Archives for category: Old Man Blog

In my small town, leaving the neighborhood often means driving past the fire station. It seems like several times a month, for different reasons, the US flag may be at half mast. When I was a child in the 60s and 70s, the flag would go to half mast on what seemed to be rare occasions. Now it seems routine.

KXLY in Spokane tells us at 1:08

“…behind every half-staff flag is a man or woman who laid down their life for our country.”

“…the tradition began centuries ago.”

KXLY,

Was the flag flown at half staff more than 58,000 times for individuals who lost their lives during the Vietnam War?

In reality, the flag is lowered for various occasions:

Mass shootings.

A tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

COVID deaths.

For Madeleine Jana Korbel Albright.

Hmong-Lao Veterans Day

“…to honor the thousands of Hmong-Lao veterans who fought alongside the United States during the Vietnam War and now live in Wisconsin.”

For Rep. Jackie Walorski who died tragically in a car accident in Indiana.

For Whitney Houston.

Zero Questions/Zero Curiosity from Newspeople

Local press:

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

Military Town – Hometown Pride

Weak News Reporting

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

We’ve been told for decades that DOD sends the troops to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”

Glorification of military service / total nonsense:

WA Secretary of State

Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”

If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?

Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?

If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?

Men Died For the Right to Vote?

Right To Vote Linked To Military Operations/US Troops in Distant Lands?

Conclusion:

Consider the idea that lowering the flag on a routine basis may take away from the significance of the protocol.  Over time, the flag may be seen as a political symbol, something like a Presidential Medal of Freedom that may have nothing to do with freedom.

Please be accurate and honest with news reporting. If young people get the idea that they can’t trust the news, or that they do not live in a free and honest society, they may stop showing up to enlist in the US Armed Forces.

Related:

Cultural Honesty

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis

Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

Just Be Honest

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.

Back in 1969, your lawn mower was probably manufactured in some location like Indiana, Ohio, or Michigan. It ran on plain old gas. You kept the gas in a plain old gas can. You did so safely. The mower lasted a long time. It was made to be serviced and maintained.

At 9:50 in the video below, Taryl, explains the amount of labor required to get a modern mower running again.

Welcome Home Troops

Many interesting comments posted with the video above.

We went shopping today in the Aberdeen/Hoquiam area. Outside one of the stores on our route, I was surprised to see the front page of the local paper in a newspaper vending machine outside the business:

Click image once or twice to show detail.

Front page news has been replaced by a weekly grocery store ad. The business location where we were is not in the ad above.

From the newspaper web site today:


Yes, that is the front page for today. Looks like that format is in place once each week. Something like junk mail, instead of news.

But, it’s your fault Mr. Blogger. You must support newspapers if you want them to keep you informed?

Newspeople have stopped asking questions.

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Months later, has anyone seen any informative news articles on this?

Love to see newspeople show some initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

What we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

People who take no public funds, advertising dollars, or private donations are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press?

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Various Puget Sound area newspapers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

Today’s American culture is truly weak in terms of newspeople asking questions:

Politicians, Puget Sound Press, and Earth Day

Less enthusiastic about voting & following the news for these reasons.

Related:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Moving Towards A One Size Fits All Society – Climate And Environment

Cultural Honesty

 

Old Man Blog category:

Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s.

Original Old Man Blog here: https://oldmanblogdotcom.wordpress.com

New updates here: https://oakbaystarfish.com/category/old-man-blog/

 

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

-Oak Bay Starfish

Photo above:

Platoon 3049, MCRD San Diego

Jun-Sep 1979

 

US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

 

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

 

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

 

Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.

The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.

Football games are also used to honor veterans:

0:12 the man is barely conscious when greeted by team owner Jerry Jones:

Where are the veterans who are OK with less wars?

Everyone seems to love it. When the made for TV event is over, veteran’s benefits may be up for grabs again.

Recommendation:

Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.

Some will say that this has already been done, and that you will see it if you read the fine print. I say take it out of fine print and make it read like the warnings on a pack of cigarettes.

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Sound of Freedom

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

General Thomas,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis

General Thomas,

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

 

Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.

 

Militarized Opening Day

The Dept. of Defense is the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

They are able to get some members of the press to play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.

