Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 101
Sign: Aries
City: Lineville
State: Alabama
Country: US
Signup Date: 12/30/2006
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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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Current mood:  catalyzed
Category: News and Politics
I had a hard time categorizing this blog. This is really about life. Unfortunately, it has to be about News and Politics, since that is why we as Americans are in jeopardy.
For the record, I AM SICK AND TIRED OF POLITICS! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF POLITICAL RHETORIC! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF POLITICS DRIVING U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICIES! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF CONGRESSIONAL APATHY TO THE PROBLEMS WE FACE TODAY! TO QUOTE HOWARD BEALE FROM "NETWORK", "I AM MAD AS H*** AND I WON'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"
We are in the shape we are in because of many factors. There are no easy answers. There are no quick fixes or short term solutions. Here, I will attempt to examine certain aspects of our current situation to spur discussion and debate concerning these issues, for the specific purpose of seeking answers which will preserve our freedom for future generations. While this blog is based on facts, this constitutes MY opinion and are ideas toward solutions, not to be intended to be forthright edicts. Your ideas may differ. I only encourage you to consider these thoughts and not dismiss them as idle rants. This is the first installment of I don't know how many installments on this subject. Here, I will identify some of the issues facing us. More to come! I invite your comments!
CHAPTER ONE: HOWEVER...
Here are some subjects I would like to address:
ENERGY COSTS
For decades, we have enjoyed lower energy costs than Europe, Japan and many other countries. Why?
- We have insatiable desires.
- We are spoiled.
- We ignore signals which portend future disaster.
- Our energy is taxed less than other industrialized countries.
We are a "I WANT IT AND I WANT IT NOW" society. We also hold the belief that we are "PRIVILEGED" and deserve to be treated better than the rest of the world. This mentality has permeated Washington, seemingly, forever. Unfortunately, we contributed by our lack of resolve. Our attitude, along with Washington, has been "Things are great! Why should we be concerned?"
Now, we are faced with rampantly increasing costs for energy! We are outraged! Yet, we have done little to resolve this problem on a personal basis while criticizing Washington and the oil companies. There is plenty of blame to go around...yes, the oil companies need to bear some of the blame. Our putting personal gratification above common sense, by buying SUV's and other gas-hungry vehicles, putting every convenience known to man in our homes, Wahington's laxness in ignoring the problem for decades and OUR not pushing Washington to adopt a sane, long term energy policy has pushed us into this situation. We are all to blame.
HOUSING CRISIS
As in the case of the previous subject, as exhibited by the popularity of lotteries, we have for decades proven that we want something for nothing. When the financial institutions and the Federal Government offered us incentives to buy a home by offering loans at below-prime rates, we took that as an opportunity to get MORE HOUSE THAN WE COULD AFFORD. We bought a $250,000 home on a $150,000 home budget. We rationalized that our income would keep up with the increases in mortgage rates when our incentive period ended. Wishful thinking! That did not happen!
Because of our gullibility, developers and home builders kept building more and bigger homes, ever optimistic. Realtors enhanced our desires by offering us more home, more features, more, more, more....buy now while the opportunity is at hand...before the price goes up! We fell for it. We put the shovel in the ground to dig our own grave.
The way out is painful, to be sure. Just keep in mind that 95% of us are paying our way...only 5% have defaulted. That does not mean that the rest of us are not struggling to stay ahead!
FOOD COSTS
See Energy Costs Passthrough.....EXDUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IRAQ WAR
Everyone is complaining about being in Iraq too long. The cost of the war is criticized by all of us. I supported the war effort from Day 1. I believe that our leaders REALLY believed that Saddam had WMD's. I believed it! 85% of the country believed it! We were all misled by Saddam's arrogant and defiant stance! He has been proven to be a lying con artist. I do not hold Washington responsible for that...or us, for that matter.
HOWEVER, after "SHOCK & AWE" it was "AW, SHUCKS"! The followup after the initial effort was grossly inadequate. We needed MORE, QUICKER, which could have avoided the necessity for a "SURGE" 5 years after the fact. The FACT that the SURGE has, and IS, working, proves that point.
The cost of the war is another issue. It is NOT the cost of the war that has created a financial crisis for us! It is the fact that Washington SPENT THE MONEY FOR THE WAR....OVER AND ABOVE EVERYTHING WE WERE ALREADY SPENDING! In other words, Washington did not have the guts to REDUCE SPENDING in other areas to PAY FOR THE WAR! The result? They have created a HUGE, RECORD, National Debt! Irresponsible!
World War II was, in real dollars and the costs of lives, FAR MORE EXPENSIVE TO US than our efforts in the Middle East. BY FAR!!!!! The difference is, WE sacrificed, Washington cut back everywhere else and, together, we paid for the war. This time around, we chose to ignore the problem.
THE U.S.DOLLAR VALUE
One thing leads to another! If you can't tell, this Blog is not of a few selected topics. They are all connected. It is more of a circular motion!
It is obvious to me that the deflation of the value of the Dollar in the rest of the world is due to the out of control overspending by Washington....in other words, the increasing National debt! Go back and read the previous topics to comprehend this premise.
