So my mind really tends to wander.
I know that's an.. odd statement, but it's the truth. I've long told myself that I need to have one of those little micro recorders with me at all times - and it probably needs to be constantly recording - so that I don't lose my place in life. See, the fact is that despite the name of the 'blog' being Rich's Ramblings, it's really true. My mind is constantly in one place or the other and then back again before I can even collect what it was I was thinking about 2 minutes ago. Sometimes I'll have - what I consider - GREAT thoughts about a subject or something I want to write about and then I get on something else and completely forget what it was I was thinking about.
Sometimes there will be a lingering of it, like a mist that's still in my mind that I try to sort through, but usually it's just gone.
Not that any of that really matters, it's more just an insight into how I think, but the question is: why is the sky blue?
I don't care. The point really wasn't that the sky is blue. One of the guys I work with was discussing his blog and we got to talking about mine and he told me the sky was blue. See, he writes about baseball - or at least he tries because he's posted on his blog two or three times in the past year. I understand. His passion is Royals baseball and right now it's very hard to be overly passionate about the team (I'll write more about that later, promise). My passion is life and so I write a lot about things that just.. interest me. He is decisively against that and therefor the sky is blue. The point being that he sees or has little interest in the things that I have to say. Not that we don't - in real life - have conversations about these things but for a blog he didn't want to have to read about the sky being blue.
I could write about baseball and I will. I could write about the Royals and I will. But to me, this is really more about my life than it is what I think maybe everybody wants to read.
And therefor in my life... the sky is blue.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
My non 4th of July, 4th of July post
So it's the 4th of July and it almost feels like it's mandatory that as a 'blogger' I write something about the importance of this day. Something that gets to the heart of what this day means to me and to my family and to this country as a whole.
I'm not going to do that.
I would imagine that hundreds of others are writing about that at this very moment and probably saying anything and everything that I could on that subject.
However, I do feel the need to speak to independence. Specifically about what independence means and how we use and sometimes abuse that right that was fought and bled for - and continues to be fought for - by the citizens of this country.
I was on a website that sometimes I frequent earlier today. The website isn't important, it's basically just a bunch of people that express feelings on subjects - any subjects. Anyway, there was a comment made that I'm sure I've seen a million times before in regards to what someone else had wrote about their feelings on something.
The comment was "that's gay."
I'm not trying to being sanctimonious, and I have CERTAINLY said things in the past that were not appropriate and I would imagine that I'll catch myself saying things in the future that are not appropriate as well. However, regardless of 'independence' and a right of free speech, I think it's past time that as a country we learn that some things or words are better left unsaid.
There's a movement right now - you've probably seen the commercials - to get rid of the 'r' word in common usage. I fully support that movement, but I think the movement needs to get much bigger.
Whether it's retard or gay or any other racial slur you can think of, there just is no place in this day and age in this country or any other to call people those names. It goes beyond a disagreement in philosophies or opinions. It goes beyond even calling someone 'stupid' because of something they have done - granted that doesn't make that right either.
Whether you're saying it in 'jest' and really hold no ill feelings toward the people that really suffer from the affliction you are joking about or about the gay community as a whole, those are real people with real feelings, and to them the joke isn't funny.
As an independent people we are more than free to hold any personal feelings that we want against any other group of people that we choose. Our freedom of speech gives us the right to comment on things that a lot of other countries don't allow their citizens.
But just because we are independent and just because have freedom of speech, doesn't mean we should set aside good judgment or common sense and open our mouths and say things that are just downright mean or ill-conceived... whether meant or not.
Next time before opening your mouth and spouting out something that might be taken the wrong way or could be hurtful to a segment of society, take 2 seconds and think if it's really necessary or really that important to say. Or maybe just find another way to express your opinion that isn't hurtful.
Live life,
Richard B.
I'm not going to do that.
I would imagine that hundreds of others are writing about that at this very moment and probably saying anything and everything that I could on that subject.
However, I do feel the need to speak to independence. Specifically about what independence means and how we use and sometimes abuse that right that was fought and bled for - and continues to be fought for - by the citizens of this country.
I was on a website that sometimes I frequent earlier today. The website isn't important, it's basically just a bunch of people that express feelings on subjects - any subjects. Anyway, there was a comment made that I'm sure I've seen a million times before in regards to what someone else had wrote about their feelings on something.