Weak News Reporting

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

We’ve been told for decades that DOD sends the troops to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”


Thank You For Our Freedom?

Thanks

Thanks for sending The Troops to distant lands to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things. If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949) hostile forces may have come to North America to do away with the free enterprise system and tell us what kind of shower head we must install in our home, what type of gas can we must buy for our generator, or that our push mower does not meet federal EPA regulations.

If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, drug trafficking cartels might be able to move product into all 50 states.

Feb. 24, 2023 TEMPE, Ariz. (3TV/CBS 5/Gray News)

4.5 million fentanyl pills, 3,000 pounds of meth seized during joint drug bust

“The Tempe Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Arizona Attorney General’s Office shared details on Thursday about a major bust that took three years to pull off.”

Three years to pull off this bust?

“An estimated 4.5 million fentanyl pills were seized in addition to 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and large amounts of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl powder, according to authorities.”

Wonder what was happening at border crossing inspections during the 3 years these folks were under investigation. Do the good guys who made the Tempe bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?

Love to see newspeople ask:

Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?

Did the drug traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?

If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?

Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for 3 years. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

Cartel drug busts that happen in Hometown, USA involve drugs that were not stopped at the border.

 

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

Goodbye Free Enterprise System

 

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

 

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Have newspeople find out:

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

A Military Draft?

Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

More here:

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.

 

Related:

Will No Longer Accept New TRICARE Families? – Recruiting Crisis

Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

See You Next Year

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

 

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

What would be your role be in all this?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

The US military recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.

Here is a made for TV interview that passes up on a chance to ask serious questions. Stroking the general and promoting Hollywood releases is what we’re here for:

This country could use some newspeople who are up for asking tough questions. Love to see an interview something like this:

General Thomas,

Since 1986 Top Gun:

The US Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.

We haven’t won a war since.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. Is it understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this?

Has the DOD brand been damaged?

General Thomas,

Some Americans may be asking:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

General Thomas,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

 

Random thoughts:

Currently active, and retired generals living today, have been associated with what wars won by the US?

 

Not just MSNBC

Looks like DOD sent the script to various TV networks:

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Remember folks, the best beers may require the least advertising.

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment. Today, the country is starving for some sort of positive cause to get behind.

Elaborate, made for TV beer ads and a US Dept. of Defense that seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars will have to do.

Never Forget-

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

A special marketing tribute to a catastrophic military failure:

Related:

Schmoozy TV Freedom Nonsense – Leaving Afghanistan

Militarized Opening Day

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

Military Recruiting Crisis – DOD Brand Has Been Damaged

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

A Military Draft?

Cultural Honesty

 

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

What would be your role be in all this?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

Everyone needs their own social worker.

In the news:

March 22, 2023 Sequim Gazette

Church, merchants seek solutions for downtown nuisance concerns

Sequim Police Chief Sheri Crain talks with a crowd at the Sequim Business Merchants Meeting on March 15. She encouraged people to call police if they see something suspicious. “We’re not going to turn into Seattle because I want you to call everyday,” she said. “And every time we’ll go. Every time social services people will go. That’s how we’re trying to keep our community safe.”

WWII Generation had a modern society up and running. Now this:

“There’s a lot of case law [that] we can’t remove people because they’re just sitting there; or because they smell bad; or because they talk to themselves.”

“So we really work with our partners to help folks find housing, services and meet their needs.”

“A host of concerns, mostly about a few individuals in Seal Street Park or outside Calvary Chapel Sequim, have led business owners to call police. Some of their calls included reports of loitering, shouting, littering, items being thrown at them and customers, being threatened, and/or intimidating actions, such as being purposefully blocked from their vehicles.”

“There’s been some very freaky stuff,” said Caitlyn Knapple, owner of Pacific Mist books, in an interview.

Repeat calls to police by the same business. Social worker approach not working:

Another new business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said she has been escorted to her car by a police officer about 10 times in the last eight months after closing up for the day.”

While some actions may be illegal, Crain said the issues people face aren’t easy problems.

What I hear a lot is we’re gonna turn into Seattle,” she said. “We’re not going to turn into Seattle because I want you to call everyday. And every time we’ll go.”

Every time social services people will go. That’s how we’re trying to keep our community safe.”