This has led to investment in our national assets by financiers from foreign countries! They are buying America~
To add insult to injury, THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE PAYING $4 A GALLON FOR GASOLINE! PURE AND SIMPLE! Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iran and Africa are NOT our friends! They are arrogant and greedy...like us, only more so....and HATE US....and WANT US TO FAIL! Washington has known that for a long time, but continue to ignore this fact!
Foreign investment, in and of itself, is NOT necessarily bad for America! In a world economy (which we are in, like it or not) glabal investment is probably healthy. HOWEVER, if the motivation behind foreign interests buying American assets constitutes a weakening of our power for future dominance elsewhere, we should be concerned. Think about it!
EXPORTS
This is a positive thing! Right? Well, it depends upon how you look at it! Yes, exports are good. We sell more goods overseas and we benefit, in jobs and money coming into our pockets. HOWEVER, when we EXPORT JOBS to third world country so our corporations can make more money to pay bigger dividends so more people will invest in their stock and make more money for their top officers, we have lost sight of the real goal....OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE!
IMPORTS (and ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION)
Since post World War II, we have benefitted from imports. We continue to benefit, to a degree. HOWEVER, when IMPORTS includes MILLIONS of ILLEGAL ALIENS, it is time to take notice and do something about it. Of late, such efforts are taking place, finally! I do not object to people from other countries coming to America for a better life. Far from it! HOWEVER, when we ignore the problem of people entering our country ILLEGALLY for too long, it catches up to us. IT HAS! Although we are beginning to do something about it, we have a lot of catching up to do. We have to do more. WELCOME, all of you who seek a better life in America....just come here LEGALLY! Oh, and all you COYOTES out there (on BOTH sides of the borders)....I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON YOUR OWN DUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am NOT a proponent of a "SEPARIST" or "ISOLATIONIST" mentality when it comes to our Government Policies. HOWEVER, when we allow freedoms to those outsiders who do NOT deserve it, we are leaving ourselves open to losing our own freedoms!
TO BE CONTINUED......
Subscribe to my blog for future chapters....
"...AND THEY TIED HER TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS....AND THE TRAIN IS COMING...AND.....AND....AND..."
Just Guye
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Thursday, June 05, 2008
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Current mood:  sad
Category: Friends
Bo Roberts, talented pianist, singer and songwriter, of Mobile, AL, passed away June 3 after a brief illness following a cruise. Please pray for his wife, family and close friends as we mourn his passing. Thanks to Pirates Cove for bringing news of Bo's illness and death to us. His song, "Going Back to Mobile" is playing now on MySpace in tribute to this talented entertainer. Bo, you will be missed, my friend.
 | Currently listening:
On My Way Here
By Clay Aiken
Release date: 2008-05-06 |
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Saturday, May 31, 2008
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Current mood: distraught
Category: Life
Is it just me, or is the world coming to a point where child abuse is a matter of opinion? WHAT? Is it acceptable for society to condone the practices of a jailed so-called preacher, i.e., cult leader, found guilty of complicity in forcing the marriage of an underage female to their older cousin? Should we accept polygamy as an accepted practice? Is it acceptable for us to be "tolerant" of such practices? Are we to accept, in today's so-called "open" society, child abuse disguised as "marriage" to much older men, allowing their pedophilia to be fulfilled, under the guise of "religious belief"? Give me a break! No individual with even a fraction of moral responsibility should stand for this! For the courts in Texas to rule that none of the children taken from the cult headquarters as being "in immediate danger" is an insult to my intelligence...and I have a high IQ, so I am not stupid! We all are at risk of being lulled into believing that "everything is acceptable, so long as you believe in it with all your heart". This premise does not justify child abuse! In the infamous words of newscaster Beale (in the movie, "Network")..."I am mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
SHOUT IT TO THE ROOFTOPS!
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Monday, March 10, 2008
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Current mood:  cynical
Category: News and Politics
WHAT PRICE "GREEN"?
Whether we agree or disagree with the causes, we are deeply engrossed in a volatile war to "Save Earth". Global Warming has become the "cause celebre" throughout the world. Al Gore has jumped on his global soap box to tout our "extreme disregard" for nature. He proclaims that "we are destroying our planet" through reckless consumerism. His "plan" is that WE (not him) sacrifice our way of life to "save the planet" from what he considers to be an imminent demise of Earth.
Well, ain't that just fine and dandy? We are destroying Earth by our "careless and reckless" disregard for our environment while he is "fighting our battle" to "turn the tide" of self-destruction! Really? Just how is he fighting this great battle?
Is it reasonable to expect him to fly all over the world touting his cause in a Gulfstream, one of the worst polluting aircraft on Earth? Is it reasonable that he make millions off an upstart TV network who is relying on his "fighting the good fight" for success? Is it reasonable for him to ignore the majority of the scientific community which disagree with the theory that man-made pollutants are the primary contributor to global warming? Is it reasonable that he ignore the cry of many scientest that the recent indicators are that our planet is actually cooling, not warming?
I am not a scientist! However, I am smart. I read. I listen. I pay attention to detail. I examine all sides of issues. This is one topic upon which I have spent umpteen hours. I am not presumptive that what I write here is totally correct nor am I so arrogant that I would believe my views are the definitive answer on this subject. On the other hand, Al Gore certainly seems to believe that his view is the only view that matters!
