Leave The Drunks Laying In The Street

Leave the drunks laying in the street.

That's what I say after reading the latest story about people with legitimate injuries having to wait 8 hours in the emergency room for treatment or transfer to another facility because the ambulances were too busy bringing in drunks who were injured or passed out during the State Patty's Day drunkfest. The people who pass out should be left laying wherever they end up, in their own vomit even. Those who are injured should be made to wait 8 hours or go elsewhere for treatment so they can sober up and think about it. I have no sympathy whatsoever for these people. They deserve what they get.

I wonder how any of these drunks would feel if someone had died waiting for the ambulance that was instead tied up taking them to the hospital because they were behaving senselessly.

And to the person who said “It wasn’t the students’ fault. It’s just what we do.” you can just take your money and go somewhere else. We don't want you or your money in our town. If that's what the future leaders of our country do, then this country is in worse shape than I thought.

So Sayeth The Shack

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The Nest Gets Emptier

I don't usually say much about my personal or family life on this site, but I'll make an exception.

We now have one less person in our household as our oldest, our daughter, moved out last week. I guess it would have technically happened several months ago had she chosen to go to college, but she did not, even though she had applied and been accepted. And that's OK with me. College isn't for everyone...I barely made it through myself. And it costs so much sometimes I wonder if it is even worth it. She has been working full-time since before high-school graduation last year and has been wanting to move out (especially since I started charging her rent beginning this year). So she moved in with some friends across town. We'll see how things go. Rents are high around here and working full time at a pizza place barely pays enough for that and a few other necessities. She knows she can come back if she needs to. Meanwhile, what to do with her room. We have a few ideas, but I don't want to do anything too drastic until we see how permanent this arrangement ends up being.

So Sayeth The Shack

Not An "Accident"

"Crash death ruled accidental" was the headine to a story concerning the death of a 4-year old boy as the result of a car crash. This tragedy could have easily been prevented and so was no more an "accident" than those that are caused by drunk drivers. In this case, according to newspaper reports, the driver of the car, the boy's mother, attempted to pass another vehicle IN A NO PASSING ZONE ON A SNOW-COVERED ROAD! She slid off the road and hit a tree head-on. There is a double dose of stupidity here. First of all, no-passing zones are there for a reason. Due to sight distance, curves or potential oncoming traffic entering the road from an intersection, it has been deemed unsafe to pass in the area. Second, on a snow-covered and slippery road? Just take it easy and slow down. Sure there are some people who drive too slow in those conditions, but it is safer to just back off and stay behind them than to try to pass, especially in a no-passing area.

So Sayeth The Shack

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The Octuplet Scam

So this woman that had the octuplets, along with all her other kids, apparently is just trying to make some kind of celebrity of herself. She has a publicist and a website. (Wonder who is paying for those). She even has the audacity to be using the website to ask for donations! And supposedly she has received death threats. While the death threats, if they have indeed occurred (note my skepticism) cannot be condoned, I have to say that anyone who actually donates money to this woman via her website is an idiot. This is all just a big scam to get money and noteriety. The next thing we know she'll be showing up on "The View" and whatever other talk show she can weasel her way on to.

So Sayeth The Shack

I Hate (Love) My Job

Ever hate something and love it at the same time? That is how I feel about my job right now.

Regular readers know what I do and where I do it so I won't get into that. Besides it could be most any job.

I was never too keen on the "new system" my company went to a couple of years or so ago, but recently it has gotten worse. In early December, a couple of positions were cut from the shift I work on and the work was "redistributed". And I'll tell you right where it all went: to me! So now I am doing not only what I used to do but also what two other people used to do. And I only have the same amount of time to do it that I had before. This is an enormous amount of work to be responsible for and I m also expected to get everything right. Some days it doesn't bother me too much, but other days it does, and this is one day when it bothered me a lot. So I just had to write it down, shout it from the highest hill: I hate my f-ing job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I have to say that at the same time, I love my job....sort of anyway. In a time when it seems tens of thousands more people are losing their jobs every day, I have to say that I am at least somewhat happy to still be employed. Because if I weren't, I'd have nowhere to live and nothing to eat. It's just that on some days, like today, I'd rather be a trash collector.