“Asked about encampments and recreational vehicles, Crain said if they’re on private property then people should talk to the owner about a possible eviction process.”

Spring Break Weekend

Try this over at the State Park: Skip the reservation and fee for an assigned space. Pick your own spot when you are ready. If anyone asks you to move, tell them you are living in your home. Have the Police Chief and social workers come out and talk to you. Have Park Rangers try to reassign people who paid for a reserved spot months in advance. See if you can be a squatter for weeks at a time.

“If they’re on public property, Hill said, case laws cover them differently.”

“The problem is [the RV or tent] is their home and we can’t evict people from their home,” Crain said. “We have to go through certain processes to evict them.”

“As the RVs or tents are often temporarily in public places, Crain said they’ll either move before it goes far in the process and/or the towing company doesn’t have space or the time to move a vehicle so the process starts over.”

“Crain said they’re continuing to work on solutions for a few errant RVs in the city.”

“They are thorny, ugly, and are not going smoothly,” she said.

“We document pattern behavior and what we’ve done. Eventually you can get around to doing something.”

If you are confronted inside a business- respond with good customer service:

Police Chief:

If confronted inside a business, she said “good customer service will drive them away 95 percent of the time” and simply asking them to leave works too.”

Good people are advised to step aside and yield the right of way to violators. Take down your fence and landscaping plants:

Theresa Rubens, owner of Forage Gifts and Northwest Treasures

“Rubens said with some businesses operating with one employee/owner at a time, she recommends a buddy system, leaving lights on, and removing obstructions, i.e. shrubbery and fencing.”

“With lighting and cameras, Crain said it could help capture a potential crime in action.”

Where are the success stories?

Whatever issues there are in WA, 49 other states have experience with what works and what doesn’t. Go out a pick a few jurisdictions that have had success and go with it. The WWII Generation had success. What were they doing? Seattle has had problems for years, what did they learn from it? How much public money was spent to make improvements in Seattle?

What I see now from various city and county governments is about collecting tax money to pay for affordable housing, converted motels and hotels for housing. Housing Housing Housing. A spaced out and incoherent drug addict is going to get along in what version of housing? Who is the landlord?

Not against public assistance here. When the experts have had several years to work a problem with public funds and that problem does not seem to improve, newspeople should be asking tough questions.

20 years ago, comment sections on local newspaper websites were more open and available to use. Various papers have now eliminated comment sections. Elsewhere on the web, comment sections may be hard to find, eliminated, or more restricted than ever. Bad people might break the rules, so we all face information suppression and restrictions. More in the way of open comment sections might also be an embarrassment to newspeople and elected officials. Government programs that are failing (War in Afghanistan) would invite comments and questions from the public that newspeople and public officials may want to be avoid.

Related:

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

From 2018:

A few towns obviously have people who work together to set priorities and make a positive impression for visitors.

Nice & Tidy

Watching news on TV:

Bad Habits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Symbol of a culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak. A culture that will yield  the right of way to violators while pushing good citizens to the side & collecting big tax money all along the way.

 

March 31, 2023 Bracing Views W.J. Astore

A Baseball Game or a Military Parade?

“And I thought to myself: When did opening day in baseball become an excuse for a military parade?”

 

As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up, militarized sporting events become routine.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Young people react by staying away from the recruiting office. Their parents and grandparents don’t encourage them to sign up.

A giant flag ritual at the next ball game will make it all good.

Recruiting, and staying out of, or winning undeclared wars in distant lands might be in the crapper, but we are the very best at militarized pageantry for sports events.

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

Remember folks, the best beers may require the least advertising.

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment. Today, the country is starving for some sort of positive cause to get behind.

Elaborate, made for TV beer ads and a US Dept. of Defense that seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars will have to do.

Never Forget-

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

A special marketing tribute to a catastrophic military failure:

Alternative media – not trying to please everyone:

Related:

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

Military Recruiting Crisis – DOD Brand Has Been Damaged

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

A Military Draft?

Cultural Honesty

 

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

What would be your role be in all this?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

In the news:

Mar 27, 2023 Military.com

Experts Question Military Recruiting Fixes Such as Pre-Boot Camp Courses

“The number one reason we’re struggling with recruiting right now is complacency — complacency because the military assumed that people would want to continue buying VHS tapes, compact discs, and riding Peloton bikes at home,” Thomas Spoehr, a retired three-star general and now director of the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, told attendees.

