I am about two weeks away from releasing the first mystery in the "Grand Organ Mysteries" series, "The Notre Dame Concert" into general release. Artwork, final review, and changes approvals are all about me, littering the floor of my mind. The limited First Edition is doing well, I suppose. I wish there were many closer to 1,000 sold, but rarity, it is said, finds itself.

 

 

The price necessarily goes up, because the majors (Amazon, B&N, etc.) require such a steep margin. Unfortunately, I am not willing to bring such treasure to the world for free, or at my cost. This was, is, and shall be, a business enterprise, after all. All I can say is get yours now. When the general release comes out, the price will be about $10.00 higher. I'm not comfortable with the current price, but it is as low as the production costs will allow, and still give me a buck or two for the trouble.

 

The second book is in process. After consulting all those who are fans, members, contributors, or survey-takers, I now know where the second concert will take place. I'll keep it quiet for now, but I think you will really like the result. Thanks to all who voiced an opinion, or wrote a suggestion. With ten possibilities, it was difficult, but quite fun to create the final answer.

 

It follows the general design of the series, in that the second book takes place inside the USA, whereas the first was featured in France. Of course the team still begins and end the operations from "the estate", and the crew is back again with no one missing (this time!), thank goodness. I hope you will get "Notre Dame" if, for no other reason, than the basis of the series lies in it. Any questions in future titles will be referred to it for solution. :) Isn't that just FUN?

 

The next mystery will highlight one of the most well-known musical mysteries of all time: "The F Sharp Debate". I hope you will stay tuned; it promises to be a grand adventure.

 

Budroe

After months of continuing difficulty, it seems that two potentially very good things have happened.

 

The first good thing to happen has been the pre-publication of "Notre Dame". The wildly popular title has been performing extremely well, considering that virtually NO marketing has been done on the volume. The marketing plan is in place, but dormant at this moment. It will take some weeks to activate the plan across the internet sites that have so very carefully been established for that purpose. I still have not seen the final book. You can purchase the book one of two ways. There are a limited number of "pre-publication" copies available at http:www.lulu.com/content/1220640. There are also an extremely limited number of autographed copies available as well. Send me a message for a link to that opportunity.

 

The second reality-shift has to do with my physical location. I have, at least temporarily, moved from Indiana to Southern Illinois, where I am staying (and working) with a couple of dear friends. After a couple of months of near disaster, it seems as though a future may be possible after all. The computer access is extremely limited at this point, but I will be posting here regularly in the near future.

 

The A-1 Writing Academy is doing well at the moment. We are completing the transition from open to closed system education. It has been quite the challenge, and there is much yet to be done. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, many willing and capable volunteers have come together to share the vision of what can be. I wish some of the obstacles did not exist. But, like it or don't, we are moving ahead with as much energy as time, access, and my health allow.

 

And, that's the way it goes.

 

Bud

Well, it would seem as though I am nearly alone these days in quest to release the mystery series. I have been establishing a PR campaign to hopefully create some market buzz, but in light of all else going on, it has been (and continues to be) a very slow process. The company is sitting idly by, waiting for the incorporation to be complete.

 

Medical, financial (of course) and issues of time have had me going, it would seem, in circles. This is generally not thought to be a good thing. Yet, in this moment, when I come back to where this began, I can appreciate the design changes I see. The interior decorations have been nicely appointed, and there is a feeling to the place that I just plain like.

 

I think that, in the civilized world, they call that progress. But, to what? For what purpose, and to what end?  I don't know.

 

But, I know who does, and that is sufficient for me.

It has been a while since I visited this Space.  It is nice to see it still here.

 

The most amazing words a writer can pen are: "The End".  I wrote those words for "Notre Dame" recently.  The book is now under professional edit.  I hope it will be done soon, and ready for submission to the publishers. 

 

Life goes as life goes.  I am on  a difficult journey these days.  I am writing about it at my writer site.  If you would like to follow along on this journey, you may check it out here.

 

I wish to keep at least one Blog open for other topics of concern to me, and I think that between this one, and the yahoo 360 site, those other interests will be adequately covered.  I just don't know how to parse the entries. For awhile, I will probably provide dual entries for these two sites, so that all my friends can be kept informed of my, umm, yeah, my wisdom! :)

 

I hope you will follow along, as well. 

 

In His Care,

 

 

Budroe

I had to come back and look to see when it was that I actually wrote those infamous words...you know, the ones about "I'm going to to NaNoWriMo 2006"?

 

Well, there I was neighbor, sitting peacefully on the porch (I don't have a porch!), sipping my lemonade, watching the ponies gavort, minding my own durned business.  I wasn't bothering anyone!  I was bein' a good boy!!

