Random Thoughts for the Week of June 24, 2013

I know it’s been almost a year since I posted my last collection of thoughts.  I’ll admit I did those posts primarily to keep my Omaha friends updated on my life in Ohio.  But it was also a very helpful way for me to vent/verbalize the things that have been on my mind, so I figured I’ll bring them back, maybe not every week, but every now and then just for my own sanity.  I hope you enjoy and post any comments/thoughts.

• Shame on Food Network for dropping Paula Deen.  Here’s the thing, folks.  Racism did not vanish with the 13th Amendment, the Civil Rights Movement, MLK or even Obama’s election.  It’s still prevalent in our nation, particularly in the areas where Deen grew up and works in.  Is that an excuse for uttering racist remarks?  Of course not, but let’s look at a broader canvas here.  The racist remarks that Deen admitted to saying are spoken EVERY DAY by many of the same people that are analyzing and condemning her.  Rappers and comedians are uttering racist epithets in song and verse, continuing to encourage and popularize words and phrases that should have been dumped 50 years ago.  And we all do it ourselves (myself included) … we make a bad joke with some racist slur in it to get the laugh.  Worst case is when we honestly believe the subservient nature of another race/class and they aren’t even jokes anymore.  I’ve said it before … we’re at the “hearts and minds stage” when it comes to racism in the U.S.  We need to teach each other and our kids in our actions and beliefs that these things are wrong.  Yes, Deen should apologize for saying those things, but she shouldn’t be fired.  Instead, her mistakes should be used by Food Network and the media as the positive example of someone recognizing her heart and mind were in the wrong place and needed permanent correction … just like we all need.  If we simply abandon the people who make these mistakes we send a message of surrender rather than the hopeful message of repentance and the living example of potential for positive change.  Deen is one of those celebrity personalities that could be used to send such a message and set that positive example for how we can all change.  Instead, she’ll slowly disappear from the limelight and her career is ruined.  What happens when we discover that Oprah, Ellen, Pat Sajak, Brian Williams or Steve Harvey used such epithets in the past?  Will we ditch them too?
• Do I think Edward Snowden is a traitor?  No.  A bad consultant? Definitely.  A spy?  Doubtful, but he did break his oath to the NSA and revealed what he knows.  No matter what that information was, he has to do the time for it.  He needs to turn himself in and recognize that you don’t get a get out of jail free card for stirring up a debate.  You still face the consequences of your actions.
• That being said, I don’t care that the NSA looks at the logs of who I call.  I don’t care that they have been given that access without my consent.  There are a few reasons why.  First, there is no expectation of privacy when it comes to my phone records.  The police can obtain that without a warrant any time they want (I think).  Besides, they don’t know the content of the conversation only the numbers I’ve called.  Second, I WANT my security forces equipped with the information they need to catch the really bad guys.  If looking at my cable TV records to see what shows I’m watching will help do that, by all means have at it.  Third, and I hate to admit it, there is NO right to privacy in the Constitution.  There are expectations of privacy set by businesses and services, sure.  There are limits to what law enforcement agencies can and can’t do, sure.  But in truth if it comes down to saving the country from an impending threat or caring that the government knows how often I call my parents, I’ll take the security.  Because here’s the real kicker: I’m a law abiding person.  I’m not hiding anything or trying to conduct illegal operations and avoid creating evidence of that activity.  I’m a good person.  I don’t care if the NSA has a record of whom I’ve called.  Have at it.  Just be careful not to go further than that.  That’s a dangerous slope that can lead to government oversight into what I say and do, and there ARE laws that protect that.
• Enjoyed the last season of “Mad Men” and pretty content with the season finale.  I thought the episode everyone was on speed was one of their best, and I cringed every time Bob and Duck showed up on screen.  Some characters just need to vanish (Ted).  Even still, I enjoy a show that doesn’t follow any pre-existing TV show template, lets characters grow and wither naturally (no matter how much it twists your guts to watch) and explores storylines with honesty and a creative energy that comes out in the performance and production.  Arguably, one of the best made shows on TV today.
• It must have been a REALLY slow news week last week.  Every time I looked at a TV while in Austin the only news anyone seemed to be covering was the death of James Gandolfini.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s sad to see a good actor die so young and unexpectedly.  But seriously, isn’t there some other important issues to talk about than the natural death of one person?  Weird.
• Speaking of Austin, enjoyed my trip there for the first time this week.  Nice people there, although a little rude when it comes to their driving.  Austin is spread out very much like Columbus is.  Downtown was very neat, especially at night, and I wouldn’t mind coming back and seeing a UT football game there.  What I really want to come back for is the BBQ.  So many spots left behind that could continue to bring such happiness to my world.
• I never wanted to be home so badly as I did this week.  I love working hard, but there is nothing that compares to spending time with Mindi and Alex.  I treasure every moment of my weekend with them more than any success I achieved down there.  3 days apart is the max I can do these days.  4 days was a killer.
• Got my first golf game of the year in and happy that I only whiffed the ball twice.  Even had a few shots go my way.  Definitely enjoyed hanging with Nathan and Kevin for the first time in what feels like an eternity.  Looking forward to getting some lessons this summer and getting out on a course more often.  Weird to see me write that.
• As much as I want to change my back porch, I really loved hanging out on it Saturday night, watching the super moon and enjoying a bottle of wine with Mindi.
• I learned more about cat puke this past weekend than I ever thought I would care to know.  If you want more details, just let me know and I’ll gladly share in this blog. 
• Got to a College World Series game before I left for Austin.  Sad to say it was quite possibly the most boring baseball game I’ve ever been to, and that says a lot!  The pitching and hitting were so slow and unexciting!  The most exciting thing to happen was to see the girl two rows in front of us get pelted by a foul ball, watch two separate teams of medics come to check on her (“CODE 69! Young MILF in section 120 needs medical assistance.  All mustache crews converge immediately!), and then listen to Mindi pick on her.  Hopefully the championship game tomorrow night will restore some of the zest of the event.  I’m definitely not scheduling a work trip over CWS week again.
• Can we all agree now that Kim Kardashian is too unimportant, stupid and worthless to spend so much time and energy following?  Who names their kid that???  She’s going to be picked on for years, no matter who her parents are.  High School is going to eat her alive.  Sad.
• Very happy that Danielle won “The Voice” last week.  While I thought Jordan had the best voice of all the contestants, Danielle was certainly the best of who was left.  I’m calling it here … she’s the next Carrie Underwood.  In four years she’ll have found her niche, gotten comfortable performing in front of huge crowds, and she’ll start winning awards.  Good for her!
• It feels good to be writing again.  I’m working to find a way to get it back into my work day life again.
• Also need to get back on the treadmill.  Just under three months until the Corporate Cup and I’m still a long ways from getting to a 10-min mile.

Have a great week everybody!