Read Next: Army Finds Mold in 2,100 Buildings Following Service-Wide Inspection

Random thoughts:

Currently active, and retired generals living today, have been associated with what wars won by the US?

Interesting that a link to mold in Army buildings is inserted into the page just before the retired general tells us that the problem is marketing.

“For Spoehr, one of the key issues is the type of leaders the services put in charge of recruiting policy.”

“The Army routinely puts people in charge of its recruiting enterprise who have never recruited or marketed a thing before in their lives,” he said. However, all the branches operate under similar policies.

Newspeople avoid any questioning or discussion:

General Spoehr, the officers available to lead in recruiting assignments have been part of a US Dept. of Defense that has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars. This record goes back to 1949, the year DOD was established.

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

It feels like DOD specializes in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Recruiters, generals, elected officials, political think tanks and TV newspeople are A-OK with a list of excuses for difficulties in recruiting. Low unemployment, overweight young people, COVID, young people on meds, illegal drug use, etc.

They have a blind spot.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Another article with zero questions from newspeople on a US Dept. of Defense with a decades long tradition of not being able to stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands:

Mar 22, 2023 13News Now

Report: ‘Worst recruiting crisis since creation of the all-volunteer force’

Many interesting comments are posted below this video:

Alternative media is OK with asking questions:

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up:

Love to see the think tank ask:

Major General Davis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

55 minute think tank video avoids any questions on how the American people react to decades of undeclared/unwon wars, any need to validate US foreign policy, etc.

Also, no discussion related to the National Guard.

National Guard

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Related:

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

A Military Draft?

Cultural Honesty

 

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

What would be your role be in all this?

 

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of newspeople not asking questions, and a federal government that is OK with undeclared/unwon wars and telling lies about freedom, then blaming young people and their families when they lose interest in showing up.

Or, a symbol of federal government credibility and followers of both major parties, elected officials, newspeople and school teachers not asking questions.

 

I have two Twitter pages. One is for news and politics, where I follow a wide variety of people and organizations with different views – Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

The other page is for getting away from news/politics and American culture – Twitter: https://twitter.com/AwayfromtheTV

I always liked the idea of being able to choose (follow) the pages that will post to my feed, and that’s how I thought it used to be. If I am a church person and only want to see posts from my church, or other churches I follow- that’s it.

If I am only interested in Volleyball, I can see posts in my feed that are only about volleyball.

Today, Twitter is sending posts to the feed from accounts you do not follow:

Mar 9 2023 9to5mac.com

Twitter users complain about seeing tweets from accounts they don’t follow

I had my @AwayfromtheTV account small and very nicely cleaned up in terms of who I was following. Now I am seeing random posts from others I do not follow.

I left Facebook several years ago, after using it a lot.

I used to like the old version of YouTube. If an account had posted hundreds of videos, you could flip the stack and see the oldest ones first. That feature looks to be eliminated now.

I never did use social media for social purposes. Did not come in contact with a raft of friends because of what I was posting. Whatever I cared about was not popular. Sometimes, I look at what is popular in American culture and I am proud not to be connected with that.

20 years ago, Google was a clean and simple search engine. AOL was there for those who were OK with the convenience of more central control. AOL steered you to use their internet connection, browser, email, their version of searching to find AOL sports, shopping, entertainment, finance, news, travel, etc. Every move you made on the web could happen under the AOL regime.

Today, Google wants you to create a user name and password. Register, sign in, and hand over your cell phone number for security in case you need to update your password. Google wants you to use your Google ID to sign in to an expanding number of sites on the web. If you are away from home and logging in on a different device, they might think you are a scammer/spammer and may take you into a tortuous process to verify who you are. What was the house number across the street from where your best childhood friend grew up?

I quit. No more logging in to Google.

A search engine I like: DuckDuckGo

Random thoughts:

The internet has been in our homes for 25 years. Any changes that took place should have been for the purpose of making it more simple, faster, quicker and easier to use.

More here:

Internet was better 20 years ago

Something Positive

When I am not bitching about the web, I am posting some positive images here: Coastal Favorites

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

The original Old Man Blog

Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s is no longer being updated.

