The Real Terrorists

I don't want to diminish the terrible attacks in Paris earlier this month. It has, however, occurred to me recently that there is a group in the Inited States that poses a much larger threat. Islamic terrorists are thought to be our greatest concern for an attack. We worry about these guys.

In 2015 there has been one Islamic terrorist attack in the United States. One! Who are the real terrorists? It is guys and gals like these. 

Yup, toddlers. Before you dismiss me as some crackpot you should check the statistics. In 2015 toddlers, under the age of four were involved in 28 shootings. Hostage taking? Have you been in a restaurant recently with a toddler? The screaming and fit throwing can bring a place to a halt. If that angry kid had access to a gun who knows how many they would injure or kill. Always watch those kids when they get near mom's purse or dad's man bag. You are a careless concealed carry from being a terrorist victim. Watch those kids! 

Saturday Morning

This is the view in Illinois from Lois.

This is the view from Tybee Island, Georgia.

Current temp in Illinois 31 and feels like 21.

Current temp on Tybee Island 61 and feels like 59. 

Does that explain why we are here? I hope so. 

Do we miss the changing of the seasons? The change here is different. It is from tourist season to non tourist season. So, no we don't. 

Baseball

When you were a boy in the 1960's you played sports. Football in the fall, baseball in the summer. There weren't any video games. Television was limited to three channels and the networks were ABC, CBS and NBC. Most of the time there wasn't much on TV and honestly it was more fun to play outside. At our house there was a fence that separated the yard from the barn lot. Beyond the fence and the barn lot was a large barn and feedlot for the cattle. When we started playing baseball in the yard it was a big deal to hit it over the fence. Then the goal was to hit the barn, then the barn roof and finally over the barn. The country kids would get together and play games. It was my two brothers and me, the two Nelson brothers and the three Hungerford brothers. Everyone's house had home field rules. They were all based on where we could set up bases, where the buildings, trees, fences and cornfields were located and how many players we had that day. Then for six to eight weeks in the summer we got the chance to play little league baseball. The towns each had teams. We played kids from Oneida, Altona, Rio, Victoria, Bishop Hill and Williamsfield. Several of those towns no longer have teams. Just not enough kids to put together to make up a team. In Wataga the team was sponsored by the local grocery store- Kronstedt Grocery in the heart of downtown Wataga. It sat in the middle of the block with the Knotty Pine bar to the south and the Depot Bar to the North. The baseball diamond sits to the north of downtown. At that time Wataga Grade School sat at the northwest corner of the lot. It was where I attended first through third grades. Down the third base line at the back of left field sat the town's Catholic Church. It was every player's goal to hit the church with a batted ball. I have been scanning old photographs and slides from my parents and grandparents. The picture below is one of the Wataga Little League teams from the mid to late 1960's. It is the team my younger brother David played on. He is the fifth from the right, sitting tall with his hand on his knee. 

In the picture above he is fifth from the left. Many over the years claimed the team was the Cubs. Being a Cardinal fan and seeing the team in red, well you can see where I'm headed. 

It was a great time to be a kid. Playing ball with your friends. Learning cooperation and teamwork. Finding out how to win without being a jerk and how to lose with pride in your effort and appreciation for your opponents. It was a simpler time and a better quality of life. 

Talkin' Shit

Today talkin' shit is not figurative it is a literal discussion. Today is November 19, 2015 and unknown and unappreciated by almost all Americans it is World Toilet Day. The World Toilet Organization held the first of these days on November 19, 2001. It is an attempt to draw attention to the fact that 2.4 billion of our fellow citizens of this world lack access to adequate sanitation. Somehow writing it as 2.4 billion makes it look less impressive than writing it like this. 2,400,000,000! One of the things we don't think about is the fact that everyone poops. So every day those 2,400,000,000 people are living in conditions that none of us should find acceptable. The goal of the World Toilet Organization is to have everyone provided with adequate sanitary facilities by 2030. Pardon the following. They have a shitload of work ahead of them. 

So today when you head into that little room to do your business think about how different your life would be without those sanitary facilities. The worst bathroom in the dirtiest truck stop in America is better than the sanitation available to over 2 billion people. When you get upset about traffic, or waiting in line, or the price of gas and groceries just remember things could be worse. One could even suggest they could be really shitty. 

I'm Just Tired, Really Tired

I'd like to blame Facebook, or video games, or television. The problem isn't any of those things. The problem is us. Not one of us (like the president), or a few of us (like members of Congress or rich folks) or a huge group of us (like Republicans, or Democrats, or Independents, or Socialists) it is ALL of us. We claim we don't have the time to do the hard work of learning about issues and making informed decisions. So instead we allow our Facebook profiles and other social media applications to be filled with things like these. 

