I have lived in a state that does not have gambling, except for the horse track in Hot Springs, the dog track at West Memphis and shortly the lottery state wide. The horse track and dog track doesn't really count as gambling because they were already here before gambling started, whatever that means.
Gambling is gambling. You put your money down and you lose. The house wins and the State wins. Rare is the gambler that wins, that actually gets ahead and stays ahead.
The lottery has been proposed and voted down a couple of times in this state, but it was like gambling. The lottery people kept proposing until they won. They only needed to win once and they won. The losses didn't count. That one win and we have a lottery.
The lottery used to be called the numbers racket, and it was not legal. People were sent to jail for running a numbers racket. Now the numbers racket is run by the states. That makes it legal for some reason, but it is still the numbers racket.
The lottery is coming to our state later this September and perhaps it should properly be called the Arkansas Numbers Racket.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Headache
All of us have had a headache or have heard the expression, "I have a headache". Someone saying " I have a headache" does not convey any real sense of severity or pain. " I have a bad headache, also doesn't adequately describe the problem. In today's language "bad" can mean "good". Headaches can be used as excuses by some, just to get out of doing things.
I have found a more accurate description of headaches can be made by utilizing colors to describe most common headaches. Warning: These should not be used by men that are color blind.
A Light Pink Headache is one in which you think you feel a headache, but can forget it if you have something to do. This type of headache does not require medication.
A Blue Headache is one in which you definitely feel it. It really does not require medication and you can still work without distraction.
A Brown Headache is one in which you feel it all the time, it can be taken care of with two aspirins. Often slows you down a little. The cause is usually mild stress at work or someone at home.
A Green Headache means you are getting or have a cold. May be used as an excuse to take a day off work. Requires medication.
A Dark Green Headache means you are in severe pain, will require medication and three days bed rest. Very severe head colds, cramps, or the flu accompanies it. You are sick.
A Black Headache means it is almost too late. Many people have not survived a black headache. May require intensive hospitalization and treatment. Usually associated with severe beatings or muggings.
I have found a more accurate description of headaches can be made by utilizing colors to describe most common headaches. Warning: These should not be used by men that are color blind.
A Light Pink Headache is one in which you think you feel a headache, but can forget it if you have something to do. This type of headache does not require medication.
A Blue Headache is one in which you definitely feel it. It really does not require medication and you can still work without distraction.
A Brown Headache is one in which you feel it all the time, it can be taken care of with two aspirins. Often slows you down a little. The cause is usually mild stress at work or someone at home.
A Green Headache means you are getting or have a cold. May be used as an excuse to take a day off work. Requires medication.
A Dark Green Headache means you are in severe pain, will require medication and three days bed rest. Very severe head colds, cramps, or the flu accompanies it. You are sick.
A Black Headache means it is almost too late. Many people have not survived a black headache. May require intensive hospitalization and treatment. Usually associated with severe beatings or muggings.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Other Side of Nowhere
One day in November, I checked into the Dunes Motel in Valentine, Nebraska.
The Fur Trappers Association had just checked out. They had their convention in room 114 and a few of the nearby rooms. Somebody had spilled something somewhere. You could smell it. The motel owners could smell it and they want to clean it up, but don't know exactly where it is. They think it is in or near room 114, maybe.
The Fur Trappers met here for two days of discussions, demo's and a little drinking. I don't know exactly what they were demonstrating, but there is a strong lingering odor of skunk in the air. Or perhaps the women of the Fur Trappers Association have a strong attraction for "wild things perfume".
This year it is predicted to be a very cold winter and all the furry critters are expected to grow a good quality of furry coats.
I think the reason the Fur Trappers met in Valentine is they perhaps are not welcome in the big cities of Omaha, Lincoln or North Platte. After this year they are not welcome in Valentine either.
Next year they may have to meet in an RV park. At least then the smell will have a place to vent and not linger around.
Some things I noticed upon entering this territory is the short windmills, every driveway has a windsock and there was a sign on the highway that said you are entering the middle of nowhere.
For those of you that don't know (city folk), windmills are used out west to pump drinking water out of the ground to water the livestock. Livestock in this part of Nebraska generally means cows.
There are 2000 people that live in Valentine and 800,000 plus cattle. Cattle need a lot of water to drink. Windmills need a lot of wind to pump the water.
Nebraska has a lot of wind, close to the ground, it's blowing.
I guess the windsock in the driveway is to tell you when it isn't blowing, which isn't often.
Yes, Valentine Nebraska really is on the other side of the middle of nowhere.