 

When, out of nowhere, a bus full of muses pulled a hard right up at the corner, and came barrelling down my street.  Wobblin' crazily all over the street, obviously out of control, the bus slid onto its side, and all these Muses spilled out onto my lawn!  Laughing, and jumpin' up and down, the whole wad of 'em came running into my house, and commenced to takin' up all over the place.  All that whisperin', and titterin' amongst each other made me nervous--very nervous.  (I hate it when they take to titterin'!) And, all of a sudden, I didn't have one single idea for a novel.  I had two! 

 

One of the associated activities with the National Novel Writing Month (which I again urge you to do) is an organization called NaNoPubYe. This is a plan to go from blank page to published work in one year.  One of my personal goals during the "off" season of writing has been to become a better-structured writer (well, okay, my Editor told me I had to!). NaNoPubYe does a wonderful job of organizing the process of writing, which is a strong support mechanism for me.  (So, there! Don't say I don't give my success secrets away!)

 

On the NaNoPubYe site, what do I see, but a "Fall Warm Up" for 2006. The challenge?  25.000 words--in two weeks!  Not planning, no.  Writing! And the writing has to be something other than the NaNoWriMo work, because the rules of each say "From a blank page".  Yes, you can plan, create your character sheets, arc your plots, set scenes, and all that.  But not one single word of manuscript can be written. 

 

And, all of a sudden, a wad of those Muse-thingeys started dancing around in my head, and spilled a bucket of vowels, or punctuation, or something.  A complete story came spilling out.  (Man, I hate it when they titter!)

 

So, beginning at midnight tonight, the Warm Up for 2006 begins.  It will end at midnight on October 7th.  If you want to follow the process, I will be writing about the NaNoPubYe work at my novel writing site.  I am very glad they are back.  It's nice to feel like I am home again.  The last effort ended badly in 2005. That work is sitting inside my computer on life support.  The first effort is finished, and is currently out to Agents and Publishers.   Thanks to your support and encouragement, the future is beginning to look better.  

 

The working title of the NaNoWriMo 2006 Novel is "The Radical".  It is not a mystery (my first non-mystery fiction), but rather a projection into the reasonably near-term future.  It is a very dark novel that will, I hope, convey an important  warning.  I am filled with a lot of the work within this story, but am also rather full of doubt about my ability to be successful.  It is a confusing dilemma and will require a lot of work.  I looked around me, and there wasn't anyone standing around with the stature of a Faulkner,  or a Rowling, or a Welles to hand it off to, so I guess the work belongs to me whether I like it or not. I do not look forward to the subject, and I currently do not see a happy ending. That makes me nervous.  Perhaps the ending comes later, I don't know.  But this troop of Muses surely seems to, and so far they are still smiling.  Regardless of their uncontrollably playful nature, they  have never misled me. So, I'll see where they take me.

 

 

The highlight of the NaNoPubYe 2006 Warm Up novel (Working Title) "Das Polizei-Geistliche":

 

It is a thriller, involving a Lutheran Pastor and Police Chaplain, (same guy), and his rather un-Priestly habit of finding his next murder victim online, in internet chatrooms.   The tag line is looking like:

 

"It looks like the only way this murderer will ever be caught is if he arrests himself!  If they only  knew...."

 

Now, you gotta admit, that's got enough fun in it to make 25,000 words! 

 

Would ya like to get a taste of the first words?  Well, alright! Don't get your knickers in a wad! 

 

 

"I know how I'll kill him!" The Priest thought to himself.

 

He knew that he was completely safe. Who would ever suspect a priest? And a Police Chaplain to boot?

 

He had very good reason to trust his judgement.  He had killed before--recently.  The beauty was in the plan, he thought.  Every "Deliverance" required the unique touch he alone could provide.  Careful never to repeat himself, each "Deliverance"  had to be original from beginning to end.  Every previous time had been a singular act of perfection. 

 

Oh, there was a pre-determined series of events which had to be a part of each experience, and they had to occur in a carefully chosen order.  It was, he though, much like the High Liturgical Mass, all but forgotten in the remnants of his denomination's rush away from all things sacred.  While each Mass was delivered in the same order (except for the Special Masses he was rarely called upon to perform), no two were ever the same.  And so it was with his other charges as well. 

 

This one, he knew, would be very special, indeed.  And, in only a moment, he knew just how special this "Deliverance" would be. It would be the very best Service yet.

 

He reached for the gold-colored Chalice with reverence. He could not help himself as a slight smirk began to slide across his lips. 
 
"The blood of Christ."

 

Okay?  What do you think? I've got six hours to decide. Let me know what you think.

 

Anybody need a slightly banged up bus in need of a paint job?

 

Almost two years ago, now, I took a dare from a friend.  I was a professional truck driver--with a broken foot.  My job, for some six weeks, was to make sure my foot stayed higher than my heart. 