Au contrare, Sir Gore, politician first...world benefactor?.....NOT!!!!!!!
IF man is responsible for "global warming" (which may, in itself, be a myth), then explain the "Ice Age" long before our arrival. Explain the "Great Flood" (recorded by ancient civilizations acroos the planet), when the world's population was sparse, to be generous. Convince me that Earth did not experience global warming during the age of dinasours! Explain to me why the science community all agree that conditions on Earth are cyclical and have been for millions of years...a time period FAR exceeding our existence.
Now, as to solutions. Everyone knows that the least expensive way to produce electricity is via nuclear plants. Of course, we will all get fried by meltdowns in the long run! Solar panels produce electricity FREE, right? Well, there are drawbacks. First of all, solar panels, in a size to produce substantial amounts of electricity are, vs. other means, VERY expensive. Now we find out that the manufacturing process produces tons of toxic waste!!!!! Oh, I know! WINDMILLS!!!!! They are efficient, right? Well, that depends upon who you ask. What about the wind? Scientests say that dependable wind currents, capable of providing sufficient support to windmills, only exists in certain regions. Most areas do not qualify. The initial and operating costs, again, are higher than other electric sources. Water power is cheap....right? Again, depends upon who you ask. Likewise, coal powered generating plants. Then there is the proverbial petroleum/natural gas based powered plants! We all know that's bad, right?
Then there is the matter of the NUMERO UNO problem that is destroying our Earth.....CARBON DIOXIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY, MY, MY!
To listen to Gore, we should all quit breathing...immediately and permanently!!!! None of us should flatulate (that's fart, for the less informed)....ever!!!! Especially cows!!!!!! Yet, the one source of CO2 tat is being singled out and attacked is, you guessed it....the AUTOMOBILE!!!!! Well, folks, got news for you!!!! The average CO2 producing vehicle, run 24/7 produces LESS CO2 than a human!!!!!!!! Now, I know, NOW you're going to say....it IS man who is doing this!!!! Give ME a break!!!!!!
Where does Oxygen come from? Any idea? Well, it generates in our atmosphere naturally...don't ask me to explain HOW! Now, for the other side of the coin...WHAT happens to CO2, when WE pollute the air with it? DUH..........PLANTS SUCK IT UP!!!!! And, you want to know the best part? PLANTS PRODUCE OXYGEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess you are now expecting me to bloviate on the answer to all of this....how do we get out of this mess? Quit driving? Quit farting? Quit using electricity? Quit breathing? Well, folks, if I had THE DEFINITIVE answer to all of this, I would be a multibillionaire and would not be wasting my time on this trivial blog!!!!!!!! HOWEVER, I do know things that MIGHT make things better. I will list them here, for your enlightenment.
1) Quit cutting down trees until they become a dangerous menace by their natural cycle of dyiing.......
2) Plant more trees to replace the ones cut down.
3) Outlaw wild fires! Eradicate them entirely!!!!!
4) Ask God to quit making lightning....abolish thunderstorms! (Of course, that would deprive the plants of much needed nitrogen, among other side benefits, like WATER!!!!!!!!
5) Plant even MORE trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6) Ask the EPA to put limits on how many times we can exhale during a 24 hour period of time.
7) Require CO2 absorbing masks for all living beings and ban vehicles which produce CO2. (Of course, all the plants would die....)
8) Eradicate insects (Of course, the DDT would kill us all!!!!!!)
9) Ban all sports (well, breathing hard produces more CO2, right?)
10) Plant even more and more trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Not to mention...quit breathing!]
I do not take responsible care of our natural resources lightly, despite this tongue-in-cheek blog. We must all do our part to practice responsible conservation of our resources. Ofcourse, there are many ways we can do so and you know, at least, most of them. HOWEVER........
Earth was here long before WE came along and named it. EARTH, save by some Divine intervention, will be here long after we are gone. Oh, we very well may kill each other off through some means or another, but.....kill the planet? Who do we think we are....GOD???? We do not have the capability!!!!!!!!
As to Gore, well.....I say send him to Tibet to be the Dali Lama's assistant. He certainly could not object....no vehicles....clean air.... (despite having to give up his Gulfstream).....oh, but limit the number of times you exhale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guye Scott, Charter Member
Southern Literary Syndicate
From: "Ramblings Through the Woods"
(c) 2008 Guye Scott Libre
 | Currently listening:
If Not Now
By Fertile Ground
Release date: 24 August, 2003 |
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Monday, December 24, 2007
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Current mood:  mischievous
Category: Writing and Poetry
'Twas th' nite..."
