Back At It

 As a guest writer on Neville’s blog “The American Beagle” I have decided I miss blogging and that I have things to say not associated with the content on his blog.  So I may be adding more here, where I started. Expect more  soon. 

https://theamericanbeagle.com/

"Would You Like to Play a Game?"

 Last night I was flipping through the channels on the TV and I came across an old 'favorite' 80's movie.  I probably would of skipped on through the channel, but something prompted me to tune in and watch for a few minutes.   COVID-19 television usually means there are not a whole lot of choices out there to really catch my attention. The movie was 'War Games" starring Mathew Broderick and Ally Sheedy. I tuned in and watched a bit.

I remember really enjoying this film when this movie first came out back in 1983.  It really struck a chord with me.  Mathew Broderick played a somewhat nerdy High School kid... check...I was always a certified nerd.  In 1983 I was out of High School for 6 years, but my maturity was still in that zone.  Ally Sheedy was cute and had that 80's cute teen attractiveness.... the popular cute girl that guys like Mathew and me had to charm with our nerd powers if we had any remote hope at all.  This movie came out a couple years before Broderick's wildly successful "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", but his characters in the two movies could have been a stencil for my own early adulthood.  Both characters are  a bit on the nerdy side, both sort of ornery souls, both pretty girl crazy.  I may have pictured myself a poor man's version of the characters Broderick had played.   :) 

Checking on Megacritic and Rotten Tomatos, War Games has high marks still to this day. That surprised me somewhat, as watching the movie last night I thought it was fairly dated.  Between the 80's outfits and the low tech of the big mainframe computer 'WOPR' I would not expect it to still be relevant.  But even now, almost 40 years later...there were aspects of it I could not take my eyes off of.  The acting was pretty good, and the plot was captivating....  High-schooler hacks into NORAD and triggers the 'evil'   computer to start simulating a thermonuclear war.  Cool!!

I remember playing an old arcade video game back in 1980 that was probably the inspiration for parts of this screenplay.  In the video game the object is to shoot down incoming nuclear missiles. Yes, I was nerdy enough to be in the groups to play arcade games like Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, and Missile Command. Yeah, what nerdy 80's kid didn't? 

Watching the movie it occurred to me... War Games came out in 1983.  My wife and I married in 1983, after the movie came out.  The movie itself represented my transformation from being the nerdy, aimless prankster to the responsible husband and father.  1983 was the year I became both.

But something else happened about this time. Married, with a ready made family, I was working part time at the Scottsdale Library,  I needed a full time job with benefits if I had any realistic hope to be able to provide for my little family, to have things like insurance and a future.  While searching for a full time permanent job, after lots of rejection....I was offered two jobs in one week....both with the potential to provide some of what I desperately needed.  

The ASU job was to work in the Computer Department, as a Courier...driving around campus in a little Cushman cart delivering Computer Printouts and other stuff.    At the library, down in the basement, they had a little Atari computer stationed down there. I would sometimes play around on the computer, teaching myself to code simple graphics in BASIC Computer language.  I was more a hacker than a true student of technology...but the possibilities of software development very much attracted me. I could see myself become a Mathew Broderick computer nerd type in my future,. And so it was, I chose the ASU job and Computer Programming would eventually become my lifetime occupation. Sure, I was starting out on the very bottom run of Computing, but that just meant I had the entire world of technology before me.  :)

With little academic training, over the years I have learned COBOL, SAS, PL/SQL, PL/1, and JCL.  I have learned some JAVA and some other languages.  I have supported my little family and turned my nerdship into something useful. Now, in my 60's I still make a living in technology.

So, watching the movie, it occurred to me that this film may have had some influence on the path I have wandered through life. Perhaps I live parts of the life that the character Mathew Broderick might have been channeling.  I 'got' the pretty girl, I made a living off my nerdiness, and I was able to avoid starting a Thermonuclear War. Nerd I Am, and proud of it.

Thanks Mathew.

Cheers, nca

Election Day

 Well, today is the big day. I have made my prediction, I will accept the consequences what 'ere they be. But I did want to go out on limb and say one thing to the die hard Republicans who may happen to come across this post.

Is Donald Trump the absolute best you can do?  Is this truly who you feel represents the values and convictions of the Republican Party?  Is four more years really in the best interest of this great country.

