NIMBY

As I peruse Facebook and drive through the local communities, I see a lot of people in snits about what is being purposed to be built in their neighborhoods. Pure NIMBYISTS (NIMBY=Not In My Back Yard)

Lately it is a gun range or natural gas station. Everyone wants the protection of a well-trained police force and cheaper energy as long as they don't have to see it or be near it.

I think the 'everyone gets a trophy' ideologue has been with some of the older people for longer than they would like to admit, and not just with today's kids. . "I want all the benefits, but I don't want to put in the time, effort, and sacrifice." <BUAAA!>. In other words, don't build that in my neighborhood, build it somewhere else, my neighborhood is too good for that kind of thing.

I am not going to get into the political stance of either of these issues, I have my opinions and everyone has theirs. I understand the necessity and vital need for both. I can empathize (and sympathize) with those with projects that environmental impact will outweigh the benefit (i.e., Keystone XL) and not wanting it in their backyard, but neither of the aforementioned issues will have an environmental impact.

Some are more then just NIMBY, there are some that are CAVE (Citizens Against Virtually Everything).

I am neither pro-build or anti-build, I am more of...here is the regulations, stay within the guidelines, and build it right. No matter the cost of the project there is a proper way of doing it, it is the cost of doing business. I guess that same philosophy can be applied to the two issues above, it is the cost of doing business and if done right, it will benefit everyone.

I guess we can always build a wall and hope some else will pay for it.

Now What...

I usually do a daily crossword or two online everyday. Research has shown, that simple brain stimulation like word puzzles helps stave off dementia and other brain age disorders, so this was my combat to that. Yahoo used to have a few good puzzles available everyday. On Friday, Yahoo ended their games page and the crossword puzzles are no longer available.

I have tried a few apps and other websites, but have not found anything that runs efficiently and doesn't cost. Anyone have any suggestions? Quickly before I forget...

Thanks

Random Thoughts and Other Musings

It has been a while since I just unloaded my brain with everything that is bouncing around up there, so here you go and in no particular order...

• The HBM and accompanying beard are doing great, about a month before I attend my first beard and mustache competition. I doubt I will be competing, but it will be nice to be in the company of like featured people.
• April ended with a good record for my baseball team, hope they keep up the hard play and compete in the rest of the season as they have so far.
• I had a cigar the other day that was fantastic, may have to adjust my top ten list soon, but that will be a separate post.
• My son graduates college in a few weeks, where has the time gone...
• The presidential race is turned into a mindless circus, and everyone has been suckered into the tent. Do you want Theocracy, Fascism, Oligarchy, or Social Democracy?
• My knee is slowly getting better, at my age I think this will take awhile and it may bother me for the rest of my life.

That is all for now.

Yoga Shoes?

Got an advert that yoga shoes are on sale...wait, you need special shoes for yoga?

I have gone to one yoga class (I probably should do more), and everyone was barefoot, now you need yoga shoes? Is this just purely a marketing thing? Someone's new way to make millions?

I appreciate the yoga pants trend, really I do. So now everyone will all be wearing yoga shoes to the local coffee shop to get their spiced hot chai latte. 

Will Nike release an Air Guru? Adidas, a Climiguru? Will you need a special sock to wear with the yoga shoes? Will there be special shoes made for pronators and supinators? A special instep grip for cobra? Will you need different soles depending on the yoga mat you use? Maybe some quick drying ones with an anti-microbe lining for use in hot yoga...

I wish I had thought of this...

Political Parties

I am a political junkie, I follow politics and have no problem voicing my opinion. I do my due diligence on the issues and then look at which candidate aligns closest to my beliefs and ideology. My views may change from time to time, depending on what I have learned, experienced, and have for needs. I consider my self wizen, and I also have an understanding of cause and effect, and follow history. With this, I have become astute to the political climate.

I am also a believer that the party system is antiquated and needs to be done away with, or that more parties need to join the mix. I am not a sheeple and usually do not the herd.

With the current boondoggle that is our upcoming election, I have had no choice but to move my affiliation from independent to a recognized political party. Not in the necessity to get a certain candidate elected, but more in desperation to keep other candidates from gaining the nomination.

I have always had liberal and centrist leanings, but have my conservatives stances, too. Because of that, I have thought of myself as a free thinker without need of a party platform. I have been a registered voter since I was 18, and after 34 years of voting in all major elections, and most of the local ones, I have chosen a political party, although after the primary I may switch back to being an independent. I enjoy my free thinking ways.

Get out the vote.

Pharmaceuticals

My doctor sent in a prescription for a NSAID for my recent knee injury to help with the recovery sans surgery. Now I am not going to name names or list products so to protect the so-called "innocent" in the medical world, but here is what transpired...


First they were backordered on the first RX sent in by the doctor, so the pharmacist suggested an alternative, but my insurance would not cover her suggestion (I was informed I could pay for this out of my pocket--wonder who is getting some kickbacks on this one?) My doctor's office was contacted and another RX was recommended, also out, so another alternative was found. (Relax, we will eventually find something that fill the need)

The alternative they found causes reactions similar to reactions that coincide with aspirin allergies, which I have been told I have. The conversation between the pharmacist and I went something like this...

Pharmacist: "Our records show that you have an allergy to aspirin."
Me: "Yes.'
Pharmacist: "What happens when you take aspirin?"
Me: "Don't know, it is an allergy that dates back to my early childhood."
Pharmacist: "So you haven't taken aspirin recently?"
Me: "No, I avoid it, because I have an allergy to it."
<thinking to myself, she did not just ask that question, like I occasionally test my own allergic reactions>
Pharmacist: "Do you use ibuprofen?"
Me: "Yes."

She then goes through a long scary list like the television commercials of all the possible side affects and outcomes of use of this medicine, including death. Staples the instructions to the bag and hands it to me and tells me to call my doctor if there are any issues.

I tried the NSAID and have had no adverse reaction, and it has helped with the inflammation. But the medical field can not possible be run like this with a try it and see method, or have all the great minds avoided the field and gone elsewhere...

End of a Good Run: A Double Entendre

I have been a biped for 50 years now (first couple I was happy with being carried or crawling), give or take a few months. During that time I have played competitive sports for at least 35 years, officiated for 25 years, and have never had a serious knee injury. Well that streak ended today.

I have had plenty of other serious injuries in my life; wrist, shoulder, hand, ankle, ribs, and toes, but nothing knee related. Thought I had knee troubles, but it turned out to be Lyme disease.

I slipped down three steps but my left leg decided to stay on the top step and I torqued the knee sideways doing damage to my MCL. Currently in a brace and waiting to see what the final verdict will be...

I can officially say my plans for any kind of a come back have been put on hold...