None of those things are completely accurate and in my opinion reduce our political discourse to something resembling first grade recess name calling. Here I want to make clear I mean no offense to first graders. Look at our "presidential candidates" debates. Mr. Or Ms. ________ please explain your economic and tax program to grow and expand the American economy. By the way, you have 60 seconds. So they puke out some word salad IF they choose to answer the question at all. Then one or more of their opponents (usually several trying to talk over each other) try to rebut. Oh, for that you get 30 seconds. I've watched several of these and feel like I know less when they are done than when I started. As soon as it is over some television talking head starts declaring winners and losers. I know who the losers are. It is everyone watching who is trying to find someone, anyone on that stage who is remotely qualified to be our next president. I'm addressing the candidates from both parties when I say that. 

It is not easy to look at where we are and plot a course ahead. The choices above are aimed at our prejudices and laziness. It doesn't have to be a choice between veterans and refugees. Between housing our homeless and foreign aid. Between meaningful negotiation with our enemies and bombing. Those answers aren't found in posts like the ones above taken from my Facebook feed today and debates where answers are limited to a minute. Go back to the history of Galesburg, Illinois. It was a cold windy day in October 1858 at Old Main when Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln debated. The man who spoke first had 60 minutes to make his point. His opponent had 90 minutes to respond. The first speaker then had 30 minutes to rebut. Isn't that the kind of discussion we need to ave about tax policy, income inequality, terrorism, war, trade policy...? Our ancestors worked longer hours mainly at hand labor n those days. They made the time to stand in the cold and wind to make an informed decision on the issues of their day. We can't or won't sit for a couple of hours in our heated and air conditioned homes to become informed on our issues. The downfall of our country will not be brought about by outside forces. It will happen because of our laziness and lack of interest. 

Thoughts on a Monday

Nothing New

There was a terrorist attack in France on Friday. Over 100 killed and over 300 wounded. ISIS or ISIL or IS has claimed responsibility. It would be easier if they could decide on a name. I will go with terrorist assholes. Here are a few things that bother me. 

One of the responses from my fellow Americans is a call for additional military action in Syria and Iraq. After all the several trillion dollars we have spent so far have yielded such outstanding results. One of the calls for more bombing complained we were being too restrictive in an attempt to avoid civilian casualties. We should just drop more bombs and not worry about collateral damage. I'm a reasonable human being. I try to see things from the viewpoint of the other person. If I'm in Syria and trying to survive as a noncombatant and you start dropping bombs indescriminantly resulting in the death of some of my family. I would be very easy to convince to join the fight. Our group has no air force and no way to inflict that kind of pain on you in the same way. Would I go to your country and kill civilians? You are killing innocents in my homeland. Why wouldn't or shouldn't I in yours? I think the idea of just bombing away makes the problem worse. 

The typical response when someone with a gun kills a bunch of people is more guns. If only France allowed concealed carry. If someone in one of the locations, or several people in each location had guns the outcome might have been different. More guns has been so effective in our country. Let's export our gun culture on stand your ground laws. Europe really needs to give that a try. I'm pretty sure in the last week or so we have had more people shot to death than died in France on Friday. They died in terror just not a terrorist attack. So we accept it as the price of safety. 

Send thousands of troops to fight in the Middle East again. It has been ineffective as a strategy so far. It seems far fetched that it would work better this time. More dead and wounded troops. I have to agree with those who say that if you are unwilling to provide care and support for the families of the killed and wounded then you should not send them to fight. We are so quick to request their sacrifice and so slow to honor them for it. It also seems to me we are not fighting a ground war as much as we are battling an idea or a belief system. Beliefs and ideas are rarely changed by bullets and bombs. 

So if you came here looking for solutions you are going to leave disappointed. I have none. I just know that what we have done so far has only managed to make the problem worse. The answer of too many is that we need more of what we have already tried. More guns, more bombs, more death. If that is the path we choose the result, I fear, will be more of what we saw in France on Friday. 

Remodeling progresses

Yesterday I drove back up to Camden, South Carolina to help with flooring and setting cabinets. It was a long day. I left Tybee Island at 7:00 a.m. and got back at 10:15 p.m.  Here is how things progressed during the day.

We started by placing those two by fours on the wall as a guide to level the cabinets. The corner cabinet went in first. The short cabinet is over the stove and will have the microwave over hung below it.

This is Abby. She was our supervisor for the day. It is important to have your work approved. 

This is looking the other direction.

More cabinets up and Carol's mom is cleaning up after us. We aren't much on cleaning but great at creating dust and scraps. 

Refrigerator back in place after cabinets are set.

Stove check to make sure everything fits. 

Sink base cabinet installed and other cabinets placed along with dishwasher to be sure layout is right. The other base cabinets will need to be screwed together, dishwasher plumbed and powered, countertop, sink, and faucets installed and trim work done. Rob should be able to handle all that alone but if another trip is needed I will head north to South Carolina. Saying that always amuses me. North to South Carolina. Not something I ever thought I would say often. 