I realize that I myself am a 'Never Trumper', and therefore I am not the best man to sit and judge. However, I really do understand and even align with many of Republican stances.  I understand the 2nd Amendment and the concerns of preserving that, I have posted my thoughts on that subject.  I also understand family values and fiscal responsibility, so I don't feel I am to 'radically left' of your beliefs.  Sure, a bit left... 

But I must say that I truly don't understand the fervor your party has for this man.  I think there are a few Republicans that think a bit like me. Jeff Flake, Mitt Romney, Cindy McCain, members of the Lincoln Project. The list goes on. 

In my humble opinion, this man is not deserving of your zeal and fervor.  I just don't get it.  The very fact that the party that brought us Abraham Lincoln, John McCain, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, even Ronald Reagan (whom I did not vote for), can seriously choose this divisive, childish man as there flag bearer is beyond my understanding. 

I could be in for some very serious disappointment and disillusion about my countrymen over the next few days.  But I did my part I feel.  I spoke up here, Facebook, and  publicly. I voted four times against this man (Primary, 2016, Primary, 2020).  I feel that I helped to sound a very tiny alarm. 

Good Luck. Good Bless

Cheers, NCA

2020 Election Prediction

 Wow, it has been forever since I last blogged here.  My apologies to all those 'faithful' readers out there (Ha!).   However, to start things off, I wanted to post my prediction for the upcoming election as I did in that abhorrent post 4 years ago.   If you may remember, I boldly predicted the election of Hillary Clinton and subsequently had to eat my words.

So, here goes...my prediction! 

I have no 'flippin' idea.  I really don't. 

I retain amazement at all my acquaintances that support the current President of the United States, Donald Trump.  I find him repulsive and reprehensible.  However, I acknowledge that I have gone against the grain of the electorate of my country for so long now that I begin to wonder if I am of the clueless. I hope not.  But the evidence in my favor is elusive. I do not think I have voted for the winning candidate in decades.

That being said... for the good of this great country...rather than predict...I sincerely hope that good sense prevails and that President Donald Trump is not reelected next month.  I think he is a very weak leader, a habitual liar, a megalomaniac and a narcissist, a bigot and a hedonistic misogynist.   Indeed, he is the worse thing that could ever happen to the Presidency of the United States.  Please, if you read this and feel that you must vote for him...as the greater of two evils...please just don't vote at all. Let it go.

I speak these words from the bottom of my heart.

Cheers, nca

Is This Guy for Real?

Can this guy be FOR REAL? I am talking 'bout Captain Dwight Towers, USN.  And, so very sorry to inform you, this man is a fictional character, no one you can really sink your cleats into. But still, he really does bother me.

The fiction work he exists in is "On the Beach", by Neville Shute.  Overall, I like the fiction of Shute. And I like the genre here, which I think would be called 'post-apocalyptic' fiction.  I actually read quite a bit of this type of fiction.  Some titles I like include 'The Road', by Cormac McCarthy and 'The Last Ship', by William Brinkley. There are many more that I could recommend.

And truthfully, there is something to be said for "On the Beach".  My recent journey into this novel was my third go round, so I entered this adventure willingly. Again. As the time before, I listened to the Audible version of this novel, narrated terrifically by Simon Prebble. The novel is very dated, originally published in 1957, it was recorded for Recorded Books, llc for this version in 1991.  By my reckoning, this would indicate that the book has stood a significant test of time.

I can understand why it may have stood this test of time. For one thing, even in 2019 the threat of Nuclear Holocaust is very real, so this dated novel is based on real fears, even 62 years after publication.  This novel takes a pretty interesting and unique viewpoint. Unlike many other post-apologetic works, Shute takes a pretty docile approach to the apocalyptic situation.  Not a lot of preaching in this book, really.  No real heroes, villains, or conflict at a quick study of the plot.  The conflict is the impending extinction of mankind, but there is no real antagonist for that conflict to focus on. The tone seems to be 'this holocaust is what it is'. As for villains, those are primarily the idiots that pushed the buttons and the governments that allowed it to happen, present in only shadow form in this novel.  The novel takes a look at pretty regular people, average straight up people, including families, as they deal with and face their impending doom upon a dying earth.

So why does Captain Dwight Towers bother me so much? What gets my hackles up?