'Twas th' nite afore hris'mas, when all through th'village, notta varmint 'uz stirrin', 'cepten them playin' cribbage. Th' leggin's 'uz hungb' th' nails on th' mantle a warmin', a hopin' they'd be full 'afore th' sun's up in th' mornin'. Th' chilluns 'uz piled t'gether all in one bed, while visions in the'r heads 'uz visions of gif's, ev'n a sled. Mama in 'er 'boggin' 'n me in ma cap, 'uz all sttlin' in fer a long winter's nap. When out on th' roof ther' riz such a clatter, Isprang outta bed t' see whut wuz th' matter! Away to th' winder I flew lik' a flash, tore op'n th' shutter 'n threw up th' sash. Th's noon o th' crest o' th' new fell snow look like th' light o' midday on th' junk below. When whut t' ma 'mazin' eyes 'ould appear, 'ceptin' a itty bitty sleigh 'n' eight tiny reindeer! With a li'l ol' driver, s' lively and quick, I knew 'ithout a doubt that it 'uz ol' St Nick! Faster'n high flyin' wild eagles, his coursers they came, 'n' he whistled 'n' hollered at 'em all b' name: "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer 'n' Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! T' th' top o' th' porch! T' th' top o' th' wall! Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves 'afore th' wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount t' th' sky So up t' th' house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full o' toys, 'n' ol' St. Nick, to. 'N' then, in a skittle, I heard on the roof the prancin' 'n' pawin' o' each little hoof. As U tycjed in m'ead 'n' 'uz turnin' 'round, bsngin' down th' chimbley St. Nicholas fell with a bound! He'uz frocked all in fur frum 'is 'ead t' 'is foot, 'n' 'is clothes 'uz all kivvered in ashes 'n' soot. A big bag o' toys he 'ad flung o'er 'is back 'n' 'e looked like a peddler jus' op'nin' 'is pack. 'Is eyes—how they twinkled! 'Is dimples, how merry! 'Is cheeks 'uz lack roses, 'is nose lik'a cherry! 'Is droll little mouth 'uz drawn up lik'a bow, 'n' 'is chin whiskers 'uz as white as th' snow! A stump of a pipe 'e 'eld tight in 'is teeth 'n' th' smoke…w'y hit circled 'round 'is 'ead lik'a wreath! 'E 'ad a big roun' face 'n' a little round belly, thet shook w'en 'e laffed , lik'a bo'l fulla' jelly. 'E'uz chubby 'n' plump…a rat jolly ol'e'f, 'n' ah laffed when ah seen 'im in spite o; mahse'f! With a wink o' 'is eye 'n' a twist o' 'is 'ead soon giv' me t' know ah 'ad nothin' t' be afeared. 'E didn' mutter a word, but got straight away t' 'is work 'n' filled all th' leggin's…then turned with a jerk, 'N' layin's fanger aside o' 'is nose, 'n' givin' a nod…up thet chimbley he rose! 'E jumped in 'is sleigh, t' 'is team gived a whissle 'n' away they all flew lack th' down uv a thissle. But I 'eard 'im exclaim 'ere 'e drove outta sight… " 'Sppy Chris'mas to all, 'n' t'all a good nite!" -with humble apologies to Clement Clark Moore
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Thursday, October 25, 2007
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Current mood:  gloomy
Category: News and Politics
I have been listening to the news over the past few days and agonizing with the people of California in their time of need as the windswept fires devour the coast from near Oxnard (northwest of Malibu) all the way, over 200 miles away to the south, to the Mexican border south of San Diego. This may well be the worst fire, when all is said and done, in the nation's history (Chicago...the cow fire... and San Francisco...the 1906 earthquake fire...notwithstanding). Certainly, California has never faced this magnitutude of devastation from wildfires!
My good friend and mentor, DonKeith, has witnessed fires in the past in California, during this same calendar period. He has been there many times, and has experienced the Santa Ana winds, with and without fires. He has experienced fires of great magnitude, more than once, going back over 30 years ago!
Now comes the political pundits. There are those who claim that this is a clear result of Global Warming (Sen. Reed) and the result of overpopulation in areas of high risk (Jamie Lee Curtis). While I absolutely disagree with Reed, I tend to agree with JLC, up to a point. She is right, but she is missing some key points.
The reason that wildfires run rampant, whether in California or elsewhere, is simply, the fire goes where there is fuel. The more fuel, the worse the fire and the harder it is to control.
Alabama has not experienced a major wildfire this year, even during the worst drought on record in recorded history, because of the Forestry Service's systematic controlled burns, executed over the past several years. While, I will admit, a major fire here could breakout any time. Albeit a possibility, the likelihood of anything near the magnitude of the California fires (which are multiple) is highly unlikely. Controlled burns reduce the amount of fuel available to feed a fire, pure and simple!
In California, as I understand, the environmentalists have opposed the concept of controlled burns, have declared the cutting of trees to be an unpardonable sin and so tied the hands of developers, homeowners and builders to the point that "nature should not be touched". Now, I am not an idiot. If one builds a house in the middle of a national forest, that has seen major wildfires every 3 years or so for the past 500 years (or longer), one might assume that it WILL happen again!
Given that people will continue to build in these areas, for the so-called environmental protectionists to insist that one cannot take steps to protect their property by conducting regular, controlled burns to remove underbrush, cut trees closer to the house than 20-30 feet and otherwise take steps to reduce the chance that fire, at some point in the future, will devour their house, then something is wrong.
