Commentary

3/20/2019

Hiyadoin everyone.

Today is officially the first day of the Spring Season, although it doesn’t feel that way because it’s 28 degrees outside.

So let’s get into the commentary for today.  In the Town Square – A Place to be Heard section of today’s Morning Call newspaper on page 16, there’s an article titled, “SBA offers help to small business owned by women.”

Michelle Christian writes:

During Woman’s History Month in March, the U.S. Small Business Administration salutes women entrepreneurs who take risks to pursue their passions and to whom setbacks are just steps to success.

March is Women’s History Month?  Really?  I didn’t know that, and I think something like that is kind of a big deal.  Salute?

Michelle Christian continues:

This month, we honor their spirit and determination, and everyday we help them on their journeys.  All small business owners need a helping hand once in a while, whether it’s advice, funding, or encouragement from someone who has been there before. 

The article was well written and obviously informative, but it brings into question the divide among the people of this country. 

Does the SBA offer help to small businesses owned by Americans?  As we recognize and build up specific groups and sub-cultures that make up the whole, we create division.  Remember, united we stand, divided we fall. 

If you would like to join in on the conversation, you can do so by tapping the comment button below.  Thank you, and have a wonderful first day of Spring.

Dichotomy – A Short Story of Good and Evil

Part 2

Chapter Ten

     Gary used to spend his Saturdays at Forget About It.  The Forget About It was a local town bar, one of those bars you could go to on any night and see about twenty people you went to high school with twenty years ago.  Gary had a little routine going.  He would show up around seven or eight o’clockish and have himself a cold beer.  The bartender would slide him the remote controller down the length of the bar, and Gary would flip through the channels until he found the evening’s main sporting event on the large wall-hung flat screen.

     When he finished his beer, dinner was served with a tall glass of either iced tea or ice water with a splash of lemon.  Gary loved the food at the bar, but he usually stuck with the basic double cheeseburger, crispy curly fries, and maybe an appetizer.  No rush.  The night was young.  After dinner, Gary got it going again with a shot of whiskey followed by another cold beer, and this was about the time when the night could go into one of two directions.  Either he would leave the bar with some friends if someone had somewhere better to go, or if nothing special came up, he’d just stay and continue drinking.  Maybe he would shoot a few games of pool or something.

     On that particular evening, right around the time when he was finishing his second beer, Maureen came walking in passing by Gary unnoticed and finding a secluded seat in the back corner booth.  Maureen took her coat off and made herself comfortable.  She was in love with Gary, she could sit there and watch him all night giggling to herself at the way he cheered and celebrated for his favorite teams playing on the television.  It was going to be a special evening because Maureen had plans.  Gary was half way done with his beer when the bartender poured him another shot of whiskey.

     “What’s this for,” Gary asked.

     “I don’t know, it’s from that lady in the back,” replied the bartender.

     Gary turned around and scanned the dark bar, but it didn’t take long to notice the gorgeous woman waving to him.  Gary smiled, and there they were .  Two lovers giggling at each other from opposite ends of the bar.  Gary nodded his head in a gesture of appreciation as he lifted his glass and took down the whiskey.

     “Well, it looks like I’m staying local tonight,” Gary said jokingly to the bartender.

     They both laughed, and Gary ordered two more beers before getting up off his bar stool and making his way to the booth.

     “Thank you for the whiskey,” said Gary.

     “You’re welcome,” answered Maureen.

     They hit it off immediately, and it wasn’t long before other patrons were looking in their direction.  With a fun upbeat conversation, their booth was brimming with laughter, they were the main attraction.  Neither were tired, and the good times continued well into the early morning hours.  There were times when they just stared into each other’s eyes, they were the perfect remedy for each other, and Maureen made Gary feel good again.

     Eventually she broke the news about what she did for a living, and slowly she revealed a little more about her responsibilities and how she was helping.  She offered Gary a job, not that evening of course, and the rest was history.  Maureen’s hunch about Gary was correct.  She did love him, her feelings were accurate, and just think, there was always the possibility of brushing Gary off as an assignment.

Dichotomy – A Short Story of Good and Evil

Part 2

Chapter Nine

     The Gods have always had a relationship with humans, and although most of the sleeping population prayed to Baxter, never in their wildest dreams would they imagine him traveling to Earth.

     The sleeping population was far beyond the good men and women working Area 31, but those working in Area 31 of course had the advantage of knowing everything that was going on. Within Area 31 there were several different branches or divisions, and Gary, was now the head of the Celestial Crimes Unit.

     He took Commander Bright’s position, and that means he now gets his instructions and intellect directly from General Randall Reddi.  In addition, General Reddi planned a special briefing to bring Gary up-to-date on previous missions and information that was kept from him.  This obviously includes the story behind the Scale, Baxter, Gary, and everything that went on at his home. The unfortunate truth is that when Gary was initially hired by Bright, he was the unit’s pawn. It wasn’t anything personal towards Gary, he was a rookie, and his innocence was invaluable in major investigations.