The Captain has at his command a very large nuclear powered submarine. In fact, including the sister submarine stationed in sub-tropical South America, eventually he becomes Admiral of two nuclear powered Submarines. In this novel, these are the only surviving ships of consequence in the entire world. The ships, among other positive traits, are equipped to be able to desalinate sea water and can filter the 'hot' nuclear air to be breathable. And the novel states that enough nuclear fuel can be generated in Australia, where the ship is based, to keep it powered for years. Air, water, power. AIR, WATER, POWER!  There they are with three pretty key ingredients required for sustaining life. And there is one more...the obvious one for submarines. As a nuclear powered submarine, this ship can submerge as needed.

One more thing to consider: Many of the men stationed on the 'Scorpion', the primary nuclear submarine Captain Dwight Towers commands, are married to women in Australia. Captain Towers himself has a beautiful young female companion completely in love with him. There are women aplenty. Besides breathable air, power, drinkable water...if you add to the equation the potential for procreation...you are starting to assemble the building blocks to sustain human life.

There are obstacles for sure. The submarine can not stay submerged forever. And dry land is on the verge of becoming inhospitable. The food the submarine can carry is limited, certainly not enough to sustain life indefinitely.  But with all the resources available shipboard on a US nuclear submarine, and with all the additional resources of Australia at their fingertips, are you telling me that no amount of brainstorming can come up with a list of solutions to the serious issues faced?

The setting for this novel is 1957. By this time in history, there are stations on the Antarctic continent. What stops Captain Tower and his willing and capable trained staff, teamed with the best scientists in Australia...from moving the available submarines and as many food barges they can tow...from finding refuge in a safe harbor near one of these Antarctic scientific stations in hopes of prolonging their lives and their progeny...for as long as possible. Using the power and resources of the nuclear submarines, it becomes at least one last chance of saving a remnant of civilization.

Captain Towers never even rolls the thought through his dim cranium.  This is unbelievable to me.  His behavior seems to be that he will obey every US Naval ordinance line by line to the very end. No civilians aboard ship, no attempt to sustain lives of his loved ones nor any others. No basic human sense of responsibility to the human race?: By following Navy regs precept upon precept, he single-handedly dooms all of humanity. He dooms it willingly. And he dooms the one woman who truly and completely loves him.

This, to me,  is unforgivable.  As a literary character, he has no character at all. He becomes an allegory for all those folks who blindly pushed the buttons that lead to this literary disaster in the first place.

Let me tell you, when it comes to blind obedience, or going down fighting to the very end...I choose the latter.

Cheers, nca

Mullet Trapping

I recently saw a picture of the 70's Rock Band 'Kiss' performing during the recent 'Final Tour'.  I was not so surprised that they were in full KISS greasepaint, however on second thought I was surprised that I was not surprised. These men are in their mid 60's, still wearing their trademark Clown White and  black grease Stick faces, outrageously tall platform boots, and tight leather pants.

Another 70's band I saw on a network commercial was REO Speedwagon.  They too were in their mid to late sixties.  No greasepaint, still the band was still sporting 80's style hair.  

Looking through the play list of both concert tours, I could not help but notice that their once chart topping standards fill the play lists.  And why not, their look, their sound were there when these classic bands first made it big. And their styles and tunes are what drive thousands of fans to the concerts paying the big bucks now. The fans want to see exactly what they know and love. The fans are not interested in what is new or what drives these band members now.  The crowds pay for bringing back the 70's and 80's of their memories exactly as first conceived.  I am all for making money after paying your dues. More power too them.  I would do the exact same thing.

Yet...Yet...  Yet what does this say for all of us.  Have we found ourselves trapped in our glory days?  As Springsteen sings...

Glory days well they'll pass you by

Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye

Glory days, glory days

Now I think I'm going down to the well tonight

And I'm going to drink till I get my fill

And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it

But I probably will

I'm not quite ready for wallowing in my glory days yet.  I'd prefer not to think my best days are behind me.  I'm challenging myself to prove  that I still got a little bit of glory to achieve.  No, I was never on stage driving the young girls wild. But whose to say this old dog won't see his day.