 About two days into this task, I knew two things for certain:

     1. I had much less patience than I ever imagined; and

     2. If I didn't get to doing something, anything, productive, some small yet innocent fur-bearing creature was going to have a rather gruesome, yet unfortunate end to its existence.

 Doing nothing at all, AND sitting still all day are two ways to cause a truck driver to lose whatever fading sense of peaceable gentility they may ever have. I'm fairly screaming at my friend about the need to save me from the pending doom which no doubt is setting upon me, and he is not responding as I think he ought.  No, not at all. 

 To offer, in memory of a good friendship, at least a small vestige of explanation on his part, since he can no longer defend his own sorry, miserable self:

 1. This friend has known me most of my young, impressionable life.

2. He is, or was (as the case may be) not a driver.  He knew me from a previous, and much more glorious time in my young, impressionable life.

3. He is, or was (as the case may be, officer) a television producer. (This should give you an amazing overview of many important qualities of said individual) He is also a professional writer OFF the job, as well.  He is VERY famous.   Yeah, right!

 I'm not taking to this new plan very well at all.  I am also, as luck would have it, in what can only be considered extreme pain.  I am hungry.  I am tired.  I am wanting my Mommy at this particular point in my young, impressionable life.  Oh, Shut UP! It's my story.

 Where was I?  Oh, yes, my young, impress....anyway.  My friend actually WAS listening to my complaining and whining (his sour words, NOT mine!), and suddenly popped up with:

"You need to do something productive!" (Did I mention he is also a fellow MENSA'n?) As I trembled in anticipation (hardly), out came the most incredible thing he may EVER have said to me:

 "Bud, you have lived a magical life.  You have done, in only 49 years, things very few humans have done, or ever will do.  You've travelled the world, and you have visited every state in the USA within the last year!  You should write a novel!"

 I was stunned, nay shock-ed.  I had long known that work pressures were affecting my friend, but I had no idea how far past the boundary of rational thought he had truly gone--until that moment.  Perhaps, without his knowing, he had been struck by a fast-moving missile of some sort.  (Lord knows they have been aimed in his general direction often enough!) Had he failed to tell me he fell down a flight of concrete stairs--on his head? Whatever the reason, I was now (more than ever) convinced that my friend was totally out of his everlovin' mind!

  Then, he very carefully began telling me about an online activity which happens each November, called NaNoWriMo.  This organization, whose Executive Director is a man in San Francisco named Chris Baty, has an online writing contest each November.  You can sign up in October.  You start "clean" (although some NaNo'rs begin organizing their thoughts between October 1st and November 1st), with zero words written.  Beginning at 0001, November 1st, you have 30 days to write a minimum of 50,000 words in a novel!! Style? Fahgeddaboudit!! Punctuation? Nope.  Correct form?  Not necessarily.  Historical or factual accuracy? I don't THINK so!  50,000 words barely covers the requirements for a Novella. (The average Novel is 85.000 - 100,000 words.)  The whole point of NaNoWriMo (The National Novel Writing Month ) is writing words.  Baty's belief is that writers write--every day!  NaNo is all about writing. Style, form, accuracy, and all that "stuff" are not part of it--the writing is.  It is not his statement, but rather a legacy clarion call of all writers: Writers write--every day! Writer's Block, Writers Cramp, Style problems, research, and on and on goes the list--are merely distractions from the one thing that we, as writers, MUST do each day: write!

 I suggested to my friend that he might consider upping the dosage on his medication.  And then, the poor sap did the one thing that no reasonably intelligent human would EVER purposely do to a Hillbilly: he dared me!  He said he was doing it (again), and he dared me to do it, as well. (There was a rather hefty financial wager involved, as our negotiations concluded.)

  This idea has not merely caught on.  It is now an international happening, with nearly 100,000 Nano'rs competing.  In my first year, I completed the task of writing 50,000 words (verified) in 17 days.  My "friend" finished, as well--with 13 seconds left in the competition! (What a wuss!) The 50,000 became 104,000 and my first (soon to be) published novel.  Elementary school kids do NaNo as a part of their school curriculum.  Junior and High School Educators use NaNo for AP class assignments. Colleges and Universities offer credit for NaNo.  Internationally, those from the newbies to the pros participate in this no-holds-barred, In Your Face ...fun.  It's totally ruthless, heartless, and as completely unprofessional as you could ever hope to imagine.  From the entirely famous to the nearly infamous, people of every age, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality and economic status participate.  It is a merciless free-for-all.  And, in this two-year trek, I have learned much about my craft.  I have made friends, established bonds, created opportunities, and worked insanely to produce a product that, long after the winning NaNo 2004 entry, has become the first in a projected series of ten mystery novels. Yes, it is irreverent!  Yes!  It absolutely defies every possible construct of "legitimate" writing...yeah, so?