Leathernecks!

The article and pictures below were posted by the Western Illinois University Alumni Association. Being a proud Western graduate it seems appropriate on this 240th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps that I recognize the contributions to Western made by Ray "Rock" Hanson. 

 

For this month's Tuesday Tour and in honor of Military Appreciation Week here at #WIU, we are showcasing the Ray "Rock" Hanson display case located at Western Hall. Hanson's military career started in 1916 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was assigned to the 96th Company, 1st Replacement Battalion, Sixth Regiment; a unit that would forever be a legend though Marine Corps history. Hanson was awarded the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Belleau Wood where he saved the life of a fellow Marine who had been seriously wounded. Hanson went on to receive a Silver Star citation for bravery, a French Croix de Guerre, the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, and a Purple Heart. Following the end of the war, Hanson attended Springfield College in Massachusetts where he befriended world-renowned Notre Dame Football coach Knute Rockne. Ray began studying under the legend and enrolled in his football fundamentals class. It was actually Rockne who helped Hanson secure his coaching position at Western in 1926. Hanson, who coached football, baseball, and basketball, served as director of the physical education department and is distinguished as the longest-serving athletic director at Western. What really set Hanson apart was his coaching theory. He said that victory was secondary to character development; he wanted to build men. "A player should demonstrate leadership, fearlessness, self-confidence, enthusiasm, and 'ginger'." Hanson said. He added that in any athletic contest "the battle is not always to the strong, but to the active, the vigilant, and brave." In 1941, Hanson returned to the Marines to serve his country in WWII. A little over 4 years later, the war came to an end and Ray returned to his home at WIU. By this time, Hanson had a record as one of the finest coaches in the nation and had greatly influenced Western. It was upon his return he was asked to serve as athletic director and physical education chairman. In 1950, the new Western football field was named after him and it was this that Rock considered his greatest honor. He retired from the Marines in 1955 and was appointed as colonel. In January of 1982, Col. Hanson passed but his legacy he left at Western and on sports history will live on forever. It was through The Rock’s determination that WIU was awarded permission by Congress in 1927 to use the Marines' official seal, the eagle, the globe and anchor emblem and the name "Leathernecks.” To this day, Western is the only state-funded school in the nation to enjoy this privilege. 

September 1963

The dates September 24 to 26, 1963. The place Morton, Illinois. More specifically the farm of Jim and Willa Sue Yordy. It was the site of the 11th annual Farm Progress Show. Why do I blog about this? I have been work on scanning pictures and slides from my parents and grandparents. Since my family farms and has in west central Illinois for almost 150 years, it makes sense someone would attend the Farm Progress Show when it was close. The pictures taken were slides which leads me to believe the attendee was my grandfather John J. Sutor. I was 9 years old at the time and the show was during the school week. So... I know I did not attend. Here are his pictures in this view into our agricultural past.

 The picture below is my favorite of the group. The green and white tractors shown are made by Oliver. It was the brand of tractor used on the farm when I was a boy. One of the tractors a model 1950 diesel is still in use. The 1950 we use was produced in 1964 or 65. It was only in production from 1964 to 1967. It has a four cylinder General Motors diesel engine which produces 105 PTO horsepower and has been tested at 98 horsepower at the drawbar. Those are not huge numbers for tractors now but back in the mid 1960's that was a big tractor.

More remodeling work

Pictures tell the story. 

Drywall is up and seams are being mudded. 

Cabinets look like this before finish is applied.

This is how they look with finish.

Thursday I go back to help hang the cabinets and nail down the flooring. 

The Work Progresses

Yesterday saw lots of remodeling progress. The flooring is all up and hauled away. The plumbing and electrical work is complete. So, we were on to drywall installation. We are over half done with that and Rob has started to mud the seams. 

Remodeling

Carol and I are spending a few days (along with Lily) in Camden, South Carolina helping her sister Dee and brother in law Rob remodel their kitchen. As you may recall South Carolina got lots of rain last month. While their house didn't flood they did have damage in their kitchen due to leaks in their roof. Rob got started before we got there last night. This is how the kitchen looked this morning. 

As you can see from the pictures it is stripped down to the studs. The first project today was removal of the ceramic tile floor and backer board. Rob had also started on that. Her is how it looked. 

The picture just shows half the floor so he was about 25% done. Here is a closeup of the tool we used. 

It is an electric jackhammer. Lily wanted to watch until it hit the floor. She ran out of the room and did not come back. I have put down ceramic tile in the past. The only thing worse than putting it down is taking it back up. We got all the tile up today, the roof leaks fixed, all the trash hauled away and some electrical work installed. Lots left to do. Tomorrow we start on drywall and sealing cabinets before they are installed.