The comment was "that's gay."
I'm not trying to being sanctimonious, and I have CERTAINLY said things in the past that were not appropriate and I would imagine that I'll catch myself saying things in the future that are not appropriate as well. However, regardless of 'independence' and a right of free speech, I think it's past time that as a country we learn that some things or words are better left unsaid.
There's a movement right now - you've probably seen the commercials - to get rid of the 'r' word in common usage. I fully support that movement, but I think the movement needs to get much bigger.
Whether it's retard or gay or any other racial slur you can think of, there just is no place in this day and age in this country or any other to call people those names. It goes beyond a disagreement in philosophies or opinions. It goes beyond even calling someone 'stupid' because of something they have done - granted that doesn't make that right either.
Whether you're saying it in 'jest' and really hold no ill feelings toward the people that really suffer from the affliction you are joking about or about the gay community as a whole, those are real people with real feelings, and to them the joke isn't funny.
As an independent people we are more than free to hold any personal feelings that we want against any other group of people that we choose. Our freedom of speech gives us the right to comment on things that a lot of other countries don't allow their citizens.
But just because we are independent and just because have freedom of speech, doesn't mean we should set aside good judgment or common sense and open our mouths and say things that are just downright mean or ill-conceived... whether meant or not.
Next time before opening your mouth and spouting out something that might be taken the wrong way or could be hurtful to a segment of society, take 2 seconds and think if it's really necessary or really that important to say. Or maybe just find another way to express your opinion that isn't hurtful.
Live life,
Richard B.
Friday, July 1, 2011
I was just thinking
I don't know if it's against blog policy or etiquette to post more than once in the same day, but I was just reading at article on Huffington Post - one of my favorite sites - in regards to the Minnesota State Government shutting down and it got me thinking.
Okay maybe it didn't specifically get me thinking because these are thoughts that I've had, but it got me wanting to say something.
Isn't it like WAY past time in this country that we just put our differences aside and start looking at what's best for everyone and not just our political party or those funding them? I know that's pretty simplistic and I'm not naive enough to think that Republicans don't believe they have the plan that's best for everyone, as much as I believe that Democrats think the exact same thing.
Personally, since it's probably relevant, I consider myself an Independent with strong leanings toward some of what the Liberterian and Democratic parties believe. Although there are issues that I think the Republicans are more 'right' on. I guess you'd classify that as Independent.
And oh by the way, this is an area that I am interested in and although I do read the news, watch the news, talk about the news and consider myself at least somewhat knowledgeable about what is going on.... I don't profess to be an expert on anything political. Partly because I think there is so much 'grey' stuff in politics the whole idea of being an expert or being right or wrong, confuses my brain.
I have my thoughts and opinions on what I believe but am ALWAYS more than willing - in fact relish in the idea - of hearing others speak their minds because that is how I learn.
So anyway I was reading this article about the Minnesota State Government shutting down and I got a little mad. Not really because they shut down, but just some of the reasoning behind it. One side thinks they are right, the other side vehemently disagrees and are sure they are right. And as always somewhere in the middle are the people. The lockdown obviously isn't right for them, but they seem to be the least of concerns. And this is directed at either/both parties. I don't think either of them really give a damn about you or me.
I'm sure at some point I'll go more in depth in my thoughts about this but I think we have COMPLETELY lost our way as a country. I think we have become so focused on this 'us against them' philosophy - which includes America against the rest of the world, not only Americans against Americans - that we're struggling to decide who we really are any more.
The 'rich' in this country - well at least the Republican party that seems to speak for them - seem to think that this country can survive quite well if they get to keep all their money, not pay in anywhere near a 'fair' share, have all sorts of tax loopholes, create corporations that also have tax loopholes and they'll be quite happy. On the other side the 'poor' in this country - seemingly represented by the Democratic party - seem to think that they just deserve handouts and that money is evil... all the while creating one government program after another that is supposed to solve all the problems in this country.
In my eyes, you're both wrong.
I said I'm Independent while leaning in a lot of ways Democratic because I do believe in helping people. I do think that not everyone gets a fair shake in this world and that sometimes people need a helping hand or a light at the end of the tunnel. Heck, right now that doesn't just mean the 'poor' but the working middle class as well which have been beaten down, knocked around and are really disappearing off the face of the Earth as it is anyway. Really, it's just the 'haves' and 'have-nots' now.