So Sayeth The Shack

The Obama Abortion Irony

Our new president is a supporter of abortion rights. The conservative Catholic group, Catholicvote.org, had a new ad to coincide with his inauguration yesterday. The gist of the ad was as follows.....

"This child's future is a broken home
he will be abandoned by his father
his single mother will struggle to raise him
despite the hardships he will endure
this child
will become
The 1st African American President
Life
Imagine the Potential"

What are the odds that our now-president might have become just another abortion statistic?

While I agree that abortion should be up to an individual, the individual should not just automatically decide to abort a fetus just because it looks like it might be a tough road ahead. People actually can overcome and rise above bad situations.

So Sayeth The Shack

What's The Harm In Mentioning "God"?

Many years ago, the atheists were successsul in getting prayer removed from our public schools. More recently, some have attempted to get the words "so help me God" removed from the presidential oath of office. In the meantime, what about the "in God we trust" that is emblazened on our currency and the fact that when you testify in court you swear an oath on a bible ending with the words "so help me God". (There are exceptions for non-believers in most cases). There are still many religious references in public everyday life.


For those who believe in God, which is still the majority of people in this country, this is not a problem. Since this country is supposed to be a Democracy, that means majority rules, right? So those who do not believe should "take a back seat". Just like those who did not vote for the new president-elect should "get over it" and "get on with their lives"

Besides, even if you do not believe in God, is the mention of His name going to kill you? Surely, I think not. Does it offend you? If so, you need some thicker skin. So I really don't see the problem with phrases such as "so help me God" or "in God we trust", at least when spoken by someone else. To the atheist, it is just an empty, meaningless phrase. And in most cases, exemptions have been made for non-believers when testifying in court that they do not need to speak these words. So it should ultimately be up to the person taking the oath whether or no to make a reference to God. If the incoming president chooses not to speak these words, he should not have to. But if he did choose not so, that would cause quite a stir, don't you think?


So Sayeth The Shack

Happy New Year 2009

My longtime readers know that I am usually somewhat of a scrooge when it come to New Year's.

But this year I will start things off on a slightly different note.

Happy New Year from The Shack. May 2009 be better that or at least as good as 2008 for you and your families. May you face and overcome new challenges with faith and strengh. May you strengthen old relationships and start new ones. May a small piece of the world be better because of you. And may you find yourself a better person in some way 365 days from now. Have a good year!


So Sayeth The Shack

Digital TV

Unless you live in a cave in Aghanistan, and probably even if you do, you have heard about the government mandated switch to digital TV coming up in the near future.

Our local TV stations have been running incessant announcements as well as scroll bars during the shows about it. I really wish they would stop. There cannot possibly be anyone left who watches more than 5 minutes per month of TV who was not heard about it. Plus, as I understand it, it is only going to affect people who do not have cable or satellite. What's that, maybe 1 percent of the population?

Moreover, I hate the way government has mandated this change....again in usual way, forcing people to spend money to come into compliance with some law. If digital TV was so great, don't you think the people and the TV stations would eventually make that switch anyway?

As for myself, I have an old-fashioned (not digital, not high-def, not flat screen) TV that I bought about 10 years ago. Since it is connected to cable, it will supposedly keep right on working. But there is a small part of me that wishes it wouldn't. There is so little stuff on there that is really worth watching and of course I can definitely do without the advertising.


So Sayeth The Shack

We're All Going To Pay Dearly

Wow! Isn't this recession great?!

Gas prices are way down. Other prices are coming down. There are plenty of bargains out there.

As long as you still have a job.

BUT WAIT!!!!

Have you heard about the tax and fee increases?