 In seventeen days, over 50,000 words nearly flew of their own accord from my fingers.  Characters whom I had never met suddenly took up space in my brain!  A plot with devious twists, bad guys, and amazing results were born.  And, in the end, so was one heck of a good read!  It was an amazing journey, with some truly amazing people.  I tried it last year, but being on the road made it truly impossible to fairly participate. 

 I'm off the road now.  The series has taken on a life, a company organization (yes, really!),  and a purpose of its own.  My friend is still producing television, and is still working to finish his NaNo effort.  To be fair, his goal was different than mine (he wanted to be "good" at it!) and his novel is nearing completion.  I hope he finds, as I have, success waiting for his labors.  Single moms do it.  Doctors, Ministers, Truck Drivers, and grade schoolers do it.  And, this year, I am going to do it as well--again.  I am doing it this year for the same reason I did it last year, and the year before.  All my life, I have been known for saying two things:

 1. Writing a novel is on my life-list of things to do. (Done!)

 2. I believe that every person has, within them, a song to be sung and a story to be told. Sing your song, and tell your story! The World WILL be a better place because of it. (Done!)

 I still believe it.  And, because you are reading this, you know of my writing.  I want to challenge you to take the dare my friend gave me: DO NANO 2006!  You have very little to lose (sanity, hope, and like that) and everything to gain!  The NaNo site will be up until September 20th at midnite. Check it out. On October 1st, 2006, go to the site and sign up.  It is free.  Donations are accepted, and fund an international fund that creates libraries in under-developed countries, and provides laptops to dis-advanted schools around the world.  Along the way, you will make friends, learn a little about writing, and just have a heck of a good time.  If you can write 2,000 words each day (approximately eight double-spaced typed pages), you will get to see what the incredible "Winner" bar looks like!  Sound impossible?  Yeah, I know.  I thought so, too.   (The average Blog entry is 1,000 words!)

 We had teams, no less. State teams, or different activity teams (All the Bloggers from MySpace who did NaNo joined up together, for instance). I wrote for five different teams during my first NaNo!  I got some mighty spiffy little badges to put on my signature line (the "prize") for it.  I also learned that there is a talent for writing that I did NOT know I had.  No one was more surprised than me to find out that my writing was actually pretty good!  I'd written before. Daily Journals, tehnical manuals and books, manuscripts and methodology writing for many different areas.  I was, at the time, new to the entire Blogging world, too.  I didn't know the first thing about actually "writing" a novel, and I had to learn--a lot!  Yeah, so?  I love learning! And, as I discovered from NaNo, I love to write!

 I'm going to do NaNo again this year.  I'm home working on school, and writing anyway.  My NaNo project will be a completely new effort.  It may be one of the ten volumes expected for my Mystery series, but I'm thinking not. I don't know.  I'm not an "organized" writer like so many of the successful authors are.  I sit and stare at a blank screen, and just begin typing. I have learned a lot about "how" to write, but I still use my own technique.  So far, it's gone well for me.  I think it will go well for me again this time, too. 

 There are tons of related activities surrounding this annual event, as well.  From software retailers offering NaNo discounts, to local community "Write-Ins", to friendly challenges and competitions during NaNo between physical communities, NaNo is a real deal.  Virtually every writing community on the web has a NaNo involvement at one level or another.  There is also a NaNoEdMo (National Novel Editing Month) each March, as well as an entire online community dedicated to helping NaNo'rs get their novel published (NaNoPubYe).  Just add dot com to any of these and you will find them.

 I most highly recommend this activity to you.  If you should choose to join the insanity, I hope you will let me know.  As likely as it may seem, there is really just no valid excuse not to.  We even have a few hundred active duty soldiers in the group this year, from Iraq and Afghanistan! If the ordinary bores you, or if you feel like your non-conformist nature is not being suitably nurished, I hope you will take up the challenge and have a truly NaNo adventure. From November 1st til November 30th, you can abandon the usual, munch on a NaNo cookie, learn to love caffeine again, and write every day! 

Music has been an integral part of my life since before it began.

 

For the past eight years, I have been nothing more than an appreciative listener of music in whatever form I could find it.  As I have gained "chronological superiority", much of the popular music has, for lack of a better word, escaped me.

 

There is so very much hatred in some of today's music that I am dumbfounded.  I am not a musical prude.  This music, however, offers little in the things that music has always offered me.  Where music has lifted my spirit, this music offers defeatism, and fatalism. Where music has offered me hope, this music offers hopelessness.  It is much more than a "true reflection" of the listener.  It is puerile, sterile, and hostile. 

 

Who thinks that we, born in the 50's, had no anger?  Emotion over truth is not what music is about.  As a Minister of Music, you can believe that this argument is one with which I am so painfully familiar.  Sometimes, there is a call for some music in the Church that drives from an emotional foundation.  But, it must contain within it a useable truth!  Music, for emotion's sake alone, is a betrayal.  "Feel good" music, like "feel good" Theology is a scam perpetrated on  a captive audience.  And, with a lot of the current music of our time now, I feel betrayed.  Music is not only a universal language, but as far as I am concerned it is the language of Creation itself, and more specifically, of the Creator. 