I'm not screaming for some socialist agenda. I fully believe that if you earn money, you should keep money. If you run the company and put your hard work into it and took the risks of building it and you earn millions, congratulations to you. I think the VAST majority of that should stay in your pocket. Whereas if you're the worker and chose to take that job then you should earn what was agreed upon when you took that job and you have little right to moan and bitch about what your employer does or earns. If you're unhappy, quit. Start your own business.
Of course that's in a perfect world and we're far from being perfect right now.
So here's the problem. I don't care Republican or Democrat it's ALL just bull-crap when it comes to wanting to limit government and government spending. They BOTH spend too much money. They BOTH take care of those that took care of them. They BOTH have their little special interest groups that they funnel money to. They BOTH hand out contracts to friends and family members. The BOTH lie, cheat and steal. We have a long history to support that. So the little hypocritical remarks and smirks and sneers when one side or the other is caught in another scandal is just exactly that, hypocritical.
Look, nobody is perfect and to be honest I don't necessarily care if a member of the government is caught cheating on their spouse or any one of a hundred little indiscretions they might get caught at. If you want to take issue with that, look in the mirror and if you're perfect, then take issue. If you're not, shut up. Now, granted, you haven't been elected to office and I do understand the whole 'morality' thing when it comes to public office. I understand the thought process of if they are cheating on their spouse what else are they doing. Well maybe they are doing something else and maybe they aren't. If they haven't been caught doing anything else, maybe they should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Okay, looking back I've really got off target here. Let me finish this thought process up, since I am definitely rambling now.
We have HUGE problems in this country that need fixed right away. We have a runaway government with spending that is completely out of control. We fund completely unnecessary projects. We spend BILLIONS on wars that need not be fought and continue to do so. Our priorities are so out of whack that it's almost mind numbing that anyone could think that not funding our own infrastructure or teachers or police officers or that assisting those that need help right now isn't 'job 1' but that the incessant arguing about who did what or how much more money we should spend in this war or whether or not we should send another billion dollars to 'x' country because we think it makes us look good is more important.
Anyway, that was much longer than I thought it would be starting out and I have a lot more to say on the subject but am properly worked up over it now and can imagine eyes being tired from reading so we'll call it on this for now.
Live life,
Richard B.
Okay maybe it didn't specifically get me thinking because these are thoughts that I've had, but it got me wanting to say something.
Isn't it like WAY past time in this country that we just put our differences aside and start looking at what's best for everyone and not just our political party or those funding them? I know that's pretty simplistic and I'm not naive enough to think that Republicans don't believe they have the plan that's best for everyone, as much as I believe that Democrats think the exact same thing.
Personally, since it's probably relevant, I consider myself an Independent with strong leanings toward some of what the Liberterian and Democratic parties believe. Although there are issues that I think the Republicans are more 'right' on. I guess you'd classify that as Independent.
And oh by the way, this is an area that I am interested in and although I do read the news, watch the news, talk about the news and consider myself at least somewhat knowledgeable about what is going on.... I don't profess to be an expert on anything political. Partly because I think there is so much 'grey' stuff in politics the whole idea of being an expert or being right or wrong, confuses my brain.
I have my thoughts and opinions on what I believe but am ALWAYS more than willing - in fact relish in the idea - of hearing others speak their minds because that is how I learn.
So anyway I was reading this article about the Minnesota State Government shutting down and I got a little mad. Not really because they shut down, but just some of the reasoning behind it. One side thinks they are right, the other side vehemently disagrees and are sure they are right. And as always somewhere in the middle are the people. The lockdown obviously isn't right for them, but they seem to be the least of concerns. And this is directed at either/both parties. I don't think either of them really give a damn about you or me.
I'm sure at some point I'll go more in depth in my thoughts about this but I think we have COMPLETELY lost our way as a country. I think we have become so focused on this 'us against them' philosophy - which includes America against the rest of the world, not only Americans against Americans - that we're struggling to decide who we really are any more.
The 'rich' in this country - well at least the Republican party that seems to speak for them - seem to think that this country can survive quite well if they get to keep all their money, not pay in anywhere near a 'fair' share, have all sorts of tax loopholes, create corporations that also have tax loopholes and they'll be quite happy. On the other side the 'poor' in this country - seemingly represented by the Democratic party - seem to think that they just deserve handouts and that money is evil... all the while creating one government program after another that is supposed to solve all the problems in this country.
