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EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

February 2, 2023 / PAPA

It was not unusual that movies set in the early twentieth century featured rag tag boys/girls hawking newspapers on street corners. Yelling the catch phrase of the above title, they held newspapers that included headlines that advanced the movie’s plot. The film’s hero might be the subject of a manhunt, an heiress may be missing or an explosion happened at a protagonist’s mansion. Putting out an extra edition of a newspaper was one way to increase readership. It was the era’s “breaking news.” Much of the energy to outsell a competitor arose from the Pulitzer vs. Hearst news wars that raged during the late ninetheeth century.

Both newspaper giants engaged in “yellow journalism.” The name was derieved from a popular comic strip character of the time. The papers raided each other’s journalists and features. Sentiational stories, true or not, ginned up readers’ interests/passions. Pleas for conflict in the Spanish/American War was greatly influenced with headlines urging that the sunken ship Maine be remembered. (Watch the movie “Citizen Kane” that has references to such newspaper competition. Sorry, black and white….but film has a big Wisconsin connection.)

As Papa has said before, it was easier to identify a newspaper’s slant in the 1950’s. We had both a morning (lean Republican) and evening (lean Democrat) newspaper. Reading each gave the reader a broader perspective. However, just like today, some readers in the 1950’s only consumed from one news source and steadfastly adhered to one slant. However, to me objective news seemed to be present in each publication. Editorials contained most of a newspaper’s “slant.”

It’s so much easier to piegon hole today’s news sources. There’s not much “slant” in today’s digital world. There often is not much objective news; cheerleading seems to be more the standard. There is growing evidence that outright political partianship has occupied many American news rooms/sources. Killing stories or moving items out of sight via analogues exists. Worse, there is evidnce that the government, not indiviuals like Hearst/Pulitzer, has become involved in manipulating//suppresing first amendment rights. There are recent disclosures of the heavy thumb of federal agencies unduly pressuring Twitter/Facebook etc. To be sure big media is still in the business of yellow journalism for profit. Just like with Hearst/Pulitzer, doing so is their freedom as long as the government is not involved as a partner. That line apparently has been crossed. Continue to think long and hard aout “news” that is presented to you for consumption. Or, hidden.

For a really deep dive about the loss of objectivity in today’s media consider taking the time to read an exhaustive report from the Columbia Journalism Review. (Jeff Gerth) After not voting twice for President Trump, Papa still has a hard time understanding the visceral hatred of the man. (Demagogue? Smarmy? Belligerent? Hard to debate; but I’d wager one could name scores of past/current politicians who could be nominated as bad or worse. Another good movie on target…”All The King’s Men.” Black and white.) Some in today’s media actually promote setting aside objectivity if a report diminishes Trump. Somebody lost their bearing. After the charade of covering up/ignoring a sentational story for two years ( “Hunter’s laptop”) it will be interesting to see how many in the media can view their past reporting with a sense of introspection. I’m not holding my breath. Most did not have the curiosity to perk up even when given a red flag warning about Russia Gate. I suspect a one time journalistic hero doesn’t expect much looking in the mirror any more than Papa. (Also see movie “All The Presidnt;s Men.”) Your brain remains the best filter for what can be “garbage” masquerading as news/fact.

DRIVER’S LICENSE

January 26, 2023 / PAPA

Recently Papa’s mind has been focused on his inability to continue a full day’s care for the youngest. The boy has become too heavy. My joints are too stiff. The reality of his crawling and soon thereafter of walking did me in. How can one care for someone you can’t keep up with? So, with an overburdened mind, I lost track of the opposite end of the age spectrum. I overlooked that certain twins are eligible to start the learner’s permit process. Followed by driiving the highways and by-ways of America.

You are smart enough to know that great responsibility comes with a driver’s license. It is a serious matter. I’m not sure how to impart an important piece of inforamation except that it is something I hope becomes a part of you. Many new license holders are overly nervous about getting behind the wheel of an automobile. Others are recklessly cocky about their ability. Neither is good. What I hope for you is an actual mental transformation that you feel and act in charge of the motor vehicle. Driving can bring great joy, perform useful service and do substantial damage.