 

Yes, commercialism has been a reality in music of all forms for a very long time.  But, it has also been an option, an alternative that the performer, the production crew, and the label could choose against.  I do not harbor ill-will toward the artist who, in their best intentions, believe that this message of emotional despotism IS the message the world needs to hear.  All I am asking is to be honest about it, and fulfill the pledge that all artists are expected to take upon themselves: Honesty, and hope.  Vote with your dollars, like you always do.

 

But, look at what you are voting for.  You cannot lay the blame solely at the feet of the artist here.  You participate every time you purchase, download, or burn a song.  There is a lot of really good music out there, in every genre you can name.  Is it honest?  Does it leave you better than it found you?  These are the questions I ask of every tune, and every lyric I encounter.  I urge you to do the same.

 

Unohu

I don't know for sure, but I found some rather interesting (in a completely frightening way) information over at MSNMoney, today. 

 

In an article I found here, evidently there are some pretty amazing reasons my bank might well believe I am a terrorist. 

 

I have long said that, if I were to suddenly pay off my loans, the Bank would close in a celebratory holiday that would cause grown men to weep for joy, in public. Evidently, I'm not too far off the mark.  The reasoning, however, is vastly different.

 

Banks are, via the Banking Secrets Act, required by Federal Law to create Suspicious Activities Reports when transactions in private accounts are deemed to be "outside the normal for this account".  SAR's as they are lovingly referred to, are submitted to the Federal Government when such activities occur. 

 

Let's say, for instance, that I have an outstanding loan with my bank that is $10,000.00.  My usual monthly payment is $243.26...or whatever.

 

If, by some magical stroke of incredible luck, I come into a windfall which allows me to pay the remaining balance of $8,988.01 (hey, I've only been payin' on it a few years!), according to the Banking Secrets Act, this would necessitate the creation, and submission of a SAR to the Federal Government.

 

Why?  Because if they did not, my Bank could be penalized with a really hefty fine!  They are in the cross-hairs, too.  I mean, what with the Patriot Act II and all.  Then, of course, there is this warrantless banking stuff to consider...

 

If they DO create and submit a SAR, I have just made my life most interesting for a while.  It seems that, in their wisdom, the Feds will immediately consider me to be "a person of interest", and will do me the favor of balancing my transactions for the last, oh, say FIVE years!  This could be longer than I have had an account at this, or any other Bank.  Any irregularities in my passport (always a necessary part of my banking transaction--isn't it yours?) or any other Federally generated or maintained information will be matched (Yeah, THAT warrantless wiretapping data!) for possible future interest. 

 

So, Banks are routinely (and without your knowledge) filing SAR's on you.  Who deterimines activity which is "out of the norm" for your account?  Who gets this information, and what is done with it? Do they have to inform you?  Do they have to repair any damage done by a completely unnecessary "defensive filing" of a SAR? 

 

Sorry, we can't tell ya.  It's  a  secret!

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1: C1 and Gary Powell

 

(This is the first in a series of stories, to be featured on this Blog each Thursday for a while.  It features one of my very best friends, Sgt. Gary L. Powell, serving with the North Dakota Army National Guard on active duty in Iraq.)

 

This story is the beginning.  It is not the beginning of my life, but the beginning day of what would become a journey that lasted for almost eight years.  It was the beginning of what was supposed to be three years, according to my plan.  What brought me to this day is another story (or another bunch of stories).  Perhaps that will be for another series.  Let’s just pick up the story and see where it goes, shall we?

 

After some two months of dedicated investigation, the “C-1 Commercial Truck Driver Training Center” (“C-1”) had won out as the very best truck driving school in the area, or as many said, the best in the country.  Those who know me best will tell you that is where my standard starts.  I had decided to launch a new career as a professional over-the-road truck driver.  It was a total change from my life to-date, which suited my purposes to a T.  Originally, the plan was that I and a friend, Isaac,  would join as a “team”, but he never showed. 

 

We were to sign in to a Knight’s Inn Motel in Indianapolis (it became known as “The Empty Arms No-Tell”) on a Sunday in June, 1998.  According to the plan, my fiend and I had recruited over 8 potential schools.  The cost for the school was $4,200. That didn’t include a lot of things that mattered (meals, gas, clothes, etc.) The money had been paid, and I had finally found the place after three laps on I-465, the circle around Indianapolis, Indiana.  I was, in a word, stunned with the accommodations. They were, to put it very mildly, Spartan.