The Fur Trappers Association had just checked out. They had their convention in room 114 and a few of the nearby rooms. Somebody had spilled something somewhere. You could smell it. The motel owners could smell it and they want to clean it up, but don't know exactly where it is. They think it is in or near room 114, maybe.
The Fur Trappers met here for two days of discussions, demo's and a little drinking. I don't know exactly what they were demonstrating, but there is a strong lingering odor of skunk in the air. Or perhaps the women of the Fur Trappers Association have a strong attraction for "wild things perfume".
This year it is predicted to be a very cold winter and all the furry critters are expected to grow a good quality of furry coats.
I think the reason the Fur Trappers met in Valentine is they perhaps are not welcome in the big cities of Omaha, Lincoln or North Platte. After this year they are not welcome in Valentine either.
Next year they may have to meet in an RV park. At least then the smell will have a place to vent and not linger around.
Some things I noticed upon entering this territory is the short windmills, every driveway has a windsock and there was a sign on the highway that said you are entering the middle of nowhere.
For those of you that don't know (city folk), windmills are used out west to pump drinking water out of the ground to water the livestock. Livestock in this part of Nebraska generally means cows.
There are 2000 people that live in Valentine and 800,000 plus cattle. Cattle need a lot of water to drink. Windmills need a lot of wind to pump the water.
Nebraska has a lot of wind, close to the ground, it's blowing.
I guess the windsock in the driveway is to tell you when it isn't blowing, which isn't often.
Yes, Valentine Nebraska really is on the other side of the middle of nowhere.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Mountaintop Memory by Neville G. Martin
It was a long hard pull getting to the top of the mountain, a two hour train ride to the little picturesque Swiss village.
Upon leaving the train I heard the announcement from the loudspeakers in German, Swiss, French and broken English.
" The seats were going to be taken out of the passenger cars. The train would be used
to haul the fresh milk to the city down in the valley. Something about the milk tram
being broken and they were going to have to use the passenger train. The train would
return for us in about five hours."
I watched the smoothness of the workers removing the seats and the beginning of the loading of the milk cans onto the now converted passenger train and I was thinking to myself, perhaps the broken tram has been broken for some time. The end of World War Two would be a good guess.
After a short walk around the little quaint Swiss village I put my camera and a newly purchased schnitzel sandwich in my backpack and headed out of the village for a mountaintop hike.
Just walking along a trail admiring the scenery, at least two miles away from any form of civilization, then it happened. Music.
Music, yes musical chimes, everywhere around me. I was surrounded and engulfed with beautiful chimes. It was like Angels were ringing bells and chimes in anticipation of a coming announcement from heaven.
Where is the music coming from? I slipped toward the far edge of the trail and looked over into the beautiful green valley below. Then, I smiled and thought this is like heaven. It is like Angels playing the ringing chimes.
The milk cows on both sides of the valley, each with her own bell with it's own sound were awakening from a mid-morning rest and they began to graze among the luscious mountain grass. With each bite of grass and with each step a bell would ring.
If God can speak through a donkey, He can surely use cows to play heavenly music.
I left that mountaintop with tears in my eyes and the sound of heaven in my heart.
Some day I will return to the mountaintop, to listen to the Angels play heavenly music; and walk with the Lord along the mountain trail to look upon the beauty He has made.
Upon leaving the train I heard the announcement from the loudspeakers in German, Swiss, French and broken English.
" The seats were going to be taken out of the passenger cars. The train would be used
to haul the fresh milk to the city down in the valley. Something about the milk tram
being broken and they were going to have to use the passenger train. The train would
return for us in about five hours."
I watched the smoothness of the workers removing the seats and the beginning of the loading of the milk cans onto the now converted passenger train and I was thinking to myself, perhaps the broken tram has been broken for some time. The end of World War Two would be a good guess.
After a short walk around the little quaint Swiss village I put my camera and a newly purchased schnitzel sandwich in my backpack and headed out of the village for a mountaintop hike.
Just walking along a trail admiring the scenery, at least two miles away from any form of civilization, then it happened. Music.
Music, yes musical chimes, everywhere around me. I was surrounded and engulfed with beautiful chimes. It was like Angels were ringing bells and chimes in anticipation of a coming announcement from heaven.
Where is the music coming from? I slipped toward the far edge of the trail and looked over into the beautiful green valley below. Then, I smiled and thought this is like heaven. It is like Angels playing the ringing chimes.
The milk cows on both sides of the valley, each with her own bell with it's own sound were awakening from a mid-morning rest and they began to graze among the luscious mountain grass. With each bite of grass and with each step a bell would ring.
If God can speak through a donkey, He can surely use cows to play heavenly music.
I left that mountaintop with tears in my eyes and the sound of heaven in my heart.
