Coping: With Reader’s Writes

Our discussion last week of how Ivy Leagur schools set up college sports in the 1800′s as a way of enticing more people to enroll in college brought some pretty interesting emails. Like this one:

“First about schools and sports. Our little town (compared to almost any real city) is in the planning stages of having a Science and Math Academy (it will still be part of the public school system). After the first question, how much will it cost, guess what the second question was: will it have a football team?

You see, you really have to live here, where they maintain a AAAAAA size high school so they can play with the big boys. That means they have about 1200 highschool (grades 9-12) to pick from. They built a multimillion dollar stadium for football; the baseball field can seat perhaps 60 ‘interested’ or dragged along people, the band, you would think with that size of a student body would have a hundred plus in the marching band – nope – you are lucky if there are 50. About 4 years ago, the superintendent of schools and the highschool principal said, football would be the last thing to do, after art, music, and any other sport such as soccer, baseball or even basketball. So much for education and sports, especially football.

OOn another note – the visual migraines. I have them every once in a while – could be a precursor to a stroke – the eyedoctor says. anyway, mine are brilliant colors, like oil on water and they are wavy, running up and down or across. El Doctore says there is nothing that can be done – just don’t drive when they are really bad – the obscure the vision.

See James Michener’s defining book, Sports in America, $27 for more interesting stuff about sports in the US…

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Then we got some feedback on the reported movement of troops from NY to Minnesota which a reader reported as out of place/unusual:

George, noted this in today’s missive: “Been a while since I wrote you but I have a odd bit of news to pass on. One of my coworkers is in the National Guard. She is a cook and just got back a couple weeks ago from her 2 week stint. We were talking yesterday about when she would be heading out again. Her unit will be heading out in a few weeks for a non stop convoy to somewhere in MN. It seems that the PTB want to know just how long it would take disaster supplies to reach that area from where I live in upstate NY. Just thought that I would pass it on.”

Umm, George, the AG of each state has dedicated transportation staff officers that can plan the “just how long” down to the gnat’s @$$. I used to do this sort of thing as the UMO for my brigade, way back in 1989. Don’t need to send a bunch of cooks anywhere to answer PTB questions.

Now then, the Guard bubbas traditionally convoy all over the US during the summer in order to get to, and get home from training camp–they do it so the Soldiers and their officers actually know how to conduct a convoy, and practice that skill set as it is perishable. Hopping off a plane in the ‘stan is not where you want to learn how to conduct your first convoy op.

Regards from Fort Hood.

Thanks! By the way, I think it’s illegal in most states to pull inbetween units of a convoy when you’re passing, at least it was back in the age of Steam when I took my driving test. Something to remember if you’re driving the Rockies or Cascades, especially up around Mt. Rainer this time of year when seems like everyone is either going to the Yakima Firing Range, or coming back from there.

Around the Ranch: Summer Heats Up

Summer has definitely arrived in the East Texas Outback, and life has taken a definite turn for the Mexican. Which means, we are getting up super early to do stuff nowadays, since working outside much after noon is seriously hot when it’s 97 for a high and tack on another couple of degrees for humidity.

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Panama’s new boat arrive late last week. Bought himself one of those Panama’s new boat arrive late last week. Bought himself one of those Panama’s new boat arrive late last week. Bought himself one of those one-man

Sea Eagle 285fpb Inflatable Pontoon Boat PRO Package deals off Amazon. Married it up with a Minkota electric motor.

Once we get back from our trip, we may never see him again, though it does make catching the boat’s weight in fish achievable (42 pounds is all, not counting motor, battery, fish-finder, and sandwiches.)

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Since we are in the throes of trip planning (estimated departure is in about 3-weeks, I’m trying to figure whether we will take the northern route (flying I-90 across Montana) or the southern (follow I-20) route. Suggestions from people who have flown small planes in the summertime are welcome. I’m inclined toward the northern route, just because I’m not sure how much deoderant we can pack for the southern route, but then again, summer is often wintry and flying visual over the Rockies could mean long weather delays.

On the other hand, lots of business/consulting reasons to go the southern route, but that’ll mean three days of manic (fly-like-hell) days to scamper up to the Oregon border flying only from daybreak to noon, or so.

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Part 2: The Future of State Controls

Wednesday we discussed the idea of investing in mechanisms of state control, such as non-lethal (admittedly, depending on who you ask) electro-weapon maker Taser International. But the research led to even larger questions such as “Is there really a way to stop terrorism?” Sure, there are plenty of dollars being thrown at the problem, but ultimately will they work? We take up that thorny one this morning after we cruise some heads and get a little coffee in the veins… More for Subscribers To Subscribe, CLICK HERE

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Safer Computing: Swearing Off Cookies

It has been a while since I roared the praises of the Maxa Cookie Manager which you can download and install for a free test drive by clicking here.

To upgrade from the demo to full working is still less than $30 (During their Spring Sale) and one heck of a bargain at that, if I do say so.

A new version of Maxa is due shortly (V. 6.0) and we’ll advise in due court when it is due for release, upgrade paths, and all that-there kinda like stuff.

“Live on $10,000″ A Year

Having a hard time making ends meet? (Like who isn’t, right?) A good starting point to better match up income with outgo is our $10 e-book “How to Live on $10,000 a Year…or less!”