Is it just me, or do others see a radical increase in the media use of polls, studies, surveys, and research? It seems these impressive and magic "question-me-not" numbers are everywhere, giving credibility to anything and everything! Wild numbers combined with percentages seem to be flying from every direction; just connect your statement to a "poll" or a "survey" and you have proof positive that your statement is factual.
The media is literally satiated with polls, studies and statistics.
Take a look at these impressive studies, which take thousands of dollars and multiple thousands of hours to complete! Profound questions like ... (*Do men between the age of fifty and seventy have less energy than men between the age of twenty and forty? *Do women actually have higher voices than men? *Are accident's with small cars more deadly than accidents with a larger car? *A recent survey of 5000 mothers indicated that 90% of the mothers surveyed thought that children under the age of four were not qualified to drive a car. Surprising statistics!)
Simple 'common sense' answers most of these profound mysteries ... so why the study? Why the research on senseless questions?
Take a quick look at political polls; many of which are created to give a predictable answer! One poll states one thing while another poll confirms the opposite. Could polls actually be manipulated?
Let's jump to medicine. Surveys and studies flourish in medicines. Heart trouble, joint pain, diabetes start an endless list of diseases and afflictions woven together by authentic statistics. Unfortunately these statistics form a constant flux of contradictions. What are we to believe?
It seems "percentages" of some type make any statement or argument more authoritative and authentic.
By the way, who ever checks on these whipped up statistics? We just glibly swallow them; after all they're in the newspapers and on the evening news.
Media, give us a break, cut down on your senseless studies and manipulated polls. Give us credit for having common sense. We're on to you.
(*Like many statistics, pure fiction.)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
CAN'T AFFORD TO DIE
I'm really frustrated, I'm over eighty now, and simply can't afford to die ... it's too expensive!
Some time ago my sister died and I came face to face with the American death business. There's a politically correct way to die and be buried, and of course we all want to die and finish in the correct way. However, rather than a large lavish funeral with all of today's bells and whistles, we wanted to have a small, quiet, inexpensive funeral ... not necessarily a do-it-yourself, backyard thing, but the next step up. That's when I found that an “inexpensive funeral” was an oxymoron.
There is a proper way to die and it must be followed down to the very last dollar. First, of course, there is to be a certificate from the bureaucracy, that assures you, your friends and the State that you are indeed dead, or more politically correct, deceased. The next big step, and major decision ... cremation or burial? Cremation is a more inexpensive option, with some objecting to the heat. Burial, it seems, is the culturally correct way to go.
My sister wanted to be buried and so it was. First to the cemetery to choose a lovely quiet plot, preferably near a shade tree and with a nice view. (The nice funeral director pointed this out to us, especially the view.) He assured us that we got both at a very “reasonable” price. Next, was to choose a lovely, yet functional (and comfortable) casket. And, more importantly, one that would last. This took a lot of thought.
The funeral director was reluctant to let me try out a few of his caskets. (I'm one who likes to try, before I buy; if you know what I mean.) The dollars kept adding up. The big black hearse, and of course the police escort, the room rental, memory book full of names the deceased will never look at, even a cement slab that covers the casket in case of severe rain.
My sister didn't have to do the paperwork or pay the bills, that's the good thing about being the die'ee, you don't have to worry about that silly stuff and ... you get to attended your funeral in absentia.
Yep! I'm over eighty and holding off dying simply because it costs too much! Oh, for an old fashioned backyard funeral and celebration ... two pieces of wood and three nails, now that I can afford.
Some time ago my sister died and I came face to face with the American death business. There's a politically correct way to die and be buried, and of course we all want to die and finish in the correct way. However, rather than a large lavish funeral with all of today's bells and whistles, we wanted to have a small, quiet, inexpensive funeral ... not necessarily a do-it-yourself, backyard thing, but the next step up. That's when I found that an “inexpensive funeral” was an oxymoron.
There is a proper way to die and it must be followed down to the very last dollar. First, of course, there is to be a certificate from the bureaucracy, that assures you, your friends and the State that you are indeed dead, or more politically correct, deceased. The next big step, and major decision ... cremation or burial? Cremation is a more inexpensive option, with some objecting to the heat. Burial, it seems, is the culturally correct way to go.
My sister wanted to be buried and so it was. First to the cemetery to choose a lovely quiet plot, preferably near a shade tree and with a nice view. (The nice funeral director pointed this out to us, especially the view.) He assured us that we got both at a very “reasonable” price. Next, was to choose a lovely, yet functional (and comfortable) casket. And, more importantly, one that would last. This took a lot of thought.