We will carry on here.

I stopped posting to the blog above a while back because WordPress changed the blog user interface from something that was easy to use and understand to something that became super complicated.

I did not leave WP entirely, but paid extra to keep using this blog. Maybe paying extra means I could easily post to the old blog, but I have not taken time to fuss with it.

More here:

Leaving WordPress

WordPress Sucks

Goodbye Spammy WordPress Likes

 

The original Old Man Blog

Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s is no longer being updated. We will carry on here.

 

From a blog I posted back in 2018:

Marijuana was commonly available to all at the public high school I attended in the late 70s. People weren’t waiting for ballot initiatives, Governors, Mayors or the Washington state Attorney General to give their blessing.

Honor Roll students sampled it too. Somehow they went on to lead productive lives. Somehow they avoided worst-case scenarios of abuse.

Today- “Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use…”

Medical Marijuana is now at 29 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC

I am 57 years old and the federal government still struggles with marijuana prohibition.

Where are the voters who promote smaller and limited government? Are they the ones who are OK with undeclared/unwon wars that never end? Wars that are explained away as wars for our freedoms?

It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal war on drugs, drug czar, prohibition of marijuana, etc.

 

Even though marijuana was available to high school students in the late 70s, we were not camping on the sidewalks.

Lessons learned:

Famous celebrities had died of drug overdose decades ago. Here are two from 1970.

Were they camping on the sidewalk? People will have strong views and will be divided on ending drug prohibition. Most will probably agree that a modern society should not yield the right of way to those who want to camp on the sidewalk.

Possibly of interest:

Now in my early 60s, I am frequently asked for ID to show that I am 21 when buying beer at major retail establishments here in WA.

Security Theater

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Symbol of a culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak. A culture that will yield  the right of way to violators while pushing good citizens to the side & collecting big tax money all along the way.

 

Noticing that many people today drive vehicles with a heavy window tint. In the old days, people might be inclined to make eye contact and exchange a wave. Is there an app for that? Today, many seem to be fully sealed inside a computer and climate controlled rolling entertainment/navigation and communications center, surrounded by tinted windows that used to be appropriate for a presidential motorcade. These features are popular even for pickup trucks today.

1970s Mob Boss – No Tinted Windows

Not Sealed Inside Behind A Heavy Window Tint

Took drivers ed decades ago. We were taught to make eye contact with drivers and pedestrians at intersections and crosswalks to increase safety.

Looks like it’s still a good idea:

New research suggests that pedestrians may have a better shot at crossing safely if they make direct eye contact with oncoming drivers.”

More here:

Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you

Possibly of interest:

Child’s Toy TV Remote

Reality TV

Related:

Old Man Blog

Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s

I stopped posting to the blog above a while back because WordPress changed the blog user interface from something that was easy to use and understand to something that became super complicated.

I did not leave WP entirely, but paid extra to keep using this blog. Maybe paying extra means I could easily post to the old blog, but I have not taken time to fuss with it.

More here:

Leaving WordPress

WordPress Sucks

Goodbye Spammy WordPress Likes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

The Slow Lane – Penn Cove

 

When I was a kid, reality TV was The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.

The Night of the Squid:

Also, about this time in history: The first man on the Moon.

The beer ads were a little more robust, back before light beer became the popular thing.

We do not have regular TV at home. Today, the reality TV I see is only in brief ads that are delivered with internet streaming services. Seeing them makes me squirm.

I have often wondered if it just makes business sense to create a reality TV show by putting one together without real actors, real stories, writers, etc. It would cost less to hire people who showed up at their local mall in order to begin the process of trying out for the show?

TV newspeople are not on their way to ask:

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Background

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Away from the TV – Just north of Perego’s Lagoon.

Local area:

Two Bluff Trails

 

Google was a clean and simple search engine. AOL was there for those who were OK with the convenience of more central control. AOL steered you to use their internet connection, browser, email, their version of searching to find AOL sports, shopping, entertainment, finance, news, travel, etc. Every move you made on the web could happen under the AOL regime.

