Gonna take a moment here to vent. So I'm working with this young guy and he somehow starts telling me about how the Gov of Kansas is in hot water for spending $50,000 or so on a new piano for a well-to-do school and only spending $10,000 on an inner city school piano. I remarked how that does seem lopsided. He then proceeded to inform me how things work. Rich suburban schools get more money because they have higher property taxes. So they are better. Inner city schools get less money because their property taxes are lower which is why they are not as good. He follows this string of enlightenment with "and who wants to waste money on inner city schools?" He kept on talking trying to validate his point but I couldn't get past his "waste money.." statement. I then began forming a retort in my head citing a number of historical figures that have come from what he seems to think of as lower society. Then it hit me. It would be a lost effort.
My family is neither rich nor poor. My kids have and do go to a Title 1 School due to where we live. When a former art teacher at my kids school remarked that none of the kids would ever win a talent contest because of where they came from. I was pissed then too. I have little to no patience for people that feel their class makes them better than others. Take that away and you truly have nothing. To bad money can't buy character.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Nice night for a run.
I told my wife I was going to finish a run and she said run to the craft store and get some yarn. I said OK and grabbed my huaraches and camelbak while she was gathering the scraps I would need to pick the correct skeins. Wife followed me out commented on how nice the night was and asked me if I had shoes. As I turned around and showed her the sandals strapped to my camelbak the question struck me funny. I've been running barefoot for coming up on two years now and that question seems less outta place now then when I first started.
I took off and I must say the evening was very nice. The roads and sidewalk were not hot and traffic wasn't bad at all. Typically when I run in the direction I was going today I run along the south side of East/West road which usually has a lot of debris. Today I ran on the North side and I must say it was quite a difference. I run barefoot on roads and trails and when you hit a section of debris covered roads or sidewalks it is more painful then when running on dirt so a clear running path is a blessing on pavement.
The trip into the store proved quick and easy, only one guy asked if the pavement was hot today on the way in. The route back was going just well but I managed to get a thorn in my foot. I went for a little bit and tried the little tricks to brush it off without success. The stubborn little thing was a 16 penny nail masquerading as a flower thorn. Not just any kind of thorn but no sliding through grass won't get it so stop and put down what you're holding. Sit down so I can get this thing out. Crap I hope it doesn't break cause I don't have tweezers thorn. A thorn. From running the streets. Crazy. I've seen more broken glass on the last two trail runs then in the last four weeks running the streets. No surgery was needed, shoot didn't even a band aide.
Thorn removed the rest of the run home was uneventful although it took a bit to get the momentum back. Starting up hill will do that so I don't feel bad about that part. All said and told it was a nice five mile run to the store and back in just under an hour total.
I took off and I must say the evening was very nice. The roads and sidewalk were not hot and traffic wasn't bad at all. Typically when I run in the direction I was going today I run along the south side of East/West road which usually has a lot of debris. Today I ran on the North side and I must say it was quite a difference. I run barefoot on roads and trails and when you hit a section of debris covered roads or sidewalks it is more painful then when running on dirt so a clear running path is a blessing on pavement.
The trip into the store proved quick and easy, only one guy asked if the pavement was hot today on the way in. The route back was going just well but I managed to get a thorn in my foot. I went for a little bit and tried the little tricks to brush it off without success. The stubborn little thing was a 16 penny nail masquerading as a flower thorn. Not just any kind of thorn but no sliding through grass won't get it so stop and put down what you're holding. Sit down so I can get this thing out. Crap I hope it doesn't break cause I don't have tweezers thorn. A thorn. From running the streets. Crazy. I've seen more broken glass on the last two trail runs then in the last four weeks running the streets. No surgery was needed, shoot didn't even a band aide.
Thorn removed the rest of the run home was uneventful although it took a bit to get the momentum back. Starting up hill will do that so I don't feel bad about that part. All said and told it was a nice five mile run to the store and back in just under an hour total.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Get in Step
Ever feel like you are just "marking time" until EndEx is called? That is kinda where I'm at right now. No forward progress, just stepping in place. Marking time.
For the non military marking time is a command used in drill movements. There is no movement in any direction yet you are still stepping to a cadence. I don't know that it serves any real purpose in drill except to get all personnel in step. When NCOs go to their prospective schools to learn how to be better NCOs commanding a unit in drill is always part of the training program. Cards with various drill movements are given for final evaluations and the NCO must demonstrate his/her ability to maneuver the unit through the drill movements. Mark time is all most always one of the commands. Just about the only reason I can think of for this is getting the command of execution for the next movement called on the correct foot. If its done wrong the rhythm is thrown off and it can be very plain to see the error. Calling the next command of execution all boils down to timing really.
EndEx is a slang term that signifies end of an exercise/tour of duty. Infantry usually love to hear the EndEx call because it means going home. Taking a break for at least a little while from the stress and strain to rest and recuperate. I think there were only a few times I didn't like it and those were when the mission wasn't completed. That is almost never a good time to hear because it means something went wrong. I remember one night we were only half way through an exercise when the call came. We were all bewildered because it was a recall to base for a role call. Standing there in the middle of the night wonder what the hell was going on seemed to fuel a nervous energy. It was only after we got there did we find out one of our helos crashed and we needed to confirm those that were aboard and those not. So, not all EndExs are good. I also heard it referred to a service member's death. EndEx soldier/marine/airman/seaman. Your time is done. Thank you for your service.
Perhaps my candence is off. I don't know. I just know I'm not ready for EndEx yet but can't seem to get back in step.
For the non military marking time is a command used in drill movements. There is no movement in any direction yet you are still stepping to a cadence. I don't know that it serves any real purpose in drill except to get all personnel in step. When NCOs go to their prospective schools to learn how to be better NCOs commanding a unit in drill is always part of the training program. Cards with various drill movements are given for final evaluations and the NCO must demonstrate his/her ability to maneuver the unit through the drill movements. Mark time is all most always one of the commands. Just about the only reason I can think of for this is getting the command of execution for the next movement called on the correct foot. If its done wrong the rhythm is thrown off and it can be very plain to see the error. Calling the next command of execution all boils down to timing really.
EndEx is a slang term that signifies end of an exercise/tour of duty. Infantry usually love to hear the EndEx call because it means going home. Taking a break for at least a little while from the stress and strain to rest and recuperate. I think there were only a few times I didn't like it and those were when the mission wasn't completed. That is almost never a good time to hear because it means something went wrong. I remember one night we were only half way through an exercise when the call came. We were all bewildered because it was a recall to base for a role call. Standing there in the middle of the night wonder what the hell was going on seemed to fuel a nervous energy. It was only after we got there did we find out one of our helos crashed and we needed to confirm those that were aboard and those not. So, not all EndExs are good. I also heard it referred to a service member's death. EndEx soldier/marine/airman/seaman. Your time is done. Thank you for your service.
Perhaps my candence is off. I don't know. I just know I'm not ready for EndEx yet but can't seem to get back in step.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)