Cheers, nca

Hornblower and the Yankee

One Christmas, when I was a youth...my Mom gave me a gift of a partial set of Alexander Kent books. The books represented most of the Richard Bolitho series, set during the Napoleonic Wars.  The series introduced me to British Naval fiction for the very first time.  I found myself fascinated and hooked.  I read everything by Alexander Kent, and once finished with that I branched out to C.S. Forester and the Hornblower series, and other similar type novels. 

The British Navy, as depicted in these wonderful adventure novels, was the Prince of the Seas. The books were full of adventure, romance, daring, swashbuckling, intrigue, danger. The sea life was romanticized and glorious as depicted.  There were cutting out operations, captures, escapes, great sea victories, beautiful damsels in distress. There was the dirty side too, the press gangs, mutinies, and villains.   This was escapism literature of the various best sort.

The books, though fiction, introduced me to that greatest of British Naval heroes, Lord Horatio Nelson. Indeed, I am sure the heroes of many of the novels I read were likely patterned after this real life, larger than life hero.   Nelson, hero of The Battle of the Nile, destroyer of the French and Spanish fleets, and tragic casualty during his greatest victory of all, the Battle of Trafalgar.  There, during the pinacle of British Naval power, Nelson was shot on the deck of the great warship 'HMS Victory'; later dying within the dark dank bowels of the very same vessel.

From this small set of books, gifted by my Mother...I had come to know and love British Naval history and dominance.  And Nelson and the 'HMS' Victory represented everything I loved about that particular era in history.  This 'obsession' of mine was very likely a contributing factor to my 'joining' the US Navy at 17 after graduating High School.  It was a great disappointment at that point in my life that my poor vision prevented me from being accepted in this 'calling'. I had no other plans as I matriculated from High School.  As I moved on and made alternate decisions with my life, I don't think I ever stopped loving this period of history and setting in time;  17th Century British Navy.  Of interesting note is that my rejection from the U.S. Navy is what led me to working at Sky-Y YMCA Camp the Summer of 1977. As Richard Gere's character xxx states in the movie 'An Officer and a Gentleman', "I've got no place else to go".  Well, I did have some place to go...Summers at the YMCA and Uni.

40 years later, while visiting my dear 'Sky-Y' friend Neville in Hampshire, he surprised me by driving me down to Portsmouth where we were actually  boarding the 'HMS Victory'.  This was a very magical moment for me.  Coming full circle from the 'Nicholas' of my youth to that very sweet moment of time. Strolling the very same decks Nelson commanded! Seeing the exact area where Nelson was shot, and seeing the area his cot was hung and upon which he died! There would have been no way Neville would have known how much this moment meant to me, nor how much it touched me and made me reflect upon my path in life.

Thanks Nev!

I am curious, what fiction genres touched your heart when you were a youth?  And what impact did that have on your life?



Cheers, nca

Sinema Buns

As I think about the recent mid-term elections, I find myself very proud of my home State, Arizona. Though Arizona did stand for President Trump in 2016 as he gained 49% of the Statewide Vote (1,252,401) and all 11 of their Electoral College votes... the recent mid-terms indicate to me that Trump support in the State is not necessarily as strong as the 2016 election would indicate.

For one thing, if we look back at the 2012 election, Mitt Romney also received all 11 electoral college votes, but he managed to secure the support of Arizona with 53% of the voters (1,233,654 voters).  That would indicate a noticeable percentage drop in support for Trump verses the Republican candidate in the previous election.

As mentioned in my previous note, I was pretty shocked in 2016 to realize that Arizona had fallen for the narcissist Trump.  Though I can relate to the trepidation of my fellow Arizonans over the qualifications that Hillary Clinton possessed...I did expect more people to see Trump for what he really is. I was very wrong!

But, maybe not so terribly wrong.  If you closely examine what transpired during the 2018 Arizona midterms, there is some signs that could provide some slight glimmer of hope that Trump support in Arizona is not as strong as indicated.

As we rolled through 2016 and beyond, Arizona was considered a stronghold of Republican power. Arizona had two Republican Senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake.  Arizona's House delegation of 9 was made up of a mixture of 5 Republicans and 4 Democrats.  Interestingly, both McCain and Flake were known as  mavericks, not always towing the Party or Trump line.  And both have had significant moments of standing firm against the constant barrage of Trump craziness.  I think Arizona has always had a certain love for political mavericks.