The original inhabitants of our country, the Native Americans (misnamed Indians by the early European explorers, since they did not end up on the land they sought) were well aware of the high winds blowing toward the ocean, which occur regularly this time of year and has for centuries. California has had wildfires for hundreds of years. California has always been an area of low humidity ( on the whole ) and (on the whole) minimum rainfall (except for isolated areas ). It is not a new phenomenon to have a major fire.
This is a disastrous multi-fire of unprecedented levels. While the original fire in Malibu was probably started from a power line downed by high winds, several fires were started by arsonists, in the opinion of various fire chiefs and investigators.
Santa Ana winds plus fire equal disaster. That is nothing new. Al Gore did not cause this because of his campaign to warn us of global warming, nor did Sen. Reed, blaming it on global warming, nor even Jamie Lee Curtis, even though her comment is worth consideration. Blaming man may have some merit, but blaming global warming is pushing the reality that this has been going on for hundreds of years.
There are also those who will, for the rest of their lives, blame God. While I am not smart enough to second guess God, my Bible tells me that He is not in the business of making our lives miserable. I do not believe that these current fires are a result of his vindictiveness. There is no legitimate reason, from man's perspective, to think so.
When you get to the bottom line, neither is it fair to use a natural disaster for political benefit, as a growing number of people are trying to do. It is NOT Bush's fault, even though that has been implicated. It is NOT Arnold's fault, even though that has been stated. This is NOT another Katrina! Disaster? YES1
When a politician tries to take ANY disaster and imply that it is the fault of their opposing party leaders or blame it on a new theory of man caused global warming is not only naive, it is, in my mind, criminal!!!!!!!!
My heart goes out to the people of California and my prayers are with them in this time of monumental stress on their well being. On the other hand, I deplore the actions of the demagogues who try to turn natural disasters into their own personal gain for political reasons. That disgusts me!!!
Here is where I will be criticized: Liberal, anti-Bush politicians have gone too far this time! They are blaming everyone on the conservative side for this disaster. They are blaming a theorized reason for global warming. They are makng political hay over an issue that has absolutely nothing to do with ideology and everything to do with natural phenomona and personal responsibility. They, in my opinion, do not think they have any!
GuyeScott
 | Currently listening:
Back in Black
By AC/DC
Release date: 18 February, 2003 |
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Friday, March 23, 2007
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Current mood:  calm
Category: Writing and Poetry
Written for BALCONY @ www.heathermihok.com 3/22/07:
MOON MOODS
by Guye Scott
Moods change, as in the phases of the Moon
Ever predictable, yet never the same
Life deals us mixed cards
Whether in shame or fame
It is only up to us and our Maker
To make or break the cycle of our minds
By examining ourselves and our motives
By breaking that which binds
Our innermost thoughts and moods
From those of the most detrimental kind
Which blocks the light and pitches us into darkness
Of our moods and our mind
Let us give of ourselves
So that others may gain
That we may be resolved
In our quest to the Main
What is most important
Is not the superficial cause
To recognize the real
And separate it from the clause
That makes us whole, as the MOON!
.. -->.. -->(c) 2 (c) 2007 GuyScottLibre
.. -->.. -->.. -->.. -->
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Tuesday, March 13, 2007
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Current mood:  confused
Category: Writing and Poetry
Don't blame me! Leslie made me do it!
THE MEANING OF NUMBERS, an sLs blog by Guye Scott.
Most people have favorite numbers and, in most cases, there is a hidden reason behind them.
For example, I have a lawyer friend whose offices used be on a particular street facing the downtown park in a town in Michigan. His address was 711 XXStreet. He said he always wanted to go to the City Council and get them to pass a resolution changing the name of the street, so that his address could be....
711 WALL STREET
Go figure! (LOL!!!!!!!)
For me, that favorite number is 9,437. Depending upon the circumstances, it could be 9,437,000 or some other derivation. As you might expect, there is a story behind why this number is my favorite.
It all began one dark and stormy day....NOT! Back in my Corporate days, I had a tendancy to work on those things that I wanted to work on and not necessarily those things my BOSS wanted me to be working on. My priorities did not always match his!
One time, he called me on the phone about a particlar subject and wondered how I was coming on it. I told him that I had it next on my list to do, as soon as I finished some things upon which I had started and needed to finish. He asked me how many things I had working. I answered with the first number that popped into my head, that being, 9,437! i got DEAD SILENCE on the other end of the phone! After a bit, he quietly told me to put 9,436 of them on the back burner and get to the subject at hand immediately! I told him had I known that subject to be high priority, I would have already done it. He quipped back, "Well, now you know it is!", and hung up.
Needless to say, I got it done!
HOWEVER, and this is why that number became SO important to me! That "magic" number accomplished a very important mission for me with my then boss. From that day forward, any time I got an assignment from him, he would note at the top of the page:
PRIORITY "x"/9,437
If it was something he wanted YESTERDAY, he would note:
PRIORIRY 1/9,437
If it didn't matter, he would write: PRIORITY 0/9,437.
Then there were others, 3/9,437, 5/9,437, etc., depending upon how many tasks he had sent me that he had not yet received back from me (yes, he DID keep track!). And so it went, but it helped me keep him satisfied in a way I would never have otherwise known!
I'll never forget one piece of useless crap he sent me that he had written in Magic Marker across the top......