In my eyes, you're both wrong.
I said I'm Independent while leaning in a lot of ways Democratic because I do believe in helping people. I do think that not everyone gets a fair shake in this world and that sometimes people need a helping hand or a light at the end of the tunnel. Heck, right now that doesn't just mean the 'poor' but the working middle class as well which have been beaten down, knocked around and are really disappearing off the face of the Earth as it is anyway. Really, it's just the 'haves' and 'have-nots' now.
I'm not screaming for some socialist agenda. I fully believe that if you earn money, you should keep money. If you run the company and put your hard work into it and took the risks of building it and you earn millions, congratulations to you. I think the VAST majority of that should stay in your pocket. Whereas if you're the worker and chose to take that job then you should earn what was agreed upon when you took that job and you have little right to moan and bitch about what your employer does or earns. If you're unhappy, quit. Start your own business.
Of course that's in a perfect world and we're far from being perfect right now.
So here's the problem. I don't care Republican or Democrat it's ALL just bull-crap when it comes to wanting to limit government and government spending. They BOTH spend too much money. They BOTH take care of those that took care of them. They BOTH have their little special interest groups that they funnel money to. They BOTH hand out contracts to friends and family members. The BOTH lie, cheat and steal. We have a long history to support that. So the little hypocritical remarks and smirks and sneers when one side or the other is caught in another scandal is just exactly that, hypocritical.
Look, nobody is perfect and to be honest I don't necessarily care if a member of the government is caught cheating on their spouse or any one of a hundred little indiscretions they might get caught at. If you want to take issue with that, look in the mirror and if you're perfect, then take issue. If you're not, shut up. Now, granted, you haven't been elected to office and I do understand the whole 'morality' thing when it comes to public office. I understand the thought process of if they are cheating on their spouse what else are they doing. Well maybe they are doing something else and maybe they aren't. If they haven't been caught doing anything else, maybe they should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Okay, looking back I've really got off target here. Let me finish this thought process up, since I am definitely rambling now.
We have HUGE problems in this country that need fixed right away. We have a runaway government with spending that is completely out of control. We fund completely unnecessary projects. We spend BILLIONS on wars that need not be fought and continue to do so. Our priorities are so out of whack that it's almost mind numbing that anyone could think that not funding our own infrastructure or teachers or police officers or that assisting those that need help right now isn't 'job 1' but that the incessant arguing about who did what or how much more money we should spend in this war or whether or not we should send another billion dollars to 'x' country because we think it makes us look good is more important.
Anyway, that was much longer than I thought it would be starting out and I have a lot more to say on the subject but am properly worked up over it now and can imagine eyes being tired from reading so we'll call it on this for now.
Live life,
Richard B.
So this is it?
So here I am. I've finally made it. The blogosphere... eh, that is what it's referred to as, right?
So maybe I'm a bit late, but as the saying goes "better late, than never" or maybe it's "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say it." Although I think that was more meant toward your brother or sister or friend or coworker or spouse, but I think it fits here as well.
So does that mean that I have something 'good' to say? Well I'm not sure that's for me to decide. I mean isn't it really up to the readers to determine if the written word is 'good' or not? Oh, wait, that would mean that I actually have readers or will have, but who knows if that will really happen. So I suppose, in the end, this is really more about me just saying things that I've wanted to say, put them on 'paper' so that they are there... and if others read them and either find enlightenment or enjoyment from them, all the better.
I guess that really since this is my first blog - and FIRST blog attempt - that I should probably explain what I'm trying to do here or what it is that I need or want to say.
Firstly I tend to have a lot of interests or a lot of things/subjects interest me. One might ask what's the difference? Well, to me having an interest means that you've devoted time to actually putting thought to said interest, one would hope you at least have knowledge of the things of which you speak. On the other hand being interested in something could imply that you are curious of the subject, but maybe you haven't really done any studying or have any concrete knowledge of said subject.