Due to loss of revenue from real estate values and other investments, most municipalities are increasing taxes and fees. Five percent seems to be the going rate where I live. A 5 percent real estate tax increase. A 5 percent sewer rate increase. And increases across the board on virtually all services...like trash collection, etc. Soon they'll be charging us by the street foot frontage to plow the snow. Renters, many of whom are on fixed incomes, will get slammed as landlords pass on all the increases.

What lies ahead? No one knows. Certainly not the "experts" who just months ago were predicting $10/gallon gas in the near future. Where is all the money going to come from for these "bailouts"? Oh yeah...I know...HIGHER TAXES FOR US!! So my grim prediction: more of us will lose our jobs, prices can only go so low, but taxes and fees will continue to go up, to the point where many of us will not be able to pay them.

A side note: What I can't believe is the NFL is losing money and cutting jobs. Yeah right. With the price they charge for tickets plus all the advertising revenue? I see those stadiums filled every week on TV. That's a crock o' crap that they're losing money.


So Sayeth The Shack

Even Atheism Is A Religion

After reading the news about the sign an atheist group put up next to a nativity scene In Olympia, WA, I was curious and had to check out the group's website. The sign that had been put up dismisses belief in gods or devils, heaven or hell, and claims that there is only the world we currently live in. It claims that religion only "hardens hearts and enslaves minds". Looking around, it would seem that a lot of awful things have been done in the name of religion both in recent times and throughout history. But is God really the author of such hideous acts? I really don't think so. All of these acts have been committed by people. They might cowardly blame God (or the devil) for what they do, but no supernatural being can force them or any of us to do anything. We all have our own free will and are responsible for our own actions. As powerful as he might be, God cannot force us to obey him.

Meanwhile, these atheists have their own "religion", if I may call it that. I define the term religion here as a gathering of people who think or believe alike joining together to share their beliefs as well as attempting to influence others to believe likewise. This is pretty much what all religions do. This group has a website and a radio show. On their website, they invite people to join their "religion" and to make a tax-deductible donation. So they are really doing some of the same things that the other religious groups they criticize are doing.


So Sayeth The Shack

We'll Miss You, Julie!

One of my favorite local columnists has passed away. I very much enjoyed her writing and am saddened by this news. My condolences to her family and friends.

Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008
"PSU editor, former CDT employee Brink dead at 50"

"CDT columnist Julie Ann Brink, who brought a distinctive voice of admiration for country living to the community, died Monday. She was 50."

"(Linked are some of Julie Brink's CDT columns and some of her work at Penn State)
Marking seasons with sweet memories
Julie Brink: Raised in savoring the spoils of saving
Julie Brink: Instructor learns a few lessons of her own from undergrads
Julie Brink: Living on a farm
Julie Brink: PSU still life
Julie Brink: Packard's 'Hidden Persuaders' reminds consumers why they buy
Julie Brink: Book offers solutions on how to cope with nasty co-workers "