I know of two young drivers who got into cars which were parked on the driveway of the family home and promptly backed into a vehicle parked behind their car. Yes, it is good to do simple checks of one’s surrpundings before getting into a car. I also know of two high school mates who had fender benders within six months of starting to drive. It is a critical time. Check internal nervousness at the driveway/curb and get into the vehicle with a sense of individual confidence.

Papa had a very near catostraphic experience during his high school years. Almost ran a woman down. The prelude was a mess up by my brothers (Of course) at university. Dad brought the 1958 Impala convertible home for some forgotten transgression of his rules. A beautiful convertible became available for my use. So, it came to pass that I drove a good friend and another guy from school across town on a sunny day. This other guy was cut from a different mold than us. He was nice but more boistrous. A football player and wrestler who was quite animated. The only thing he and I had in common was the good fortune of dating twin sisters. He commandeered the shotgun seat, sprawled out with feet on dash and quickly manipulated radio stations/volumne controls. We were soon on our way.

I drove up a side street to the four way stop on 84th street. At the intersetion I stopped. And, waited. There was no traffic coming from either my right or left. Nor, was there a car coming towards me. My car was alone at the stop sign. At that point my co-pilot decided to take matters into his hands. Actaully, into his feet. I can’t recall if that ’58 car had seats belts but he was able to extend his left leg out and onto the gas pedal while saying, “What are you waiting for? Lets see what this car’s got.” He floored the gas pedal.

That car was indeed quite peppy and it roared forward into the intersection. I’m no longer sure if my right foot was under his or if I simply pushed his foot away while starting to brake. However, it was so sudden that the engine died with the on and off gas feed. We drifted a few feet before we came to a stop; just a few feet away from a woman who was crossing the street. There had been no cars at the intersection but I had been waiting for a lady with a bag of groceries to cross in front of me. The poor woman was startled. It didn’t take a genius to know what thought was forming in her mind from the look on her face. It was directed at me. Mister lead foot realized what he had done and was calm and quiet fir the rest of our trip.

I now have years of driving experience as well as decades in courtrooms and it is clear that I’d have had a very diffiuclt time reducing my responsibilty back then. Papa dodged a bullet. Lesson of the story is that when you get behind the wheel of an automobile expect the unexpected.

CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS

January 14, 2023 / PAPA

Papa had a security clearance as a Judge Advocate many years ago. It was primarily used when in Vietnam for work on various investigations/war crime issues. The classified documents that I accessed were secret and below; mostly below. However, the handling of any classified material was treated very seriously. The documents were stored in a safe. A security officer could get a document that I needed for my work. I had to sign a log/receipt each time the document was in my possession. I kept it in my ofice until I returned it to the security officer for safekeeping. I did not leave the document on my desk if I went to lunch etc. It had to be returned to the safe. Any document was traced to and from me whenever it left or was returned to the safe. Security rules were clearly understood.

A good analogy is one I used when explaining the terms of a mortgage to clients at a real estate closing. Notes and mortgages have lots of clauses. Sign these papers if you want the lender’s money. It’s all weighted in the lender’s favor. If you don’t pay back they can come down on you like a ton of bricks. That is how I viewed the consequences if I mishandled classified material. It is simple,and direct. Yet, it is astounding that folks get sideways when dealing with classified documents. Can’t we expect professionals to be careful?

In the last two months the nation finds itself faced with both supposed lead candidate for President in 2024 under a possible crimminal investigation for classified material related issues. Duh! Papa once expressed a hope that the 2024 candidates not be age eligible for medicare. Now, I add hope for a sliver of common sense responsibility. Be judicious. Follow the rules.

