it up to date. Here's the problem as I see it.

Baseball vs. Sumo. I'm gonna burn in hell for this, but I'd rather Sumo. Both sports are steeped in tradition and ritual. Sumo takes on even a religious element with it's ties to Shinto. The difference being Sumo is still governed with authority. The overarching emphasis is still on the purity and integrity of the sport. The last professional sport game that I watched completely was the Jazz vs. Bulls final part 2 in the 90's. Sports had already become about egos and personalities long before then, but since Stockton was still playing............

If a sumo wrestler gets out of line, they are cracked hard and fast. No appeals, no lawyers, no bullshit, and everybody KNOWS what is going to happen and why. Professional sports today? They should take Manny Ramirez and his ilk and ban their nasty, steroid-plumped, asses for life. No questions, no appeals, and permanent. Honestly, who watches it anyway. Where does the money come from. Screw 'em all.

(Get back on topic now). Advantage Toyota. As for apple pie, I love it. No doubt about it. The Japanese are either incapable or unwilling to make decent pastry. God Bless America and advantage Chevy.

Hot dogs vs. sushi. C'mon now. If I were at a ballpark and had the choice of a Chicago dog or a spicy tuna roll, my choice would be......neither. I don't eat meat. If my choice were oshinko roll vs. a 'veggie dog'. Advantage Toyota.

Overall analysis? Give me some rice and kimchee. I drive Korean baby!

Rant 2- Second up, is to let all my gentle reader(s) know a "Greek" restaurant to avoid. I don't even know the name of the place. I have the credit card receipt though. These guys are just north of the Harmon's in Roy. I love Greek food. Still do. But being a vegetarian, it has severely restricted my Greek options. I can have the lettuce/cucumber/pepperoncini/olive/feta/dressing concoctions. I can devour an entire tray of spanikopita. Which gets me thinking about how much I enjoyed working with Rob Holbeck back in the day. Dear Lord, the spread his wife Tonya put on for Christmas................yeah................ummmmmm...............Ahem. Let me think here........I can also eat vegetarian dolmathes, and Moussaka without the meat. I also love hummus. So I ordered some hummus today. The chick peas weren't even cooked thoroughly. What I got was a thick, lumpy mass that didn't even resemble hummus. Perhaps, I thought to myself, it still tastes good. I heaped some onto a piece of pita and dug in. I swallowed it successfully. Ate the lemon rice that I also ordered (say, isn't this supposed to have some trace of lemon taste?) and the remaining three quarters of pita. After promptly throwing the entire mound of hummus out in front of the guy at the counter, he asked how it was. I told him it was dreadful. He paused for a moment and said, "so you liked it?" No you f**king idot! Dreadful means something else. Total tab was over 9 bucks too. Which means I got reamed as bad as my wife did in her colonoscopy last week.

The bright side being, her colonoscopy was negative. We also enjoyed a wonderful meal with our neighbors Rob and Lorraine last Saturday at Mazza. I'm still thinking about it. Lotsa of yummy stuff there, and much of it vegetarian. I'll be back again and again!

Rant 3- I saw the headline and accompanying photo in todays paper. That idiot 30 something teacher that was boning a 13 year old boy was sentenced today. She got 10 years to life! I am still flabbergasted. Before I finish this rant allow me to divert to the fother side of this coin. Namely, the seminary teacher in Utah county that was dicking a sixteen year old girl. (By the way, if anyone reading this knows Dustin Moutsos let him know that they have an opening at Lone Peak H.S.) Anyway, this yutz had been getting it on with this girl for a while now. He was pulling her out of school for field trips. My reaction to hearing this story was one of revulsion. The girl will need support and counseling and will likely have added issues with future relationships. As for the guy? Well let's just say he's got a real pretty mouth. He'll be very popular in prison.

So back to the 13 year old boy and the late 30's teacher. He'll be fine. Just have his old man sit him down and teach him about what, with whom, and when these types of relations are to occur. It's a double standard to be sure. Still don't believe me? Women ask your men the following question (and guys be honest with your answer), "Would you have screwed this teacher when you were that age?" I got a good look at the one in the paper and my answer is no. The one from Florida a few years back that was doing the baseball team? Hell yes!