 

It was past 7 PM, and the place was abuzz with people.  Some were, like me, checking in. It seemed that most of them were already settled, and just hanging out.  It was hot, and muggy, and the idea of effective air-conditioning has obviously been AWOL in the mind of whatever person owned these luxurious facilities.  I found my room (119-still have the key.  I don’t know HOW that happened.) and started lugging my suitcases from the car (made me popular right away!) to the place where, for the next 12 weeks, I would call home.

 

Being here was no accident.  It was a malicious act on my part.  I did it to myself.  Five minutes in this testimony of the under-privileged, and I was seriously reviewing the plan. My roommate was not to be found, so off I went looking to see what I would see.

 

One of the Motel’s more luxurious accommodations had been humbly designed as a “Driver’s Lounge”, where I was told all things wondrous could be found.  In room 121, there was a couch, a couple of chairs, a sometimes-working portable television, a microwave that personified the notion of  “life support”, a bathroom that obviously suffered as a victim of extreme over-use, and a card table with some chairs. 

 

There was, however, one thing this lounge DID have that worked very well: Air Conditioning!  Like flies to a fetid steak, people were filling the space, yelling “Close the door!” en masse as I walked in.  I got my first C-1 lesson:

 

Success is individual; survival is a group activity!

 

It was soon apparent that there were many different “classes” of people at this establishment.  I was a newbie (“NooB”), in the incoming freshman class.  Sophomores, juniors, and seniors also stayed here.  We would, over the coming weeks, hear every available rumor regarding trucks, trucking, truckers, trucking companies, and this School. I learned an important second lesson in the lounge: 

 

Truckers bitch.  A lot! 

 

And, there really is such a thing as a “Trucker Story!” It inevitably begins with some variation of “You are NOT going to believe this, but…” (Bud’s “But” Rule: All after “But” is BS!) We heard innumerable “stories” in that Lounge.  We learned to hear all, believe nothing, and be very careful. But that comes later.

 

Looking around the Lounge, I spotted what could only be other NooB’s.  One of them was a guy who had the most remarkable laugh.  He used his whole body to laugh, and I figured him to be probably some Italian guy from Brooklyn!  His laugh made me laugh!

 

There was no segregation of any kind at "The Empty Arms".  All races, and all classes hung out together, drove together, ate together, and lived together.  Over time, we would all feel the loss of anyone “sent home”, regardless of their position.  In the same manner, every success was jointly celebrated.  Graduation was a never-ending process at C-1, and we shared the victory of many new drivers over those amazing months.

 

The personable young man with the laugh?  I found out later (the next morning, in fact) that we were in the same class.  We recognized each other from the previous encounter in the Lounge, and decided to “Process In” together.  He wasn’t Brooklyn-born.  He was from Zanesville, Ohio.  He wasn’t Italian.  His name was Gary.  He was married, and had children.  Somewhere between the paperwork and the physical, we became friends.  He thought I was a funny hillbilly.  I thought he was probably avoiding a federal warrant! 

 

I have what has been described as a “unique” sense of humor.  If you like it, you think I am a funny guy.  If you don’t, you think I’m something else.  I really appreciate people who not only “get” my humor, but participate in it. 

 

Gary did both.  He pitched ‘em as well (if not better) than he caught ‘em, and a friendship was born.  He had been in the Military.  I had been in the Military.  He had been in one of the lesser branches, but I didn’t hold that against him.  (Him were a squid!)  We both were beginning new careers, after military service.  That is a never-ending bond, you know.  And, in this case, two somewhat unsure guys, among 174 new guys and gals, were about to begin a journey into what could only accurately be called the unknown (OH, the things that we did not yet know!). 

 

Having an ally was already important.  Little did either of us know just how important our friends were about to become.  Gary loved talking!  And, what Gary loved talking about most was his family.   By the time the first week of class was over, I had talked to his wife AND his kids on the phone!  Yeah, we had us a friendship.  And, in the world of C-1, that was a force to be reckoned with. 

 

Having a friend in those first days at C-1 was a rarity.  People were very well aware of the “Merit System”.  You started with 1,000 points.  When you went below 750 points, you went home. Period.  No appeal. Points were given, or taken away, by anyone working at C-1.  Over the course of our class, we would say “Goodbye” to many people.

 

We had a minimum of twelve weeks to make it through.  I chose to do my training at night.  It was cooler, and there was a lot less traffic! Gary chose the daytime-a choice he would lament many times. 

 

In my class, it took exactly one day to create our class motto: “Survive til dawn!”

 

Gary’s class would tell you it was “Beat The Heat!”. Ours, I learned, we could do something about.  Of the class of 174, 27 were “T/A”’s (we had been pre-employed by Transport Corporation of America®.  Should we successfully complete the course, we had a guaranteed job with T/A.) and were considered to be the “elite” of the entire class.  T/A had the highest employment requirements, the toughest admissions test, and the highest reputation at the school.  We would find out that the word on the street about T/A was (at the very least) accurate, if not considerably understated.