Both potential crimminals are working hard to argue that what the other guy did is worse than what they did. The past President has a for me to know and you to find out what documents I might have defense supplemented by I can do whatever I want with my documents. Our current President’s defense may be that the near six years retention of material ( who knows where and seen by whom) doesn’t matter if, behind closed doors, his team in the last two months has been sorting through stuff and turning over what they deem is important to the proper authorities. Or, I’ve already seen a few media hints that in a hurry clericals may have inadvertently scattered classified material here and there. It’s hard to get decent worker bee help nowadays. One does wonder where the keepers of the classified documents have been for 5-6 years. (Is a document missing if the guys with the keys don’t know it’s missing?) I do know that I’d have had all hell to pay if I didn’t return classified material to the safe; that very day.

It’s all enough to make Papa wonder if we have a shortage of a ton of bricks for all.

JANUARY 6

January 12, 2023 / PAPA

When I was young this date stuck in my mind as “The Epiphany”. Recently the date marks a recent upheaval in a national election certification. However, it also is the date on which a famous speech was made at the critical time that much of the world was at war. The US was on the brink of that conflict. It was a speech intended to quell anxieties about America’s possible movement away from its stance of isloation. The United States was starting to lean towards resisting the perils of aggression. In 1941 the then US President delivered what is now known as the “Four Freedoms” speech. I urge you to read that speech and consider it in the perspective of the time.

Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear are as essential and needed now as was the case 82 years ago. The emphasis of course is on freedom. Bad actors still exist in today’s world. Dictatorships flourish when freedom is reduced/eliminated. Even well-intentioned leaders can cross the line of restricting freedom in the name of good. In our representative republic there is a fine line between our cherished individual freedoms and some necessary restraint on actions/activities that harm the common good. Where that line lies is always an appropriate discussion to have in society.

It’s easy to identify the tin horn crackpots that want and wage war. Another land war in Europe? Have they learned nothing? Elsewhere, millions and millions are enslaved by communism. Or, by dictators of other political philosophies. Those who wish to control freedoms in the name of their perceived rightousness of cause come in all manner of political stripes. Such dangers to freedom are usually easy to spot. However, there are also forces needing to transgress on freedom to achieve a goal that does not equal war or enslavement. A prime tool to manipulate and cajole is simple fear.

For example: the recent hub bub in congress over conflicting convictions in selecting a speaker scares some folks. Why? What’s to be feared about politicians arguing? A bunch of hot air by politicians instills fear? Some people recently seem to have a fear of anything not homonginized. What comfort is taken from a government that is united to such an extent that there are no ripples in civic life, where everyone can parrot their colleagues’ thoughts and all are adept at the latest in step matching. Conflict seems better suited to America. But, there is a fear that conflict will make the Speaker’s job hard. Sometimes Papa feels it is best to leave the popular annointment process to medival church lore.

It is up to you to weigh and balance the fears that will come towards you. I try to resist fears that restrain freedom without a good basis. We are flooded with the tactic of fear. We all may die is an attention grabber. Death is a legitimate concern but is it the stuff that should control every aspect of life? When everything is declared to be dying is it no wonder that despair and cynisim overwhelem? You and I are supposedly on the brink because of industrial age horrors. Oceans are dying as are fish and birds. Exticntion hovers over many species. Even the planet doesn’t stand much of a chance. One or the other political party will destroy the nation. But, luckily we all know who is at fault for our impending demise. We are told everyday. You can tune in and read all the “predictors” that are passionate in their beliefs and who know what you are or are not doing to save us all. Just get with the program.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself. FDR spoke those words prior to 1941 during his first inauguration. That thought goes back at least to the 16th century. Beware: there is always someone out there trying to stir the pot to create anxiety. Use your noggin when it is your turn to evaluate legitimate fear from fear mongering. The world is not as bad a place as some claim. Get a good night’s sleep; eat healthy foods; pay attention in school; don’t hurt people; develop and follow a moral code and always be kind to grandfathers.

