fairlyhonestbob

I’m not sure why I felt compelled to write this today. I put out my flag like a good patriot, but it just didn’t seem like enough today. I am a Vietnam era veteran myself, but never saw combat and for some strange reason, feel a bit ashamed of that.

I’m posting it anyway…even if only a few will read it…I don’t care. The words were in my mind and just had to come out through my fingers.

Today is Veteran’s Day…only one day! Every Day should be Veteran’s Day…every damned day of every year!

It’s veteran’s Day and all is not well either here in the U.S.A. or most anywhere else in the world. But I must admit, the U.S.A. is the safest and the best place in the world to be and to live. And of course, it is because many of our citizens willingly gave their lives in defense of our freedoms…so we are told.

Personally, I think those lives were lost maybe not defending our freedoms, but keeping others from taking them away. Maybe that’s the same thing to some, but for me it is somehow different.

In WWII, we killed the Japanese because they killed us…mostly in Pearl Harbor and we killed the Germans in Normandy for the same reasons. Thank God I never saw my buddy or my new friend get killed right near me. So I don’t…no let’s make that I can’t have those same feelings and memories that those brave soldiers who did see those things happen have etched in their memories. I can’t possibly imagine how extraordinarily difficult it is for them to not be able to erase those images from their minds.

“Thank you” just seems too little on this day or any other day in time. It seems way too trite…way too automatic…way too mechanical. I hear it said many, many times…“Thank you” with the sayer quickly moving on to the next conversation in their script. I cannot recall anyone saying “thank you” to a veteran while looking that person straight in the eyes and really saying “thank God for your efforts…thank you for not dying…thank you for being able to watch your buddy die while maintaining your own sanity.” And most of all Thank You for helping to defend our way of life from those who would take it away from us.

Hey TV viewers…have you noticed that your being screwed over by DISH TV…and other providers as well. On October 21st, DISH TV stopped carrying CNN, HLN and several other “content” offerings. They say Turner pulled them because the two companies can’t seem to agree on new “terms”. Well boys & girls, better get a move on otherwise this subscriber is gone by November 21st. What is offered now is very little “content” and is mostly infomercials and shopping channels! For this, I pay $100+ bucks a month! I suggest your negotiators use their two-hour martini lunch time to read Robert Ringer’s Winning Through Intimidation…because you only have a few more days until I’m gone!

With the election coming up on Tuesday, those of you without many smarts or who have been living under a rock for the last six years, will want to go right ahead and vote a straight Democrat ticket. “Aha…” you say it doesn’t matter, it’s just the midterms…”who cares.” Well, for those who do have a brain and who do care, we know that Harry Reid, and his band of political dullards have choked off 1,940 of the 1,952 bills introduced in the Senate in the last 12 months. It didn’t seem to matter to the curmudgeon-like big boss of the upper house that most of the proposals were bi-patrician. So, go ahead, vote the Democratic ticket…who cares…you can probably still afford your six-pack!

October 24, 2014: “Don’t let anybody tell you that it’s corporations and businesses that create jobs,” Hillary Clinton said during a Boston rally for Martha Coakley. If any of you economic idiots out there believe this, be sure to vote for this Bee-Otch! And if you think BO was (and is) bad, if elected, she will top anything he ever did!!! Just can’t believe she calls herself and American!

Just to lighten your heavy worry load a bit and for those who might be actually panic-stricken over the predicted Ebola pandemic bearing down on the U.S., I did some quick research…and believe me it was quick…about two minutes worth…Over the last ten years the average number of deaths in the U.S. caused by whatever influenza strain was popular for that year is…wait for it…32,743! And yet there was little or no panic or mass hysteria! In my opinion, the “media” just loves the name “Ebola”…it sounds exotic and foreboding doesn’t it…much more than the “Hong Kong Flu”…get a grip on yourself Anderson Cooper!

Ho boy! First, I am fairly surprised the WSJ printed this on page 4 of today’s newspaper…bet most other media will bury or ignore it completely! The breaking college sports scandal at University of No. Carolina…man this is rich and is barely the tip of the iceberg! Someone said…any college class with the word “study” in it’s title, should be dropped from the offerings…here, here to that!!! Taking bets if BO will have a press conference to comment on this news. Ha…ha…ha…you know where my money’s at! Oh…one more thought…if there are comments from any of the folks on the left…particularly those loud mouths on MSNBC, betcha it will be called a “racist” story and that’s where I’ll make my wager!!!

Couldn’t resist this…according to headlines in the WSJ, BO is moving once again to close Gitmo by overriding a congressional band on bringing detainees into the U.S. This is his latest attempt to rule by “phone and pen”. What kind of idiot is this guy? What will he attempt to do next…give himself a third term? Worst President EVER!!!

Bob…you and your supposed “experts” who are commentating on MLB playoff games are the worst I’ve ever heard. Whenever possible, I “mute” you and go to the local radio commentary. If you and the “Blah…Blah” boys would just to one thing…SHUT UP! A good sports broadcaster knows that you don’t have to fill every second of the telecast…just let the game play…no commentary is needed much of the time. And when you do open your mouths, you say stupid, dumb and inaccurate things which makes you seem even dumber than you are. You are not a baseball announcer…remember that next time you hit the talk button on your microphone…stay silent some of the time and let the audience see and hear the game without your idiotic comments!

This is a warning to drone operators: Don’t fly over my property…at least not in the range of my weapons. I am a pretty good shot and will bring your spying machine down when you violate my privacy. And don’t count on me giving it back to you when you try to retrieve it, I will probably have already shoved it down the garbage disposal!

To ALL MOTOR SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHERS: Please, please know what is going on at the event you are shooting. Know who is in first place…who is in second place and so on. Know who is doing well in the event…know what race it is. Even if some racers are new, not well known or don’t have a fancy appearing car. Try to shoot EVERY CAR. I know it’s difficult, but if you try to do that, you’ll be sought after and praised and the possibility of making some real good money for your work will be much, much greater.

When you tell some racer “I can’t shoot every car”…it is pure bull shit and everyone knows it. Your attempt to side step the fact that you just didn’t do your job, might have worked 40 years ago when there were just 12, 24 or 36 exposures on a “roll” of film. But Mr. Photog, digital photography and video has blunted that excuse and every racer knows it. For some racers, it may be the last time they race for whatever the reasons might be.

If you can’t get an action shot, try to get a shot of that car after the race or in the pits during a lull in the action. And please don’t spend all your time shooting the “prettiest” car there with 20 or 30 shots of what you think is the best looking car at the event. That does not make for good “coverage” of any event. Remember, all those shots of the same car is for just that one person. Two or three good shots will accomplish that task quite well.

Last, when you miss shooting a car at an event and later the racer asks you why, please don’t give them that phony “BS” answer, just apologize and tell them you just plain missed it…their feelings are already hurt, don’t make them feel worse by insulting their intelligence.