I'm guessing you're a bit confused now. That was a little exercise into the way my mind thinks at times, which isn't necessarily always the way that most or at least others do. Then again, not everyone in the world has the same thought process about things, so it's not like I'm implying that I am different - even though we all are, obviously. Regardless, as you've probably already guessed, I tend to have a lot of random thoughts run around in my mind which clutters things up pretty well. I can easily be on one subject, lose track of what I was thinking 2 seconds ago and be off on some other tangent as though I had been discussing it all along. I can also have a thought and in the next instance it's gone, like it was never there. Although generally if it was something important I may remember it... weeks later.
However, I think I may have digressed, or maybe that's all important information about myself. I'm sure there's other stuff to learn but that will come at a later time. So what is this blog about? Thoughts, I think. No not thoughts I think, but thoughts, I think. Although obviously they are obviously thoughts that I think - in other words, my thoughts. I think this is mostly just going to be ramblings of mine on one subject or the other. At least that is the plan currently. It could change 5 minutes from now.
So I think I may have said that I have a few interests. And in regards to those interests I am going to post my personal thoughts - which is no different than posting my thoughts, but saying they're personal makes it sound more important. Those interests range from political to religious to baseball to life in general. I will warn you now - even though it probably doesn't need to be said since I said they were 'personal' thoughts - that they may not always be popular or that you may not always agree with them. Which, by the way if I may ramble a bit, I think is one of the problems with this country and probably world. Everybody is SO concerned about who they might upset if they just say what they are thinking. I think I may talk about that at some time.
Anyway, I think I've rambled on more than enough for an opening post about myself and this blog. I'm sure I'll be talking more about myself and what I've been through in my life at a future time, but for now let's close this one up and think about the future.
Live life,
Richard B
So maybe I'm a bit late, but as the saying goes "better late, than never" or maybe it's "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say it." Although I think that was more meant toward your brother or sister or friend or coworker or spouse, but I think it fits here as well.
So does that mean that I have something 'good' to say? Well I'm not sure that's for me to decide. I mean isn't it really up to the readers to determine if the written word is 'good' or not? Oh, wait, that would mean that I actually have readers or will have, but who knows if that will really happen. So I suppose, in the end, this is really more about me just saying things that I've wanted to say, put them on 'paper' so that they are there... and if others read them and either find enlightenment or enjoyment from them, all the better.
I guess that really since this is my first blog - and FIRST blog attempt - that I should probably explain what I'm trying to do here or what it is that I need or want to say.
Firstly I tend to have a lot of interests or a lot of things/subjects interest me. One might ask what's the difference? Well, to me having an interest means that you've devoted time to actually putting thought to said interest, one would hope you at least have knowledge of the things of which you speak. On the other hand being interested in something could imply that you are curious of the subject, but maybe you haven't really done any studying or have any concrete knowledge of said subject.
I'm guessing you're a bit confused now. That was a little exercise into the way my mind thinks at times, which isn't necessarily always the way that most or at least others do. Then again, not everyone in the world has the same thought process about things, so it's not like I'm implying that I am different - even though we all are, obviously. Regardless, as you've probably already guessed, I tend to have a lot of random thoughts run around in my mind which clutters things up pretty well. I can easily be on one subject, lose track of what I was thinking 2 seconds ago and be off on some other tangent as though I had been discussing it all along. I can also have a thought and in the next instance it's gone, like it was never there. Although generally if it was something important I may remember it... weeks later.
However, I think I may have digressed, or maybe that's all important information about myself. I'm sure there's other stuff to learn but that will come at a later time. So what is this blog about? Thoughts, I think. No not thoughts I think, but thoughts, I think. Although obviously they are obviously thoughts that I think - in other words, my thoughts. I think this is mostly just going to be ramblings of mine on one subject or the other. At least that is the plan currently. It could change 5 minutes from now.
So I think I may have said that I have a few interests. And in regards to those interests I am going to post my personal thoughts - which is no different than posting my thoughts, but saying they're personal makes it sound more important. Those interests range from political to religious to baseball to life in general. I will warn you now - even though it probably doesn't need to be said since I said they were 'personal' thoughts - that they may not always be popular or that you may not always agree with them. Which, by the way if I may ramble a bit, I think is one of the problems with this country and probably world. Everybody is SO concerned about who they might upset if they just say what they are thinking. I think I may talk about that at some time.
Anyway, I think I've rambled on more than enough for an opening post about myself and this blog. I'm sure I'll be talking more about myself and what I've been through in my life at a future time, but for now let's close this one up and think about the future.
Live life,
Richard B
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