NFL GOLDMINE

December 29, 2022 / PAPA

You may or may not become more than casual fans of the NFL. Howver, there are many who are fanatics for professional football. It wasn’t always so. In the early twentieth century most football fans preferred college football and to an extent looked down on players who competed for money. Your own great-grandfather sometimes poo-pooed the NFL and didn’t give it much mind, even during the Packer glory years of the 1960’s.

Television super-charged the popularity of NFL football. A recent “day in history” article reminded me of the “Greatest Game Ever Played” in 1958. The Baltimore Colts defeated the NY Giants in sudden death overtime. It was the first sudden death game and it was seen by millions watching one of the first nationally televised games. Papa was already on board as a fan. The fact that a great Wisconsin player with a great nickname scored the winning touchdown made the game all the more memorable. TV contracts and money has flowed and increased ever since. It has exploded into a billions of dollars industry.

For perspective, an eighth grade classmate and I decided, on the morning of a Packer game, to bike to County Stadium to watch a game. Yes, walkup tickets were available. I can’t imagine having had more than a few bucks in my jeans so I assume the ticket was rather cheap. In those days we simply left our bikes leaning on a fence or whatnot during the game. I assume this was in 1956 as we were in the same school until the 8th grade. I do recall the game involved Tobin Rote and a new guy named Unitas as quarterbacks. I think the Pack won.

For further perspective, the 1939 NFL Championship game sold tickets from between $1.10 to $4.40. This I looked up. It also provides a good trivia question if you ever need one. The victorious Packers beat the NY Giants to be NFL champs in Papa’s hometown; West Allis, Wisconsin. ( Of course this trivia question would make sense only if others had ever heard of West Allis. ) I’ve always loved the contrast between the huge population monster of New York vs, little Green Bay. That fondness was reversed for players from the “Big City.” Wisconsinites were “inhospitalble mugs” per the NY Giants captain due to perceived slights. Enough to get locals dander up as also happened in1957: but that is a different story, a different NY player and sport.

TWO WAY KINDNESS

December 24, 2022 / PAPA

Treating others as you’d like to be treated is known as the Golden Rule. It is simple yet so easy to overlook in the hub bub of daily life. Sometimes a reminder helps. I received a reminder yesterday. Our state has been in the midst of an Artic Blast. A horrible time for the furnace to stop working. It died. Soon the temperature indoors was in the 50’s. The roads were solid ice; no way to get off the hill to warmth with relatives/hotels. What to do? Calls to furnace repair companies started. 5-10, a dozen. Only one call was answered: Their service schedule was “weeks” out. The remaining calls ended with instructions to leave a message. A few indicated mail box full and couldn’t even take a message. Looming choice seemed to be get on a service call list and “wait for the thaw.”

One last call was made late yesterday to a local outfit. The owner answered. No, he couldn’t help. He was iced in himself. He hoped to get out by Christmas Eve to drive to be with his family. I could get on a wait list after his return or he knew of another small company nearby I might try. I wrote down another phone number to call and thanked him.

However, he then asked me if some sort of gizmo was near the furnace. Tough question. Papa has never had an easy relationship with anything remotely mechanical/technical. I had no idea of what he asked. I knew that modern furnaces looked different than the coal burning octopus in my grand dad’s bacement. I mentioned something about the furnace. He started to ask more questions. Soon he said there might be one solution that I could try myself. ( I had tried all the tips in the manual. ) He then took the time to walk me through it. An hour later the house was back to warm.

The patience of the owner was a life-line offered at a time of great stress. A kindness from my perspective. It was only a matter of minutes for him. He was under his own stress but didn’t just say “sorry-goodluck-bye. That brief connection with humanity helps shore up my ongoing hope for the future. You can count on the goodness of people more than you might realize. I reflected on a other times when life’s curveballs pushed me towards gloom. My stalled car in an Ohio parking lot during an Artic Blast of another year comes to mind. It feels so good when kindness is extended to you. On the other hand, I’ve always felt better then good when I’ve tried to help others. There is always someone with a need for kindness. Look for that need when possible. Life is good on the road of kindness.