Today, Google wants you to create a user name and password. Register, sign in, and hand over your cell phone number for security in case you need to update your password. Google wants you to use your Google ID to sign in to an expanding number of sites on the web. If you are away from home and logging in on a different device, they might think you are a scammer/spammer and may take you into a tortuous process to verify who you are. What was the house number across the street from where your best childhood friend grew up? I quit. No more logging in.

Prior to the midterm elections, I went to the web and searched for:

Will midterm voters be angry about the stock market? and similar searches.

Is the stock market an issue for voters?

All I was able to find was predictions for future market performance.

Random thoughts:

The internet has been in our homes for 25 years. Any changes that took place should have been for the purpose of making it more simple, faster, quicker and easier to use.

20 years ago, comment sections on local newspaper websites were more open and available to use. Various papers have now eliminated comment sections. Elsewhere on the web, comment sections may be hard to find, eliminated, or more restricted than ever.

Bad people might post distasteful content so we all face information suppression or warnings to help us to avoid suggestive images, etc. If Mom and Dad want to set up child safety protocols at home, that is good with me. Just leave the rest of us alone.

Want to learn about beer? You don’t get to look at the brewery web site unless you enter a date of birth. A meaningless honor system awaits. Just tap in any bogus qualifying numbers and you are on your way. Take That-adolescent males who are goofing off on a Saturday night.

When I was a kid, each of the 50 states were free to set their own minimum drinking age. That’s all gone now. We drank underage for years with no help from the internet.

We do not have regular TV at home. A good thing. We use streaming/internet TV. The old days of watching sports are gone. Today, go out and purchase the sports bar/casino style viewing subscription to watch your favorite team. If you’re happy with that, hold on because next year the team might not sell broadcast rights to the same company, a new contract may be in place, etc.

My wife has several passwords for several streaming/internet TV sites. At times, these can seem like they are not ready to work until you log in again, etc. These sites offer limited content. The old VHS tapes seem like a more simple idea.

We tried to watch a YouTube channel on our TV last night. This guy was exploring in the desert out west. A nice change from constant Pacific storms. He had a play list of his desert camping and travels. Good luck finding the play list on the TV viewing format.

A while back I went to the web to find any company that would do roof repairs in the town where I live. I landed on a web site that wanted me to enter my zip code. Seemed super spammy and scammy to me. Creepy. The old yellow pages seemed like a more simple way to go about it.

 

Hotel Properties

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel results in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job? Seems like free enterprise might be better at moving things along Re: hotel properties.

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

A better idea for local federal funding:

Quinault Marina & RV Resort

Get the ferry to Westport going again:

“Sadly, the ferry service shut down in 2008, but not due to lack of popularity. While the ferry service had seen closures in previous years, the service would always pick back up and be celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Sadly, after too much sand and silt built up around the Ocean Shores marina, the El Matador was forced to cancel trips across the harbor. What was once a family-friendly boating experience and adventure across the harbor is now relegated to fond memories.”

Rehab of the marina would attract sport fishermen for launching and mooring of boats. Set up a place for fish and chips, a pub with a view, bait and tackle/boating store, a cocktail lounge, restaurant, etc. Use some imagination and get it going.

Work on access to the beach at Damon Point too.

Gas Cans

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

0:20

Probably designed by some bureaucrat that never mowed a yard:

Cars

Gov. Inslee plans to ban gas-powered cars by 2035.

Your Toilet

The Energy Policy Act of 1992, which became law in 1994, mandates a maximum flush volume of 1.6 gallons for toilets manufactured and installed after this date.”

Your Shower Head

“In 1992, a federal mandate limited the amount of water that could flow from a replacement shower head to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). Some state and local governments mandate even lower GPM flow rates than the federal regulation.”

Your Light Bulbs

The Department of Energy has recently set new standards for light bulb manufacturers.”

Plastic Bags

Central authority hands down one size fits all rules for retailers and consumers: Allowed and banned bags

Download an accessible toolkit in one of 17 languages

Your Lawn Mower

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently updated its regulations for emissions from “small spark-ignition engines”—that is, your lawn mower or tractor and other outdoor power equipment.”

Your Gasoline

New clean fuels standard in WA: “The program requires fuel suppliers to gradually reduce the amount of carbon emissions in their transportation fuels to 20% below 2017 levels over the next 15 years.”