"PRIORITY 9,438 OF 9,437!" I immediately trashed it and never read it. I have wondered ever since what it was!
I was once asked how many people I thought there were who really cared about what went on with our government. I immediately responded with, "9,437,000, or about 3-1/2% of the population...a number similar to those who pay 94.37 % or so of our taxes." I was never asked that again!
I have grown to use that number in so many different ways in so many different situations. It is now firmly entrenched in my brain! Now that I think about it, I have about that many things on my platter at the moment, so I had better get at PRIORITY 1/9,437.....if I could just figure out which ONE of the 9,437 that ONE was!
Guye Scott
From "Ramblings in the Woods"
(c) 2007 GuyScottLibre
 | Currently listening:
Rollin' on the River
By Creedence Clearwater Revival
Release date: 12 October, 1999 |
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Friday, March 02, 2007
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Current mood:  anxious
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural
"IRIS LEAVES, DARK PLACES & OTHER HAUNTS"
An sLs BLOG by Guy Scott, from "Ramblings in the Woods" (c)2007 Guy Scott Libre
When I was just a tike, I, like all small boys, had "haunts" that were borne from an over active imagination. These haunts bred repetitive dreams that fueled small fears into gigantic, montrous, "SUPER HAUNTS". Only when puberty hit and steered my mind in other directions did these haunts disappear...only to be replaced by other, even bigger ones.
One such dream occurred often as I was in the process of "falling to sleep". My bedroom was in the back of the house, elevated some 5 feet above the ground. The corner room had windows on the two outside walls. As I began to drift into sub-consciousness, I would become transformed into a bubble, and would float up from the bed and out through the window, even if it were closed. As I floated gently into outdoor space, I would gradually begin a slow descent toward the ground and just as I would reach the pointed tips of the Iris leaves, and, oh so gently touch just one tip........THE BUBBLE WOULD SUDDENLY BURST....and I would suddenly and violently jerk awake! It would be some time before I could let myself fall back asleep.
But, fall back to sleep I eventually would. The bubble event might only happen once, but sometimes it would repeat. When I ultimately reached the depths of total submission to the state of random nothingness, called REM sleep, my subconscious mind would take over and generate wild fantasies not otherwise achievable! I would conquer enemies or be a hero to vanquish all evil I encountered or free the masses from oppression or, even, explore strange worlds or galxies far, far away. You see, I was into Science Fiction in those days and actually believed that most of it ws true! Anyway, no matter the stupendous adventure, it would always lead to the same conclusion....being chased by the bad guys! Oh, but I would not be deterred! I always had an escape plan ready and waiting! I always knew in my warped, subconscious mind, that in the crawl space under the house, I could hide from those hideous enemies, but escape through one of the vents at will. Well, it alwasy seemed like a good plan at the time. Yet, it was always the same! When I would attempt my clever escape, my legs would turn to jelly, my heart would race and my body would become, again transformed, into a mass of thick, as though frozen, molasses and I would become virtually unable to move, as though an invisible rope was tied around my waist, deterring movement in any direction! To make matters worse, the enemies woudl advance closer.....and..closer..and...BANG!
I WOULD AWAKEN WITH SUCH A START that I almost fell off the bed (actually did, one time!)!!!! More than once, I would holler out "MOTHER!" and she would come to my aid. I never bothered to call out to "DADDY", because he slept so soundly and snored so loud, he wouldn't be awakended by my cry, anyway! Mother, though, seemed to understand and would calm me down by stroking my forehead and talking soothingly to me. I have no idea what she would say...my memory never recorded those words. I wish it had!!!!
For many years afterward, when faced with ANY situation which called for a hasty retreat, I would be haunted by the fear that I would be caught up in that black hole of static state and would be pertually unable to escape!!!! On more than one occasion, I almost passed out from that recurring fear, it was so real!
Well, despite it all, I did eventually outgrow those fears instilled in me from early childhood. They were replaced by more mature fears that my fantasies of romance with my latest crush would actually be fulfilled...and...then...just when I would reach the point of no return................I would resort to my haunting childhood fears.......and either pass out or become......OH, NO!...........NOT...........IMPOTENT! NO! I would scream! NO! Anything but THAT!!!!!!!!!!! Often, I would ask to be spared from that onus of embarrassment from which one could never fully recover!..............or BLOW the ONE AND ONLY chance with the GIRL OF MY DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!Oh, pity me!
Well, these experiences, over the years, taught me a few lessons. One, do not let fears control you and ruin your life! Two, take things as they come! Three.........
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR! YOU MIGHT GET YOUR REWARD!!!!......
........only to discover, after the fact, that your old fears would have been a better alternative, in some cases, after all!
Which brings me to a revelating conclusion:
DON'T BURST YOUR OWN BUBBLE! HELP IS EVERYWHERE!!!!!
Guy Scott
 | Currently listening:
Bad Moon Rising
By Sonic Youth
Release date: 25 April, 1995 |
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Thursday, March 01, 2007
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Current mood:  giddy
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural
"WHO'S JOHN????", an sLs BLOG by Guy Scott
From "Ramblings Through the Woods" (c) 2007 Guy Scott Libre
Several years ago, I ran across an album while visiting my good friend, Don. He let me borrow it for a while. I recorded it onto a cd and returned the old 33 1/3 RPM vinyl record to him intact, because it is one of his treasured albums from the 1950's. Don told me this about the man who recorded it.