Some day I will return to the mountaintop, to listen to the Angels play heavenly music; and walk with the Lord along the mountain trail to look upon the beauty He has made.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Truck Stop Living
Yes, I believe you can live at a truck stop in America.
In Bakersfield, California I stopped by a Flying J truck stop to fuel up and spend the night before making my delivery in Tulare, California the next morning.
After dinning in the resturant I took a shower and stopped by the TV room to see what was on. I knew what was on, a rerun of Law and Order. Perhaps I would luck out. Yeah, Law and Order.
In the seats in front of me was a young couple in their mid twentys sacked out and perhaps making out under a very large blanket. The male of the pair left for a few minutes to return with two large cokes and a large pizza.
I finished the Law and Order and went to my sleeper to get a good nights rest.
Early the next morning I passed the TV room on my way to breakfast and the young couple were still watching the TV and eating cold pizza.
My delivery was made in Tulare, then I made my way toward Los Angeles for another load to go to Sacramento. I stopped by the same truck stop the next day for fuel and lunch.
Guess who was still there, drinking cokes and eating a fresh pizza, taking up five seats and hugging under the big blanket.
Perhaps they moved in.
In Bakersfield, California I stopped by a Flying J truck stop to fuel up and spend the night before making my delivery in Tulare, California the next morning.
After dinning in the resturant I took a shower and stopped by the TV room to see what was on. I knew what was on, a rerun of Law and Order. Perhaps I would luck out. Yeah, Law and Order.
In the seats in front of me was a young couple in their mid twentys sacked out and perhaps making out under a very large blanket. The male of the pair left for a few minutes to return with two large cokes and a large pizza.
I finished the Law and Order and went to my sleeper to get a good nights rest.
Early the next morning I passed the TV room on my way to breakfast and the young couple were still watching the TV and eating cold pizza.
My delivery was made in Tulare, then I made my way toward Los Angeles for another load to go to Sacramento. I stopped by the same truck stop the next day for fuel and lunch.
Guess who was still there, drinking cokes and eating a fresh pizza, taking up five seats and hugging under the big blanket.
Perhaps they moved in.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Moms' Memory
When mothers begin to age they begin to forget. I remember when I was fourteen, my mother forgot my birthday and my carrot cake.
She forgot for four months, but made up for it with an extra big carrot cake.
Well, she did it again. I turned seventy last week and Mom forgot. She called four days after to let me know she was improving because it was only four days and not four months.
I'm really beginning to be concerned about her memory. This is the second time she has forgotten my birthday. the first was in 1952 and now in 2008. If this keeps up I probably will not even get a call in 2038 when I turn one hundred.
She forgot for four months, but made up for it with an extra big carrot cake.
Well, she did it again. I turned seventy last week and Mom forgot. She called four days after to let me know she was improving because it was only four days and not four months.
I'm really beginning to be concerned about her memory. This is the second time she has forgotten my birthday. the first was in 1952 and now in 2008. If this keeps up I probably will not even get a call in 2038 when I turn one hundred.
Reality
During Desert Storm an Army National Guard Col. from Myrtle Beach SC was to be promoted to Brigadier General while en route to Saudi. He, his staff and part of his unit were being transported on a C-5 Galaxy Aircraft.
The front upstairs, seats fourteen people and the rear upstairs seats seventy three people. The cargo compartment, the lower level holds up to six greyhound buses or about 400,000 pounds of cargo.
There are about 32 steps up a ladder to get to the balcony of the upper front passenger area, almost straight up. The symbol of rank of a Col. is an eagle with spread wings. The symbol of rank of a Brigadier General is one star.
Today I saw
An Eagle face reality
His task ahead
Is uncertain agony
His legs were shaking
As he took
That first long step
Into the Galaxy
His voice was quaking
As he ascended
The steps toward
The balcony
He took his seat
Shed his wings
And assumed
His star of authority
The baby Brigadier
Has passed
His first test
Of Deployment Reality
The front upstairs, seats fourteen people and the rear upstairs seats seventy three people. The cargo compartment, the lower level holds up to six greyhound buses or about 400,000 pounds of cargo.
There are about 32 steps up a ladder to get to the balcony of the upper front passenger area, almost straight up. The symbol of rank of a Col. is an eagle with spread wings. The symbol of rank of a Brigadier General is one star.
Today I saw
An Eagle face reality
His task ahead
Is uncertain agony
His legs were shaking
As he took
That first long step
Into the Galaxy
His voice was quaking
As he ascended
The steps toward
The balcony
He took his seat
Shed his wings
And assumed
His star of authority
The baby Brigadier
Has passed
His first test
Of Deployment Reality
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