Heating Your Home

Washington State Ban on Natural Gas Heating

Central Control Of The Rental Property You Own 

They are working on it:

“If approved, a new section would be added to state law that requires all rental housing units within the state to be registered with the Department of Commerce every two years when a tenant occupies it or it is made available for rent.”

“In addition, landlords must pay a registration fee of $70 to register a unit, plus a fee of $15 for each additional unit.”

“In addition, if a landlord does not register the property, they would not be able to legally evict a tenant from the rental.”

“The money raised by registration fees would be used to assist with programs that provide legal representation in evection cases, assist local government with inspections of rentals, or for administrative purposes only.”

Firearms

“Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson will request legislation for a statewide ban on the purchase or transfer of assault-style semiautomatic rifles as part of the latest push by firearms-safety advocates.”

Possibly related:

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.


Is the list of things government is not good at bigger than a list of the things government does well?

List of Things the Government is Good At – TV News Avoids Asking Questions

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

More here:

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Okinawa 1980 – The Christmas Tree Story

 

We just watched Daddy’s Home (2015) and Daddy’s Home 2 (2017). Both films include scenes of cars lined up to drop the kids off at school. Much has changed over the past 40 years.

I have no problem with what Moms and Dads want to do. Please don’t tell me it’s a sin to have a disposable plastic water bottle, disposable plastic shopping bag, or an internal combustion vehicle. I promise not to be a litter bug.

In the old days, kids could walk or bike to school. More of the kids were slim and trim back in the 70s when kids had bicycle paper routes after school.

Top generals and politicians have a military recruiting crisis on their hands. They will blame young people who are overweight. They will not blame a DOD brand that is known for decades of undeclared/unwon wars.

When do we get to vote our way out of undeclared/unwon wars?

Okinawa 1980 – The Christmas Tree Story

More here:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

 

Ongoing Breakdown of Society

Again, I have no problem with what Moms and Dads want to do. Re: school busses.

Made for TV job stress update:

Preparing students for the real world:

More job stress:

Scary ride:

School field trip update:

Departure from protocols update:

Cameras are rolling:

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Nowhere near the school drop-off lane.

Whidbey Island

 

I realized Saturday morning that it had been years since I watched TV news in the morning. 20 years ago, I would turn on the TV for news each morning. I started watching evening news on TV when I was at Camp Lejeune in the early 90s.

Over the past couple of years, local (Seattle) news has featured ongoing breakdown of society updates. Gunfire, stabbings, drug addiction, arson, catalytic converter thefts, casualties related to shootings, tent camping on the sidewalks, RV camping on city streets, and worst case scenario climate change predictions.

Ongoing breakdown of society updates:

Another of these items is an ongoing shortage of ferry workers.

The crew shortage story has been in place since at least June 30, 2020.

Love to see newspeople ask:

Does the WSF HR Director get paid more to keep the system running smoothly?

Are crew member incentives in place for perfect attendance?

Months of poor play would be enough to get an NFL or college football coach fired.

Is there pressure on the WSF HR Director to do better?

Various industries such as FedEx, UPS, Costco, etc. may do holiday hiring to staff up for a busy time of year. Any similar creative thinking in place at WSF?

HR policy away from WA government:

UPS aims to hire 100K ahead of ‘record peak holiday season’

 

The Washington State Department of Transportation has closed five I-5 rest areas north of Seattle because of excessive trash, vandalism and a staffing shortage.”

Misbehavior shuts down federal highway rest stops? Publicly funded highway safety facilities are shut down because of misbehavior? WTF?

Welcome Home Troops

49 other states operate highway rest stops. If I was Governor, I would insist on picking the top 3 states that are best at running rest stops and running WA rest stops in a similar manner until further improvements could be made.

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

 

Newspeople refuse to report on 2014 voter approved enhanced background checks.

Did the new requirements reduce gun crimes?

Newspeople remain silent.

Puget Sound area shootings roll on.

 

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

Got it.

On the national scene it’s all crisis management, undeclared/unwon wars, politics more ugly than at anytime in my life. Race relations that seem to have deteriorated since President Obama did 8 years in the White House.

Newspeople have moved away from asking basic public policy questions.

Our local TV news today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

TV advertising has become especially strange. How about legal anti-depression meds that may bring on thoughts of suicide (0:34).