WINTER SOLSTICE

December 21, 2022 / PAPA

Today is the shortest day of the year. Throughout history various cultures celebrated the event. Seasonally, it marks the first day of winter. When I was young I did wonder if yesterday/tomorrow actually felt longer. (Mere seconds per experts; which leads to the questions: “whoever noticed the difference thousands of years ago? And, how was the measurement accomplished?”) Perhaps it all started so that Pagans had a reason to party. The exact timing of the event may have had to wait until more recent history when an aspiring astronomer put a zillion and a zillion together for a specific calculation to facilitate party planning. (Tomorrow’s the big bonfire! Gather the Yule Logs.)

Papa once had high hopes of being a crumudgeon and rolled over and fell back to sleep on this festive day. However, my ‘ol DNA had more Pagan than the whiner gene so it’s up and at it. Solstice 2022 began as a sunny day with a clear sky. Now, it’s maybe a short walk or even shorter time at a gym as active celebration. Or, some contemplative time. One old tradition was making wishes for the future. ( I wish for candidates that do not age qualify for Medicare.) Improving one’s self can wait until New Year’s resolutions. Or, even later.

Of course, the Winter Solstice marks closing in on Christmas. Only one grandchild will travel this season. Fittingly into an aptly named winter storm. Locally, cold and ice is forecast to be fast approaching but winter’s worst cannot dampen the joyous spirit of being with family. Together with you is my most important wish as it is every year.

SATURATION CONFUSION

December 14, 2022 / PAPA

Oh, to be young again. This is a familiar lament of old folks. The bromide implies that if we knew then what we know now, the years of our youth would have soared. As if, with experience and accumulated wisdom, all the bumps in the road of the teen years could be paved smooth. Papa has accumulated a measure of experience and perhaps a bit of wisdom. However, it would be a foolish dream to think I’d be equipped to tackle the approaching years of your lives. A certain level of rigidety has set in alongside experience and whatever wisdom might exist for me. I am talking about an intangible beyond obvious arthritic stiffness. ( I am certainly slow physically. ) Other facaulties seem in decent shape. However, I believe what would hold me back is a missing fluidity of spirit. There is a reason your current adolescence is known as the wonder years. An intangible inner force from my teen years only remains in memory form.

From my perspective, resilience was a necessary companion for me to traverse those long ago years. To be young again and make good choices, avoid mistakes, have an understanding of the human condition and plot a sensible life course sounds quite reasonable; to an old man. Missing for me would be an inner innocence that opens one’s mind, soul and emotions to the freshness of new experiences while searching for a personal version of wisdom. Of course, you should try to make good choices and decisions. Yet, hold loose reins on the effervescent buoyancy of internal youth. Don’t fret over ups and downs. Life is very fast in the teen years. You’ll find more sunshine than clouds.

In the 1950’s and 60’s every day seemed to bring new experiences for me. I hope you have a similar chance. Contrasted with the age of the internet, it may seem that Papa grew up in a confined life style. The world outside my family consisted of limited radio/television, newspapers, interacting with classmates, teachers, coaches as well as known adult relatives/neighbors. Yet, such simple encounters had the capacity to knock the socks off Papa. I could feel the world expanding deep inside my core. All good in retrospect. I saw a few red flags when growing up. (If to date, I have?) For example, it was Jimmy S. who beckoned to smoke cigarettes in the alley. Or, Jimmy K. who believed glass windows were invented to make use of an abundance of rocks. Develop a radar for knuckleheads and go in opposite directions fom them.

You will have the same capacity inside you during your years of growth. I wish it could be as simple for you as it was for me. At the time I felt I was getting enough bumps on the ride. However, The your being inudated from disparate sources that are beyond my imagination scares me. You can sit home on a device and be flooded with hundreds of opinions/photos/advice/craziness/lures/ and dangerous material that never entered my neighborhood. Where will you start in sorting through the clutter? That’s a task worth undertakeing because you sure as dickens don’t want to miss out on experiencing youth’s wonderment that can spring from within you. Don’t get confused. Get to the sorting process. Find your trusted sources to clear out the chaff. It’s hard to lean on or trust a digital entity as a friend. Folks to trust are still out there. They remain close to home, family and school. (Avoid the Jimmys of the current world.) Avoiding confusion from digital saturation is my hope for you. I want you to enjoy every moment of your wonder years. I am confident thatyou’ll succeed because you are resilent in your own right.