There was this comedian, from Birmingham, by the name of "Flat Git It" Brother Dave Gardner. He preceded Deacon Andy Griffith by a few years. He was a dapper fellow, about 5' 5" tall. He always wore a three-piece Ivory linen suit when he performed. He kept a gold watch in his vest poscket, with a long gold chain with a gold fob on it which hung down almost to his knees. When he would come out to perform, he would grab that chain just above his belt and twirl that fob around as he began his stories. Dave used to perform every weekend at the Gaslight Club on Morris Avenue in downtown Birmingham. He was VERY popular and went on to perform in clubs all around the South. He would appear in New Orleans, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Savannah, Charleston and many other cities, but his favorite place remained, The Gaslight Club on Morris Avenue.
He had a famous one-liner, which he would interject somewhere during his performance, and it went like this:
"Ja'es Lewis, git a-way frum that wheelbarrer! You doesn't know nothin' 'bout mo-cheeen-uh-ree!"
He always told audiences that he spoke two languages; Southern and colored. (Remember, this was the 50's, folks, and that is HIS line, not mine.)
His performances were a series of stories that he made up, including "The Motorcycle Story", "The Guv'ner's New Limousine" and, this one, "The Haunted House". It is MY favorite from the album.
Like many towns in the South, there was this old, abandoned house out on the edge of town. It had an old rusty iron fence around it, the paint had all turned gray and most of it had pealed off. There were holes in the roof and the porch floor, the columns were all crooked and looked like woodpeckers had had their way with 'em, many times over. Thick, hairy, dull greenish gray Spanish Moss hung from the gigantic Live Oak trees which surrounded the house. The limbs form the trees almost touched each other across the middle of the house, giving it an ominous, almost etereal appearance. Kudzu was encroaching the place, weeds were higher than your head, and all the once magnificent shrubbery were nothing more than overgrown, scraggly bushes, most of which could not be identified for certain.
Well, it seems that the local timber man in town, who had amassed a small fortune, had bought the property and planned to fix it up. The whole town was talkin' about it and the owner became concerned that some of the local pranksters might run over there and vandalize the place, as if there was anything to vandalize!
Anyway, one evening, as the workday at the timber yard was just about to be over, he went towards one of his "hands" (that's what workmen were called back then) and called to him, "Willie Earl, com' 'ear a minnit!" (Back then, everybody had double names.)
"Yassir, Mistah Grays'n." Willie Earl was loyal to his boss and would do anything he asked of him.
"Willie Earl, you know I bought that ol' Wilson place over towards the rivuh, and I've been hearin' rumors that somebody may bother it or som'thin'. I need you to go over ther' tonight and see that nobody comes around. You can do that, can't you?"
"Mistah Grays'n, suh, you knows I'll do anythin' fer YOU, but...I don' know 'bout bein' in that ol' house. Thet thin' jus' 'bout skeers me to death!" Willie Earl replied.
"Oh, it ain't haunted like ever'body says. Them are jist ol' tales t' keep folks from botherin' it. Now that I've bought it, though, well, rumors are a-flyin' around here! Why, you can fire up the ol' washpot, put some grease in it an' fry you up some catfish! You'll have a good ol' time and the night will be ovah befoah ya know it!"
"Wal, suh, I don't know...." Willie Earl was tryin' his best to weasel out of it without tellin' Mr. Grayson NO!
"I'll give you a hunnerd doller bill." That kinda changed the pi'ture for ol' Willie Earl.
"Wal, suh, I reck'n then thet'd be allrat, atter all." Willie Earl was still not sure he wanted to, but he could NOT pass up a "hunnerd doller bill"!
"Come with me by my house and I'll give you a mess o' catfish and a can o' grease and we'll go over there together. I'll even help start the fire under the washpot!" Mr. Grayson took care of his "hands".
A little while later, they had the fire goin' out back under the washpot and the grease was melting and heatin' up. Mr. Grayson said to Willite Earl, "Now you'll be okay tonight, don't you worry about it. I'll come by in the mornin' an' pick you up. You take this flashlight and just don't worry none, y'hear?" and with that, Mr. Grayson left.
Willie Earl was nervous as a cat in a room fulla rockin' chairs, but he started talkin' to keep hisse'f company. "Man, I's gonna hav' me sum catfish 'n' ah'm a gonna stay her' an' eat 'em 'n' ah got sum R-uh-cees and sum moon pies 'n' ah'm jis' gonna hav' m'self a good ol' time and ah ain't gon' let nothin' keep me f'um gittin' thet hunnert doller bill, nosuhree bob-tail!"
Just then, he heard a noise behind him, and turned around to face the front door. (It was one of those houses that the back door was lined up with the front door, and you could see clean through the house with both doors open.) He shined the flashlight towards the front door and there was this little ol' bitty guy standing there. He wer'n't no bigger than a average sized rat, he wasn't. His head looked like them shrunk ones Willie Earl had seen in ol' Life magazines, an' 'is eyes 'uz black as tar. He was dressed in black and had little pointy-toed shoes that turned up towards his knees. While Willie Earl was givin' him the once over, the little guy looked at 'im and spoke to him in a real high-pitched voice, asking...