In my mind, this is the point when the trouble for Trump's dominance first gained breath and effected the Arizona Midterms.  Senator Jeff Flake would not follow the script Trump would have had him take. Flake spoke out against Trump often. Certainly, because of this, his poll numbers suffered. Flake, a  pretty solid libertarian Republican in the mold of Reagan and Goldwater...did not approve of Trump policy or process,  and this included speaking out against Trump's policies on Trade restrictions.  Thus began an interesting timeline.

• October 25, 2017 - Jeff Flake announces he will not seek reelection for the Arizona Senate. This opens the mid-term election wide open for his Senate Seat, a Republican seat.
• August 25, 2017 - John McCain passes away.  A blow to the Nation and to Arizona, Senator McCain was not due for reelection during the 2018 mid-terms.  The Arizona Governor would select the retired long term Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican,  to take McCain's seat temporarily. Senator McCain, a war hero, a statesman, a family man, and a maverick...Arizona will miss him greatly.
• August 29, Martha McSally - a more moderate Republican wins the Republican Primary to replace Jeff Flake, outpacing Trump stalwarts like Kelli Ward and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. McSally, represented the Arizona 2nd District in Congress. This would create a new opening in the 2nd District for the 2018 mid-term elections.
• August 29, Kyrsten Sinema wins the Democrat nomination for the Jeff Flake seat. This would mean Sinema's Congressional 9th District Seat would be wide open for the 2018 mid-terms also.
• November 6, 2018 -  In somewhat of a surprise, Sinema defeats McSally for the vacated  Jeff Flake Senate seat.  The Arizona Senate delegation, for the first time in many years, is now split down the middle.  Sinema's election is notable in many ways, including her becoming the first female to become a Senator in Arizona. 
• Sinema's 9th District seat is won by Democrat Greg Stanton. 
• McSally's 2nd District seat is won by Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, meaning that not only did McSally lose her bid for the Senate, but her Congressional seat was turned over to a Democrat.
• The Arizona Congressional delegation now consists of 1 Republican Senator, 1 Democratic Senator, 5 Democrat Representatives, and 4 Republican Senators.  
• December 17, 2018 - Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announces the selection of Martha McSally to replace Jon Kyl in the Senate seat up until the 2020 election.  

That chain of events is quite remarkable and demonstrates for me a serious weakening of support for Trump in Arizona.  Though Trump may not have appreciated McCain nor Flake very much, their replacement by Sinema and McSally certainly can not thrill him.  And the loss of McSally's Republican seat in the House also had to be a blow for him.

It will be interesting as we move into 2019 how both Sinema and McSally respond to Trump overtures.  Though Sinema is considered moderate for a Democrat, I have quite a bit of anticipation that she may still stand mostly to the left of Trump. As for McSally, perhaps her defeat in 2018 can help lean her closer to the middle too.  Her record will be interesting to see.  She will have a desire to be electable in 2020 to retain her Senate seat, it is possible she may have learned that  Arizona is not another Trump bastion. If nothing else, she will certainly be influenced by those thoughts.

Don't you just love Arizona!

Cheers, nca

p.s.  Some years back I was able to meet Jeff Flake.  He came across as someone real, someone you could talk to. 
. 

The Parisian

I realized today that I created a huge, important gap here on my blog. I left out something very important. My wife and I were blessed to spend a week during the summer of 2017 in beautiful Paris France!

This was the first trip overseas for either of us.  No big bells or whistles, no tour or cruise....just 6 days getting a taste of one European city.

What a city!

I loved every inch of it.

We never got into the Louvre, never saw Madame Mona Lisa. We never stepped foot in Versailles. We missed many of the famous attractions.  But I must say, I truly felt the immense charm of this beautiful city.

Our quaint little Hotel was The Apostrophe Hotel  in the 6th arrondisement. This was charming little hotel, very near the Jardins du Luxembourghttps://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/what-to-do-in-luxembourg-gardens-in-paris/.  The charms were many, we loved our desk staff.  The night host was so kind, hooking up with probably the best restaurant Lori and I may have ever eaten at. Our tiny room was charming and romantic.

The Jardins were lovely, we spent many hours in those beautiful lush walkways.   I am not sure what possessed us to center our trip in the 6th arrondisement, but I think it was the perfect decision for us.