 

I had set myself up with the toughest school in the country, and with the toughest company in the industry to work for.  What else would I learn about the choices I had so recently made?  Boy, Howdy!  I hadn’t even touched the tip of the iceberg yet, and I was floatin’ my boat directly into it, whistlin’ the whole time!  It seems arranging deck chairs goes better while whistlin'.

 

But, in one amazing moment, I had made one good choice.  I had an ally, and a friend.  Neither of us knew, in that first day, just what that meant.  But, before dawn, I surely would.  But that’s for next Thursday. 

 

One night’s charge at Knight’s Inn-Shadeland in Indianapolis (June, 1998):  $24.00

 

One course at C-1 Commercial Driver’s Training Institute: $4,200 (Minimum)

 

One friend named Gary Powell?

 

Priceless!!

 

Author's Note: This was actually posted on Thursday, but evidently the server did not "receive" it until Friday.  Not to worry.  Gary didn't call me "Day Late" for no reason! :)

mbf

I just wanted to wish all of those of you out there in Space a Happy Father's Day.  You are Fathers, and you are sons, brothers, and cousins.  You are husbands, Uncles, and Grandpas. 

 

You are an amazing breed.  I am proud of you.   I just wanted to let you know.

I am pleased to announce that, for the second consecutive quarter, I have made the Dean's List at my University. My cumulative GPA to date is 4.07. 

 

Yeah!!!!! :)

 

Yeay, ME!

The FMA failed.  That is some pretty tremendous news, on the one hand, yet somewhat unsettling on the other.

 

I am pleased that a majority of our elected Senators chose to avoid the already repeated inclusion of discrimination into our Constitution (or at least attempting to).  But, I would be remiss if I gave this "victory" even the slightest import in light of the reality facing me--and America.

 

That it failed is not so much a surprise (at least on this repeat attempt) as why it failed.  And, to find a real answer, I think it is important to look at the response of Pa. Senator Arlen Specter(R):

 

"This is nothing more than a solution in search of a problem!"

 

And, so it is.  But, look who said it. 

 

He spent some valuable political capitol in poo-pooing this inflammatory attempt at Theocracy.  And, he is going to pay for it. 

 

VP Dick "Dead-eye" Cheney has gone behind Specter's back to stall Senate Judiciary Committee hearings into the illegal wiretapping scheme cooked up between President Bush, and the newest henchman in his "administration", the new Chief of the CIA. Created while he headed up the NSA, this yay-hoo figured out the one block to wholesale domestic spying, datamining, and assembly, storage, and querying of every possible personal identification / information file possible.  They wouldn't worry about the FISA Court, they would simply go around it! 

 

Without oversite, accountability, or responsibility.  The administration is off the hook (so far), it's the WAR!!

(Umm, we are going to, at some point, notice that we have not declared war on Afghanistan, OR Iraq--I just wonder when!)

 

The 250+Plus private companies retrieving, assembling, catalogueing, and mining the data (along with the amazing reporting capabilities therein, forever!) are off the hook.  They are no-bid contractors of the U S Government, following what they "perceive" to be the instructions of their customer.  Illegal, ill-schmegal!  Let the customer figure it out.  We got Quakers to harass! 

 

What I think is most instructive to this particular enterprise is the very carefully wording on both sides.  Senator Specter, on CNN's "The Situation Room", spoke of Congressional oversite, and accountability.  My word, and land - O- Goshen!  I guess it HAS been long enough since the Ohio elections, after all!  I bet that's makin' Jeb nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs!

 

VP Cheney, on the other hand, says "This is Government at Work!" 

 

By Golly, I think we just had a vision.  They agree!  Somebody, quick.  Tell CNN! 

 

Oh, yeah, sorry. They are up at 1600, trying to spin $3.9 million on two 500 - pound bombs for the newest disappointed Muslim.  We will get back to ya on that, later.

 

 

 

If you don't know who SeisInt, Acxion, or Matrix is all about, you are not doing your homework, Citizens.   While it is true that the United States Federal Government has been collecting data on private citizens since the 1950's, what is happening today (and, especially since Sept. 11,2001) will startle, amaze, and perhaps even frighten most rational thinking Americans. 

 

To say that it is important to remain vigilant has never been more true.  Lest you believe that I am referring to those who would do us harm who abide within our own borders--that is precisely who I mean.  Not terrorists, in the traditional sense, however.  I am talking about your Federal Government. 

 

TIA (remember Poindexter?), and many other such programs, issued to companies under exclusive, no-bid contracts, collect every imaginable bit and byte of your personal information.  Over 250 such companies do not selectively sort through mountains of available data (from driver's licenses, bankruptcies, criminal convictions, home sales, purchasing trends, High School Annuals, and stock market activities, to cellular and email communications (as in, contents), internet banking transactions (including account and password information) are being summarily re-directed to private business concerns for storage, examination, and potential use at a later time.  250 competitors screaming for every available nugget of information, or potential information, on YOU.