The funeral director was reluctant to let me try out a few of his caskets. (I'm one who likes to try, before I buy; if you know what I mean.) The dollars kept adding up. The big black hearse, and of course the police escort, the room rental, memory book full of names the deceased will never look at, even a cement slab that covers the casket in case of severe rain.
My sister didn't have to do the paperwork or pay the bills, that's the good thing about being the die'ee, you don't have to worry about that silly stuff and ... you get to attended your funeral in absentia.
Yep! I'm over eighty and holding off dying simply because it costs too much! Oh, for an old fashioned backyard funeral and celebration ... two pieces of wood and three nails, now that I can afford.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
JIHAD!
Jihad? I've always believed the Muslims when they said they were at war. Jews, Americans, Christians are just their priorities. The Muslims overall quest, as they readily admit, is winning the world to their religion, their way, their god, the god of fire! They're serious about this god given mandate.
Win, or if necessary, conquer! Blood. JIHAD!
The Muslims are serious. The Muslims are devout. Their strategies are many and varied and certainly effective. They're slow and persistent. All Muslims? Not all, but the vast majority of millions upon millions of Muslims are actively or passively engaged in this quest. It is their hope. It's their divine mandate!
We just can't believe this!
The Muslim's most effective approach is similar to a cancer ... find a weak and unsuspecting host and quietly enter. The key word here is "host." Enter these host nations; live and grow sucking life from the host until you ultimately kill it. The freedom and openness of most civilized nations provide a great environment for this barbaric Muslim cancer to thrive. They know it and they're exploiting it. These barbarians are not dumb barbarians!
(Why didn't we catch this deadly cancer in it's early stages? Ask our leaders, they will be held responsible.)
Mr. Obama; trying to negotiate with Muslims is like trying to negotiate with cancer ... There is only one way to deal with a cancer of this type ... but it simply costs too much.
Win, or if necessary, conquer! Blood. JIHAD!
The Muslims are serious. The Muslims are devout. Their strategies are many and varied and certainly effective. They're slow and persistent. All Muslims? Not all, but the vast majority of millions upon millions of Muslims are actively or passively engaged in this quest. It is their hope. It's their divine mandate!
We just can't believe this!
The Muslim's most effective approach is similar to a cancer ... find a weak and unsuspecting host and quietly enter. The key word here is "host." Enter these host nations; live and grow sucking life from the host until you ultimately kill it. The freedom and openness of most civilized nations provide a great environment for this barbaric Muslim cancer to thrive. They know it and they're exploiting it. These barbarians are not dumb barbarians!
(Why didn't we catch this deadly cancer in it's early stages? Ask our leaders, they will be held responsible.)
Mr. Obama; trying to negotiate with Muslims is like trying to negotiate with cancer ... There is only one way to deal with a cancer of this type ... but it simply costs too much.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
SOLOMAN RENAMES MONOPOLY
As a kid I remember spending hours playing the game of Monopoly with my friends. I don't know which family bought the game, I do know that we were too poor to buy the game. Monopoly, for this poor boy, was fun and addictive. If the dice rolled right and I made the right decisions, I became rich! I remember well the day I was the wealthiest man on the board. I had my fist full of money ... Monopoly money! Then the game ended and reality set in. Instantly the money I had, returned to the worthless paper it always was.
I left the game as poor as I entered.
Monopoly is a lot like the game of life isn't it? Chance and paper in the right combination brings out the greed and makes for the illusion of wealth.
In another sense I wonder if God isn't viewing us from a similar perspective in our pursuit of money and all it can buy. The quest for the good life ... the American dream!
Solomon was honest with us when he called the game "folly."
God calls, our time is up, the games over. We leave just as we entered, with nothing ... and not that much smarter!
Life must be more than a divine roll of the dice.
When man takes God out of the equation, life becomes a meaningless game ... but with terrible consequences.
I left the game as poor as I entered.
Monopoly is a lot like the game of life isn't it? Chance and paper in the right combination brings out the greed and makes for the illusion of wealth.
In another sense I wonder if God isn't viewing us from a similar perspective in our pursuit of money and all it can buy. The quest for the good life ... the American dream!
Solomon was honest with us when he called the game "folly."
God calls, our time is up, the games over. We leave just as we entered, with nothing ... and not that much smarter!
Life must be more than a divine roll of the dice.
When man takes God out of the equation, life becomes a meaningless game ... but with terrible consequences.
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