When Disaster Strikes

I've been reading about the relief efforts for Puerto Rico. It appears the effort to help is hampered by the effort to have someone else do the heavy work.

I watched a few hurricane relief efforts. Those that had citizens wanting to work unhampered, and only wanting some aid to help with cleaning up the mess, were more efficient. While the financial aid was important, the effort to return to a normal life was more important.

Those living on the public dole, who have everything available with a phone call, or a quick trip to an office, have a different attitude. With initiative lost to a false security, too many expect too much, without any effort. It's sad to see, but it's a lesson to society. Nothing is free, and expecting such is foolish.

A Taste of Fall

It's a beautiful morning. Light wind from the North, the temperature is around 65, and the humidity was swept to the Gulf. It's a good change, and I hope it last for the few weeks it sometimes lasts during autumn.

Flu Shot

I've had the flu only a few times during my life. My last case was decades ago, It started as a slight headache during the morning, a splitting headache by the end of work, chills before dark, and a high fever, which finally broke early the next morning. During the fever, I had a hard time concentrating, and the muscle aches were dreadful. After finally falling asleep, I awoke in a bed soaked with my sweat.

I missed work for a few days, which was necessary, since nothing wanted to stay in, and I would have been nearly useless.

Returning to work was tough, since it was late Fall,  and I was bridge carpenter. I was worn out by the end of what were shorter days, and would have stayed home instead, but I needed the money. The annoying cough yielded plenty of phlegm, which made me wonder if I had pneumonia.

It took about two weeks for the sore throat to finally end. Afterwards, I was apprehensive for a long time. Being that ill is a mind jolting experience.

So, I take a flu shot every year. I know many people think it's useless, or dangerous, or fear it's an effort by the government to kill us all, but I don't care. I haven't had the flu in a long time; even with exposure. I like that.

It's All About Who We Elect

At the local level, we have some voice in keeping the reprobates out, but that too is iffy.

At the state level, it's the same thing, but big money is involved in keeping those in politics firmly attached to the power and money.

At the national level, we only get to choose who the media, and those in power, decide will be a candidate.

Otherwise, until we tar and feather a few of the rascals, we'll keep getting screwed by the elite that make the laws.

The Trade-Off

From things I've seen on the internet, there are some really pissed off fans of many teams. Not only are they swearing off any watching of the NFL, they're burning jerseys and other NFL items.

Where does this go? What is the trade off? I think it will be monetary at first, but with a reduced NFL, college teams will find more revenue...at first. Time will change the importance of the sport, and other sports will find new fans, with new revenue.

What about the NBA, and professional baseball? I think the players will expose their posteriors too, and the franchises will lose substantial revenue; especially when advertisers realize their ads are not being presented to what were once their biggest consumers.

There's always a trade-off, and the trade off for ignorance is never good. This all started with one player being allowed to show his ignorance, which may be good. It exposed much more ignorance, and maybe galvanized enough to show their pride in the United States.