 

While you may disregard, out of hand, the messenger, I believe that every American Citizen owes it to themselves (if not to the freedom of Liberty) to take the time to examine another view of these programs. Here are a couple of links, with my thanks to my fellow TechRepublic member Sandoval:

 

 

This radio magazine article, produced by NPR, is an interesting and unbiased discussion.  You can read the transcript here:

 

 

Sandoval, in his discussion statement about snooping on citizens, gives salient points that are worthy of our consideration.  You may access his points here:

 

 

The difference between knowledge and wisdom is not having the knowledge, but the use of it.  I believe that targeting 78 year old widows as extreme terrorists, as well as The Society of Friends (The Quakers) is not so much an aberrance as an unfortunate inconsistency that, if not exposed, would have kept these data mining operations and their nefarious results in the dark for a few moments longer.  How is this technology being used today?  You mean, as in, this week?

 

According to your President, George W. Bush, every available tool is being brought to bear to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment. 

 

Is it possible?  According to several "inadvertant victims", it is much more than possible.   According to some talking heads, the FMA has zero chance of passage.  "Lull them into apathy" has become quite an effective tool in our country. 

 

In the first place, it is not the wildest possibility that such a draconian measure could pass.  Civil Rights Activists would tell you so.  GreenPeace would tell you so.  Several million Americans of African Heritage would surely tell you so. 

 

I am amazed, personally, that FISA irregularities, warrantless wiretaps, and data mining are so sheepishly accepted in this country.  These are, to me, felonious acts worthy of charges of Treason against this Administration.  While realizing that this writing projects me into a world of potential darkness, it still remains not only my privilege, but my obligation as a citizen to speak. 

 

And, who could argue that it would only be in our best interest to remove these, these, these GAY people from our midst?  After all, who would want such vermin amongst us?  How could anyone possibly defend their rights to peaceably exist as equal citizens, with equal rights as other Americans?  Why, they even want the right to marry each other, defaming our long-standing traditions!  How could such a blight be possibly allowed to exist?  And, how dare they be "open" in their perversion?  They act, so, well you know, JEWISH!!

 

Oh, I'm sorry.  I mis-quoted myself.  There, for just a moment, I was thinking about pre-war Germany in the late 1930's.  Let's ask them what they think about governmental suppression of their right to peacably exist as equal citizens. 

 

If you had been alive in the 1930's, would you have spoken out against the Nazi Government?  Even if it meant your life?  Would you have owned slaves?  You know, the sub-humans, who were chattel, the owned property of their "owners"?  Liar.  You snivveling, weak-kneed, gutless liar. 

 

Right before your eyes, it is happening every day in this country.  GLBT citizens, native-born American citizens, are subjected to the same hatred, rejection, abuse, and death (Oh, yeah, that whole Matthew Sheppard thing--AGAIN!) and you cheer as it happens.  Your hypocrisy is vile.  Where is the Christian basis of our country's founding? 

 

Fred Phelps exists in his pitiable, mind-numbing tyranny because of such thinking as this.  Christianity has, at its very base, a requirement for tolerance.  Where is the tolerance here?  As Colorado learned years ago, and perhaps America must (even against its will) learn now, Equal Rights are NOT Special Rights!  When one citizen has a right that no other American has, that is special rights.  When most Americans have rights that a select group of Americans do not have, those are equal rights denied. 

 

While you crow over the FMA initiative, take a moment and remember that it is President Bush who initiated, virtually on his own, this Constitutional Amendment Initiative.  He handed it to a mouth-frothing Senator named Frist, who just couldn't wait to shove it down the American peoples' throats. 

 

What Hitler et al did to the Jews, and what Dredd-Scott did to slaves, YOU are asked to do to your own children, brothers and sisters, Mothers and Fathers, friends, and people you don't even know yet. 

 

Don't worry. Your government definitely knows who these people are.  And, I can assure you, the terror we fear most has nothing to do with Iraq, or Afghanistan.  It is the terror of Tyranny, being perpetrated right in front of your eyes, under your very nose.  And the stench makes me gag. 

 

They probably have a vomit-analysis technology too, that will tell President Bush what I was thinking when I threw up!  Now THAT is fighting for Freedom!

 

ENOUGH!

 

 

Alright!

 

With 200 million Americans visiting the internet on a daily basis, how many of them will visit my really awesome retail site? 

 

I am starting with low-end items, and will be adding items for sale as time and traffic permit.   The books will NOT be available on this site.  I am just, more than anything else, testing the concept to see if it is practical.

 

Would you help me with my test?  Please go to: http://kybudman.mydollarshop.com