"Brink was a lifelong writer, working at the Centre Daily Times as an copy editor and features editor for more than 15 years before leaving in 2000 to work at Penn State.
There she was assistant manager for internal communications, wrote the occasional feature story, and taught journalism on the side.
An chronicler of rural life, Brink lived in Centre County for more than 20 years after growing up in Irvona, Clearfield County, and graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz, who worked with Brink for 20 years, both at the CDT and then at Penn State, said Brink was a stickler for grammar and editorial style, but a friend to everyone she worked beside.
“She’s always been so unassuming and behind the scenes — the copy editor — making other people look good,” she said.
Brink died Monday after being hospitalized with pneumonia.
“Julie and I both loved sunsets,” Mountz said. “Back in 1991 when Mount Pinatubo erupted putting dust in the air, every night in the midst of deadline she and I would get up from our desks and watch the gorgeous sunsets. Everyone else thought we were crazy.”
She was born in Philipsburg, went to Moshannon Valley High School, and is survived by her sister, Christina, of Camp Hill.
CDT senior reporter Chris Rosenblum called Brink a “conscientious and dedicated editor” who “cared deeply about good writing and good journalism.”
Christine Arbutina noted that the Book Beat page that appears in Sunday’s Life section was Brink’s brainchild.
After leaving the CDT, she continued to write columns, and in recent years produced a “Centre Life” column that appeared one Monday of each month.
“Julie’s columns always were reader favorites,” said Bob Heisse, CDT executive editor. “She was a great friend of the paper and she’ll be missed.”
Some of her columns dealt with current affairs, but many were fond recollections of her years growing up in rural Clearfield County, or observations about her life in Houserville. Earlier this year, she received an honorable mention for her work in the columns category of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s Keystone Awards.
“Through her columns, CDT readers got to know a lot about Julie,” Arbutina said. “We learned about her bountiful gardens, her beloved cats, and her penchant for salvaging things old yet still useful well before such recycling became fashionable. Her vivid accounts of growing up in Clearfield County’s coal country were history lessons in 600 words or less.”
After leaving the CDT, Brink went to work for Penn State where she edited three dozen newswires a week, and had lent her talents to others by teaching a feature writing class.
“She was a wonderful teacher,” said Ford Risley, head of the department of journalism. “She really cared about the craft of writing and wanted to pass that along to students.”
CDT senior reporter Chris Rosenblum and other staff members contributed to this report. Sara Ganim can be reached at 231-4616. "

So Sayeth The Shack

Stupidity Abounds

A couple of recent newpaper articles have me wondering just how stupid people can get. For all of you intelligence-challenged out there, here are two pieces of advice:

1: If you are an escaped prisoner, don't call 911 for anything!

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/994986.html

"A man listed as an escapee from Luzerne County for more than two years was arrested Wednesday morning after he called 911 to report a domestic argument he was having with his girlfriend in a Toftrees hotel room, police reported. Patton Township police responded, and a routine check at the scene revealed that in September 2006, Dixon failed to return to Luzerne County Prison from a work release program, police said in a news release. He was taken into custody without incident and placed in Centre County jail to await extradition to Luzerne County."


2: Dont drive drunk even one time in an evening, let alone two!

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/989473.html

"State College police arrested a woman twice Saturday morning on drunken driving charges. The woman was first stopped by police about 1:20 a.m. on South Atherton Street. She parked her car in a lot on the 1200 block while police booked her on DUI charges. Police say the woman then got a ride back to her car and tried to drive it home about 4 a.m. Police got her before she could leave the parking lot. The woman was arrested again, and now faces two sets of charges related to driving drunk."


So Sayeth The Shack

You Know......

You know that Penn State is a party school....when the mascot gets charged with DUI!!!

So Sayeth The Shack

Wonder How Much He Paid

According to the news reports, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno underwent hip replacement surgery yesterday and all was successful. That's great.

But I'm just wondering how much he had to pay for it, out of pocket. I'm willing to bet he didn't have to pay one red cent. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that any college or pro football player who has to be treated for injuries don't have to pay any of their own money for it, even though they can well afford it a lot more so than us regular folks.

I have nothing against Joepa, or any other football player or coach for that matter. I am just saying this because of how I feel about our society's treatment of athletes and celebrities, which you already know from reading some of my other writings. They get all the money and glamour while those of us who do the "real work"of the world struggle to get by. I still owe the hospital a ton of money from last year that I'm paying off bit by bit. And it just irks me that these people have all the money and special treatment just because they play football.

So Sayeth The Shack

The Forgotten Holiday

In October, it's all about Halloween. Costumes, decorations and candy fill the stores. Then, as soon as Halloween is over, BANG! its Christmas! The trees are up, the music is playing, the decorations are out and the toys are on sale.

Now just wait a minute here!! What ever happened to Thanksgiving? It is now totally skipped over in the rush to the retail commercialized frenzy that originated with the birth of Jesus.

Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. I love the music, the decorations, the gathering of families and the giving of presents. But everything in its own time, and let us not overlook Thanksgiving, which is an important holiday in and of itself.