     Several years before joining the CCU, Gary was a single man looking for a way to survive in a world coming to life around him.  He needed direction, and frequently he joked about meeting a good strong woman to come home to.  A woman that would be his rock. Gary didn’t know it at the time, but he was being watched or scouted, and despite his feelings of being lost, he was being guided by an unseen hand nudging him towards a career with the CCU.

     That hand belonged to General Reddi, and the good strong woman he joked about meeting belonged to Reddi as well.  I guess it would be unfair to say Maureen was apart of his hiring package since she actually feel in love with Gary before meeting him. Maureen was a Private Special Missions Officer, and she worked for General Reddi. Observing Gary and helping from a distance was her responsibility, until her love for him  caused the General to head back to the planning board.

Swatizka Map?!

My birthday just passed last month, and one of my gifts was a Nintendo.  It’s kind of a joke, since my parents bought me the original console 34 years ago, (WOW!)but it brings back so many memories from my childhood.

The revised mini version of today contains 30 original video game classics already programmed in it so you don’t even have to worry about purchasing the games.

Anyways, one of the games included was Zelda.  I was was so excited, and started playing, but when I got to Level 3, I realized something I didn’t notice as a kid.

The Level 3 map is a Swatzika.  Who knows if it was done accidentally, as a joke,  or as part of some kind of child mind programming conspiracy, but it’s there and it’s definitely a Swatztika.

I’m going to play on, but I just wanted to bring some attention and awareness to the issue.  Are you as shocked as I am?

Hockey In The Valley

In case you live in the Lehigh Valley and you’re a hockey fan falling behind on recent events, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms played at home this evening against the Scranton Penguins.

They play home this Friday, March 15, against the Providence Bruins, and Saturday the 16th as well against the Toronto Marlies.

Home is the PPL Center located at 701 Hamilton Street in Allentown.  Gates open at 6:00 pm both nights.

Are You Not Entertained

The year is 2107.   Economic conditions, and public institutions, although perhaps not totally to blame, are said to have given rise to rebellion.  More specifically, a powerful individual.  He’s a hero amongst the people,but nevertheless, rebellious.

He appears at a time when humanity is lost and without answers.  Humanity has made significant progress, but the current situation is at a stale mate.

The heroic man speaks up on behalf of the public, pointing to the lack of consideration for future planning within the systems they’ve grown to trust.

The crowd rallies behind him.  As the years pass the situation grows more intense.  Humanity is desperately seeking a savior.  They cry out with their arms raised, and they kneel to pray.  Their hero is right there though.

He’s on edge, and without thinking he jumps into action.  He steals himself a horse and rides into a mental holy war.   The screams are loud, there’s shouting, and people run for cover.

They’re evil, that’s what the hero tells himself.  He’s spirited, and he slays slowly, manifesting a destiny for a new world.

When he’s finished, he’s out of breath.  Breathing heavy atop his horse.  He’s sweating and blood drips from his sword.  As his current situation slows down he catches a glimpse of the crowd.

They just stare back, mouths open, and speechless.

Commentary; News Now

3/9/2019

I don’t know if you read the Morning Call, but every now and again I’ll pick it up and thumb through it to see what’s happening locally.

There was an interesting article written by Carl Strikwerda on the News 13 page, Town Square, Your View.

“We must commit ourselves to making our colleges or universities a home for those young people without families,” wrote Strikwerda.

He goes on to say, “These students have great courage.  We in higher education need to be equally courageous in helping the next generation thrive.”

I agree with Carl, and I can relate to his article despite graduating William Paterson University in 2003.  The truth is that if you don’t intern or start  focusing on what you want to do professionally before graduating, then you might find yourself mixed up and lost in the shuffle of real life.

If you attend college right after high school, you’ll probably be 22, 23, or 24 after graduating.  At that age we’re young adults and most are responsible for paying back large sums of loan money.

My parents moved out of state in September 2003, and I graduated in August of the same year so I didn’t have a home to come home to.  I had to move in with a friend.

The title of Carl’s article is How schools can help “half-homeless” students, and this is the situation he was talking about.  Sometimes undergraduate students and definitely graduate students are looking for a little more out of their universities because the reality is they are half-homeless, in the real world, and looking for guidance.

Carl Strikwerda was sounding off a most needed rise from trusted adult professionals who’ve already made that successful transition this younger generation is now going through.

Today is the first round of the Big Ten Conference wrestling tournament.   The tournament will be held a Minnesota University, but Pennsylvania’s eyes will be on a the NIttany Lion squad.  The finals of course, will be tomorrow, Sunday, March 10th.

The 76ers play the Pacers tomorrow at 3:30.  A win will give them 3rd place leverage in a two-way tie with Indiana in the Eastern Conference.

Go Pennsylvania Sports!!!!

Have A Good Day