 

I’d be OK with the mainstream press taking over the task of keeping the public informed. When TV newspeople avoid asking public policy related questions, individual citizens go out to check on what is going on.

JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:

The family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks are more welcome to do interviews related to public policy. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved away from asking questions.

Operating A Camera In A Public Place

Sports writers and alternative media people are still about asking questions.

Still viewing lots of news via Twitter, and I would be more at peace if I moved away from it.

Much voting has gone on over the past 40 years or so. For sure, there is a chunk of public policy that has become worse, not better. Stopped watching TV news a long time ago because of the way newspeople (paid actors reading a script) have dealt with all this.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

It’s clear that most of the WWII generation is gone now.

The WWII generation did a better job of running a modern society.

Nothing new about highway rest stops. They have been around for a long time now.

 

Oct. 15, 2021 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Washington closes several rest areas along Interstate 5 indefinitely due to vandalism, trash

“Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced the long-term closure of several rest areas between Everett and the Canadian border this week due to vandalism and ongoing maintenance issues.”

Long-term closure? No chance for a quick cleanup, ongoing State Patrol enforcement, maintenance & volunteer groups to keep rest stops cleaned up and ready to go?

49 other states operate highway rest stops. If I was Governor, I would insist on picking the top 3 states that are best at running rest stops and running WA rest stops in a similar manner until further improvements could be made.

These are federal highways. Publicly funded highway safety facilities will be shut down because of misbehavior? WTF?

“…some visitors have not been using the facilities for their intended purpose…”

Living at rest stops, illegal dumping, littering, vandalism and verbal threats against employees will keep gasoline tanker truck and HAZMAT transport operators from stopping to take a break for safety?

 

Oct. 15, 2021 Seattle Times

Five I-5 rest areas to close in Snohomish and Whatcom counties over trash, vandalism

“…another Snohomish County traveler mentioned filthy conditions in August, including sewage around the crowded RV waste-disposal areas, and suggested tighter State Patrol enforcement.”

A large number of comments follow the article.

From comments:

Also not mentioned is the fact that the state has a law enforcement agency responsible for policing the state and interstate freeways, including rest stops. Where is the WSP in this issue?

 

Oct 15, 2021 KING 5 News video:

Several rest areas along I-5 closed in Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties

 

Misbehavior will keep Mom & Pops, who are visiting from out of state, from getting a positive and welcoming impression of WA?

Welcome TF Home Troops

 

Related:

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Washington State Ferries & A Press Release Style Of News Reporting

Remain in your homes and wait for further instructions

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Symbol of a culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak. A culture that will yield  the right of way to violators while pushing good citizens to the side & collecting big tax money all along the way.

 

DSC_0120 Burning Driftwood Saves Trees

I have seen signs in WA State Parks telling us not to collect and burn driftwood.

If burning driftwood was OK- trees and other natural resources could be saved while reducing pollution at the same time.

Probably the most popular version of firewood for camping comes in the plastic shrink-wrapped bundles.

What is their story?

A big smokey truck drives into the hills to cut trees, at day’s end the truck returns to the firewood bundle processing facility where the wood is cut, split and wrapped in plastic by employees who each drove their own vehicle to the factory to start their shift.

The next day a big truck takes the wood bundles to the big grocery store warehouse facility where the bundles are offloaded by forklift.

The forklift is powered by highly toxic rechargeable lead/acid batteries.

The next day a big truck comes to take the wood bundles to a local grocery store.

The bundles are offloaded by forklift. The next day we are on our way to go camping and stop to buy firewood.

We load up the wood in our own vehicle, gas up, and head to the park.

The restriction on burning driftwood may have to do with preserving the natural beauty of the beach. Occasionally, driftwood may be a hazard to boaters. Not seeing any problem in burning untreated wood.

It would be helpful to have some written explanation of this policy posted on the State Park’s website and in the parks.

Rules are easier to understand and follow when they include an educational component. Not this time- this is a “Because we said so” rule.

Of course, there is always the option to have no fire at all, but I like having a campfire.

I grew up in Kitsap County in the 60s & 70s. Beach fires were a common thing.

 

Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

 

Photo- A piece of firewood that got away and became driftwood.