Of course, Thanksgiving, like many other holidays, is all about food. But beyond that, it is about giving thanks. After all, that is the name of the holiday. In this day and age it is easy to skip over the act of giving thanks, or thinking of the things that we have to be thankful for. Most of us are more prone to complaining about what we don't have than being thankful for what we do. I blame the media for this, especially TV and the advertising that goes with it. Advertising makes us dissatisfied with what we have and who we are and leaves us yearning for the products that will make our lives so much better, whether we really need them or not. It doesn't take much TV-watching (aside from the news) to make you realize that your life sucks; that everybody else has more money, a nicer house, a nicer car, is better looking, and is getting way more sex than you are. On the other hand, watching the news can really bring you back to earth. My wife hates watching the news because it depresses her. I, on the other hand, see the problems of so many other people and I realize how good I have it. I might not have tons of money, a big house, a nice new car, the latest cell phone, etc. But I'm healthy, I have a decent job, a loving wife, two teenage kids that have done great in school and aren't into drugs or in jail....and I can come up with lots of other things. My life might be pretty mundane overall but there is plenty to be thankful for. And while each one of us is in a different situation, we all have something to be thankful for.


So Sayeth The Shack

Bailout For The Common Folk

That word "bailout" has been tossed around a lot lately, but always in regard to the "big boys"; big banks, big corporations, maybe the big automakers. The hope is that sending these folks tons of money will help us get out of this financial mess.

But will it help you or me? Maybe. Maybe not.

So here is my idea: bail out the common people instead. I don't mean a token thousand bucks or so like the government sent out earlier this year to "stimulate" the economy. Obviously that didn't work. Why not? Because instead of spending the money on new items, a lot of people, like myself, used the money to pay down debt. So what will work? Bail us out of our personal debt. Maybe not out mortgages but all other debt. I know that some people are are in debt through their own stupidity and foolishness, but many have had to borrow...use credit cards...whatever...for emergency home or auto repairs, medical expenses, etc. Having this debt erased would free up huge amounts of cash that could stimulate the economy from the bottom up which will likely work better than trying to stimulate it from the top down.

So Sayeth The Shack

Wow! What An Election

Whether or not the person I voted for won, this was the most amazing election I have ever seen. Never before have I waited in line to vote. Yesterday it was a good hour wait. It was great to finally see so many people that care about the future getting out and having their say. I always vote at about the same time of the day. Usually I am voter number 100 or less. Yesterday I was voter number 780!! Wow!!! It would be nice to see this kind of turnout at every election.

So Sayeth The Shack

What A Choice!

So tomorrow is election day and I am sitting here still wondering who to vote for.

Do I vote for an exuberent yet inexperienced young man who seems to have some great ideas, but who supposedly lacks knowledge of and respect for the constitution?(This according to Heather Higgins and others). He wants to "redistribute" wealth in a more fair and equitable fashion by the use to taxes and such things. This would be beneficial to me at the present time but at the same time I'm not sure it is fair to punish wealthier people because they have more money. His own lack of experience is supplemented by the experience of his running mate however.

Or do I vote for a much older man of much greater experience including military service but with a running mate with even less experience than the other candidate? A man in somehat questionable health and with a notorious temper. A man who allegedly failed his comrades-in-arms during a previous war. (Again, who do you trust for this information?) A man who did more than his share of negative campaigning...taking some of his opponent's words and phrases out of context and twisting them into something else (not that his opponent didn't do the same thing).

So many tough decisions. I think when I get into the voting booth tomorrow I'll just play eeny-meeny-miny-mo.

So Sayeth The Shack

Shack-O-Ween

Halloween at the Shack's Shack



Shack as a blind referee . (He can't see very well anyway so it wasn't a tough part to play.)










Shack-Wife as a crazed murderous school lunch lady. (And she plays the part quite well in real life.)







Went to a party and had a great time.

So Sayeth the Shack