Often some of the
'inspiration' for my blog comes from being out in public and just
listening. It could be the local store or restaurant, while getting
the car serviced or just watching people moving about the aisles in
Marden's. ( Marden's is a local discount store and often a great
place to shop.) But the weather this week has forced many to stay
inside, including me, and so I had to 'dig a bit' for some ideas for
this week's blog. Some ideas came from reading the local news
on-line, others from listening to the 6 pm news.
I am not going to write
about any of the recent football games, either college or
professional. I used to be a football fan but I am beginning to have
some second thoughts about the sport in general and the consequences
of the injuries that often occur. Is it really worth putting your
'brain on the line' and impacting the future quality of life at the
expense of a game?
My guess? Within the
next ten years, most community recreation programs and high schools
will drop football because of the legal liabilities and potential
health risks kids might suffer. Colleges will struggle to fine new
ways to replace the revenue lost from the once 'rich' and lucrative
football programs since there will be very few willing to play and
colleges may return to their mission of.... educating.
And the professional
teams? The league will be on the verge of bankruptcy after paying
the thousands of dollars in lawsuits filed by former players. Many
former players will never know they received a settlement because
they suffer from Alzheimer, dementia or other severe head trauma. Anyone
interested in buying a slightly used football stadium?
I could write about the
increase in the number of telephone calls and advertising I have
been getting to change my service provider for my television,
telephone and computer. I especially like the ones that guarantee to
lock in low rate if I sign up within the next two minutes.
First...What ever happened to the laws passed for the “Do Not Call
List”? And second, not only do they call my home phone number, they
also call my cell phone.
I remember the days
when there was an antenna attached to the roof of the house for
television reception (and it was free) and a line coming into the house for the phone.
Today I can get television and movies on my cell phone and get
wrong numbers on my television. ??? Some things never change!
This is an area,
technology that is, that will far exceed our ability to understand its
potential because technology really is moving faster than many of us
are able to think about and comprehend. Remember those iPhones that were selling for
hundreds dollars when they first came into the cell phone market? I recently saw them
advertised as 'free' if you signed up for a multi-year service
contract. But then there is always the no service contract program at
Wal Mart. How do they do it?
I could write about how
excited I am that 2014 is an election year in Maine, but that would
be a lie. What frustrates me about elections are the never ending
television commercials and millions of dollars spent to get
candidates elected. If not mistaken, I believe a great deal of
money comes from what are known as PACs, groups set up to support
particular causes and candidates. What about a PAC for the 'common
folks.' I might be willing pay to not see the endless stream of advertisements. By the way, I like my tea in a cup. I don't want it in my politics too!
Here is an interesting consideration. I will bet the money that comes into Maine from 'out of
state' to support the candidates for governor and Congress would be enough to pay
for at least three years of health insurance premiums for all those
currently uninsured in Maine or...it might be enough money to fund the cost
of public education for all the kids in grade K-8 in
Maine for at least one year.
I could really support
some type of “election reform,” perhaps one that sets a cap or
limit on the amount a candidate would be able to spend or maybe...
for every dollar raised, the candidates donates half of the amount to
a charity or cause of his or her choice, perhaps domestic violence,
as an example.
I grew up in the '60
and '70. It was a time that was 'unique' and known for it's music,
alternative life styles, clothing, free sex and drugs. Our generation had
been part of a world conflict that, even to this day, few ever really
understood why. But the social and political costs of it changed a
generation forever.
I am referring to the
Vietnam conflict. It was an age of rebellion from
the social norms and expectations and for some, it became a back to the land movement of sorts. (Some even moved to Maine.)
I find it very
interesting that, according to the news, there seems to be a current trend where many are
giving up lavish life-styles, expensive toys, having fewer cell
phones or giving up their television cable service that provides 300+ channels for... a more simple way of life. Does it mean that
history has a way of repeating itself or are we just resetting out priorities?
Although we know that
playing football can have serious health consequences, we still do
it. Why? We understand the importance a good education or the need
to discover new medical cures or scientific discoveries, but we allow
other, less important, issues to take a higher priority. Why?
Perhaps it would be
simpler to write about the weather. The weather is something we can always talk about but also know
we can not control... at least not yet!
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