Yes, my spouse and I need to get out and see more of Europe. But for my money, I could do Paris countless times.  I think we just barely scratched the surface there....but my heart now resides in the 6th arronisement near the Jardins.

I love this quote by Gertrude Stein: "America is my country and Paris is my hometown."  Those words express exactly how I feel. Even more so in the 6th arronisement.

à tout à l'heure

nca

Ribkins My Brother

Ever since my youth I have found immense pleasure and delight with the random and coincidental unveiling of some new literary treasure. My passion is in novels, and when I find an author I like, I would read everything they ever produced.  Alexander Kent...read one novel, read them all. Tolkien and Stephen King. Cormac McCarthy.  Larry McMurtry.  Henning Mankell.   I could go on an on.

I take great pleasure in the discovery of something new in my literary diet.  I love novels that take me to some new place, or to some new point of view. I like being placed in new shoes and new situations.  A writer who is adept in taking me comfortably to parts unknown is cherished. 

And I love it when something is discovered walking though library or bookstore shelves and some trick of the eye flashes something completely different and fresh. It is a feeling similar to 'love at first site'....that moment of recognition of some beautiful new thing, a virgin novel entering my consciousness.

An literary moment as I describe took place just last week.  I had finished "The Last Ship" and I was looking for an audio book that had a similar apocalyptic plot.  I found several lists in GoodReads and other similar places...I would take rough ideas I found and then search through OverDrive at my library for one of those titles suggested.  Unfortunate, none were available. I put a couple on hold. But I needed something NOW....it is very painful for me to travel those hour long drives to work, or 2 hour flights to Dallas....without one or two audio books to sustain my powerful lust.

During my search, I came across an interesting title....but found that Overdrive had no audio copies available. However, OverDrive did provide me a list of  'You Might Also Like' suggestions. Desperate, I browsed through those suggestions.  The really odd thing, is almost all the suggestions they provided really had nothing whatsoever to do with what I was end of the world type scenarios.

Knowing I needed something for the next days commute, I decided on two of these random suggestions hoping at least one would pay off.  I also knew that onc of the holds I had placed may come through before too long, therefore I figured I was in pretty good shape.

Well, let me tell you friend...I found myself in much better shape than I could ever have imagined. Both turned out to be treasures. I had struck literary gold, and the gods of RANDOM had blessed me greatly.

The First Novel I read was "Tell The Wolves I'm Home", by Carol Rifka Brunt.  This was narrated very well by Amy Rubinate.  Set in the early 80's,  dealing adeptly with both AIDS and homosexual themes, this was a well crafted story about a young teen girl coming of age and having to deal with the AIDS related death of her beloved Uncle, and later again with the death of his lover Toby.  The novel also handled the young hero's own troubled relationship with her family, with her sister n particular. Her uncle was a famous but reclusive artist, and the book explores his past and legacy.  If I can think of any weakness to this novel, it may have been that I felt a bit the odd voyeur into this young teen's life. That feeling may have arisen from the fact that I d may have wandered a bit into YW literature this time around.  I have wandered into these 'shelves' before, much due to the fact that I had three daughters myself, it was not unknown for me to read some of their stuff from time to time.  Still, the author treated me allowing me to visit perspectives and settings that were foreign to me, and my visit was enlightening, warm, and comfortable. If I had wandered into YW land, so be it.   Two thumbs up.

The second 'find' was fantastic!  "The Talented Ribkins" by Ladee Hubard.  This book was wonderfully narrated by Kevin Kenerly.  A quick check in OverDrive revealed no additional books by this Author available. Drat.  But I was able to find a Audio Book narrated by Kenerly on OverDrive and I have already checked it out. That will be for my commute tomorrow.

I loved this book. The Author roughed me up a bit and squeezed me into the shoes of a post middle aged Civil Rights 'Freedom Fighter' with just a touch of  odd SUPERPOWERS.  I can't think of anywhere I would have rather been than driving through the African American neighborhoods of North Western Florida with this gifted author behind the wheel.   I won't give away the plot too much here, but I highly recommend this Audio Book.  The thought occurring to me right now is that this book is a screen play just waiting to happen...are you listening out there Denzil?  There are some wonderful characters filling these chapters just begging to be played by an all star, all black cast. I'd pay to see that. More of hint than a spoiler; look for a reference to Luke Cage about 3/4 of the way through.  Lots of really great detail work by this author, I felt that I was being educated into black culture and civil rights history.