"Are you gon' be here when John gets here?"
Willie Earl barked back at 'im in a loud voice and said, "You ain't nothin' but a figmen' of mah min' an' you ain't nothin' atall, you ain't!" and he took a RC bottle cap and threw it at him as hard as he could. The bottle cap hit 'im upside 'is head and he went flyin' back'erds right out th' front door, across th' porch and was gone.
Willie Earl grinned to hisself and said out loud "Thet'uz nothin'! Ain't gon' let nothin' bothah me. I's gonna have me sum catfish and R-uh-cees and ah gon' make m'se'f a hunnert doller bill!"
He turned around and checked the grease in the washpot and tol' hisself "Man, you jis' 'bout gittin' hot enuff to fry them cats, y'ar-uh! I's gon' try one." and he turned an got one o' them catfish and dropped it into the hot grease. It sizzled and popped and Willie Earl jumped back to keep from gettin hisse'f splattered on. "Youzzah, you sho' ar' redd-eee-enuff!" he said to th' pot, as he dumped the whol' passell o' catfish in the pot. "Now y'all fry up good fer me, cuz I's gittin' hongry, sho'nuff!" he exclaimed as he stepped further back 'til he 'uz standin' in the back doorway watchin' the grease just a boilin' 'n' the catfish 'uz jut a rollin' in that hot grease.
H'uz jus' standin' ther' watchin' them catfish a boilin' in that cauldron o' grease, drinkin' hisse'f a big ol' RC Cola, when he heard another noise behin' 'im...a bit louder than the first time. He whirled around and shined that flashlight towards the front door and saw this funny lookin' guy 'bout t'ree feet tall uh standin' ther' glarin' at 'im with 'is yeller eyes. He was dressed in sump'n like a' ol' to' sack with a rope 'roun' 'is waist to hol' it on 'im and he'z wearin' sump'n' nuther look' like little Lebanese tennis shoes...you know, with the big toe encased and the other toes encased separately, but all together...sorta wierd like that, dontcha know? By this time, Wille Earl 'uz gittin' kind nervous lookin' at this funny lookin' dude, but he wasn't gonna let that thin' stop 'im from stayin' ther' and makin' that hunnert doller bill!
The little man didn't move, but spoke rather strongly for his size,
"Are you gon' be here when John gets here?'
Willie Earl shouted back at 'im "You ain't nutha-nuthin' neither" and threw the half empty bottle of RC at 'im, hittin' im squar' in th' chest with full force. He also went flyin' out the front door across the porch and was gone in a flash!
"Man, ther' ain't NUU-THIIIINN gonna bother me! I'm gonna have me them catfish 'n' R-uh-cees 'n' moon pies 'n' ah'm gonna mak' a hunnert dollers toooo-niiite!"
About that time, he heard very loud, thudding noises, like heavy footsteps, on th' porch, and somethin' that sounded sorta lik' chains draggin and clinkin' with each step. He whirled around and shined that big ol' flashlight towards th' front door and, low and behold! Ther' stood a HUGE man 'bout 9 feet tall! (Old houses had tall ceilings back then.) He had flashin' green eyes, his hair looked sorta like thick Spanish Moss jus' hangin' out ever' which way from Sunday and he was covered in what looked like ol' rotten clothes. He had chains around 'is neck, wrists, ankles and waist, an' they'uz all tied together with more chains! He'uz bar'foot but his feet look' like they didn' need no shoes anyhow, 'cause they'uz like elephant hide, anyways. He didn' stop like the others did, he jist kep' on a walkin', thump, ker-chunk, thump, ker-ching, thump, ker-clang...all the way down th' hall through the house 'n' out onta th' porch, backin' Willie Earl all the way inta th' yard. He walked up to that big ol' cauldron...o' grease...reached down into it with one of 'is big ol' han's and grabbed a han'ful o' them boilin' hot catfish and stuffed 'em in 'is mouth and swallered 'em whol' without even flinchin'! He wiped 'is mouth with the back of his hand, smacked 'is lips 'n' looked down at Willie Earl, who wuz now shakin' pretty bad, opened his mouth, flashing teeth the color o' rust onna ol' tin roof. and said in an absolutely THUNDEROUS voice....
"ARE YOU GON' BE HERE WHEN JOHN GETS HERE?"
With that, Willie Earl was about to lose control of all his bodily functions so, as he backed further across the back yard, he hollered back...
"MAN, IF YOU AIN'T JOH-AHNN, AH'S GAAAWN'!"
Written by Guy Scott, as interpreted from (and elaborated upon) one of the stories created and told by "Flat Git It" Brother Dave Gardner in the 1950's.
The Southern Literary Syndicate ('sLs') is the collaborative effort of Liam Jackson, Dave Bean, Alan Hardy, Jamie Lea Mason, Guy Scott, and Alan Deal. Please support the 'sLs' by visiting our blogs. Thanks!
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