FUSION

December 11, 2022 / PAPA

You’ll live to see it. I mentioned fusion with a net energy gain on the horizon at some earlier point in this blog. Probably in a post when Papa lamented the sprouting clutter along the highways. i.e. Huge propellers and dark solar panels. Mere decades fom now, clean energy will exist that will lift all folks in all countries towards greater prosperity. I hope that science even advances the goal to sooner rather than later with private sector input. The old 1950’s ATOMS FOR PEACE concept.

Stayed tuned for a possible breakthrough announcement. As early as this week according to reliable news sources. If you drive along the Canadian highway to your cabin in future years and see clean/uncluttered ridge lines remember that dreams can be realized. Aim high. As an old friend once told me, “The sky is the limit as long as you are looking up.” (I think he thought Papa had directional challenges.)

GORGE OF A GOUGE TURNS 34

December 7, 2022 / PAPA

December 7th marks a history event that stirred America to action against the tyranny of the Axis. If you get a chance, watch the movie “Tora, Tora Tora”. I think I first saw that movie while in Vietnam. It’s quite accurate. Hollywood made many films that reflect the drama the sneak attack by Japan caused. That will always be in the forefront of my mind.

However, on December 7, 1988 Papa had his torso opened from top to belly by the loving and caring doctors at the same hospital in which I was born. The world’s greatest surgeon, in my humble opinion, performed a quadruple bypass on my heart. That repair job outlasted his career. It’s my understanding he retired a few years ago. At the time, doctors were predicting 8 to 10 year expectations for heart bypasses. Plus 24 and counting is good by me. My fondest memory of my surgeon was his jokes. He came armed with one each day. He always extracted a belly laugh. Perhaps he wanted me to cough and gag on humor so that my lungs cleared. Or, perhaps he delighted in torturing me as an attorney. At university there was often friendly banter between law school and medical school athletic contests.

He came with lawyer jokes of course. “What’s the difference between a dead snake and a dead lawyer on an interstate highway? ……Skid marks in front of the snake.” Of course, I gave some medical humor right back. (I also found that lying to nurses/staff about fuzzy vision starting to clear can get a rise out of them. They want to take you seriously.)

A medical procedure often draws out unsolicited commenst/opinions from friends/relatives/visitors. One such pal said maybe I should worry because my surgeon only did one bypass with the left mammery artery. He said his buddy so and so had the best of the best and had both a right and left used for the re-routing of two bypasses. Good, now Papa had something to worry about. I couldn’t resist so I asked. The actual best doctor in the world looked at me and said, “The right artery is a little bit of a stretch.” Then he leaned back a tad and laughed, “Besides we need to save it for another day.”

When Papa says gouge he means gouge. Many years later a cardiologist at the VA hurried out of my examination room. She returned with a tape measure. Saying that other younger doctors would want to know she measured my chest and leg scars. One is from the ankle to nearly where it counts to get hit. Nowadays I guess little bitsey cuts are made. A racetrack wag up in Inverness claims his by pass was done while the heart was beating. I like a good joke but seriously; a surgeon with a sharp knife has to have a steady hand while a heart is quivering? (Papa doesn’t ask him for betting advice.)Reminds me of my hip replacement without anesthesia. The anesthesiologist and I were talking when I moved my shoulder. He said, “Stay still. Be careful. They have sharp instrumnets down there.” December 7th is a memorable date for me on a personal basis. When you need medical treatment look for a competent physician. One with a sense of humor is a bonus. For some reason I’ve found hospitals can provide unexpected sources of humor. I believe humor cures.

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