Two thumps up, I suggest you check this one out.

Now, if you happen to do as I do and read both back to back...I'd love to discuss with you the common ground between these two seemingly disparate novels. There are several I noticed. Comments encouraged.

Cheers, nca

Boyz and Their Toyz

I can't help but picture in my mind, some boy, much like me when I was 8 or 9, thinking to himself 'when I grow up I'm going to build a Car Tower just like my Hotwheel's Garage.

Yes, that tower is real. You can see it in North Tempe, Carvana.  From the top of the tower I am sure you can view the artificial lake built in the Salt River bed, which is irrigation runoff backed up against a rubber dam.

Someone will be building the Barbie Dream House somewhere close by for sure.  :)

Cheers, nca

p.s. The rubber dam is gone now, replaced by something more permanent.

Happy Father's Day Dad

On this Father's Day, June 18 2018 a story about my Dad, Oscar Adler popped into my head. 
Back when my older brother was a Boy Scout, Dad was quite active in the leadership of the troop at our Church.  Actually, both parents were active in Scouting, Mom was also a Girl Scout leader.

As I look back on my Dad, being an active leader in Boy Scouts must have been somewhat of a challenge for him. He had had health problems all his life, and his time in the service had left him with only one lung. But I remember Dad was active with scouts, including taking part in Scout Camp up at Geronimo each year.

Geronimo was the local organized Scout Camp up on the beautiful Tonto Rim of Arizona.

I remember one summer my Dad had been part of the leadership in the annual trip to Geronimo, and he had arranged it so that my entire family (including me) got to stay in a Cabin near where our local church troop was camped. Though Dad was with the troop, along with my brother, the rest of us were able to stay in the nearby cabin.

With me pleading and prodding, one night during the stay I was able to convince my Dad to allow me to go and stay in the tents for the night with the 'big boys' of the troop.  I was 7 years younger then my big brother, so I am guessing I was about 5 at this time. Being able to camp with my Dad and the big boys was a dream come true.

That night, around the campfire, the leaders and boys told the typical Ghost Stories.  One story that stood out to me was the a vivid story about the 'Mogollon Monster'.  Camp legend had it that the Mogollon Monster lived nearby by on the Mogollon rim, roamed around late at night dining on unsuspected campers.  Needless to say, at 5 or 6, the story scared the crap out of me.  And it did not help that we had a Arizona Monsoon thunderstorm up on the rim that night, making for a loud boisterous night.

My Dad sent me to our tent early, after a few ghost stories and before we got soaked.  I had never slept in a sleeping bag in a tent, and I was quite unsure how to go about this task. Unsupervised and still a bit frightened from the story and accompanying thunder, I decided to crawl into my sleeping bag head first.

The big boys, coming into the test...seeing me loaded in backwards, all started laughing. They then went and got my Dad who came and helped me get situated a little more naturally for the night.  I don't think I slept a whole lot that night, still trembling every time some thunder broke thinking it was the Mogollon Monster heading my way.

I loved my adventure with the big boys and my Dad that week.  It set the tone for me to love camping, ghost stories, and adventure of any kind. I still love the furious sound of thunderstorms and the smell of rain in the pines to this day.

I look back at those times when Dad was active in my life and the life of my brothers and sisters. I think I learned a lot of my gentleness and activeness with youth from my Dad.  Those years did not last long, Divorce and his health had huge effects on that. My little brother and sister missed out on much of those types of adventures with my Dad, and they did not always see him the same as I did.

I loved my Dad, and I cherish many of those days of youth when he was active in Church, Scouting, Baseball, and family activities. I also liked that my Dad thought enough to take me along with the big boys, or take me to work with him, take me to get my hair chopped off in the summer time. 

Though we were not rich in money, at times we were rich in the blessings of family life. Hopefully, my daughter's can look back at times when I was active in their lives fondly. I know my son-in-laws are very active in the lives of their children.

Happy Father's Day...

Cheers, nca

Hell-Boy Hath Fury

I have mentioned my passion for Audible Books before. Therefore, bringing this up again for you dedicated Netizans of 'Kotkas' won't  arrive a complete surprise. So, why did I feel the topic required rehashing?

I have many reasons for loving Audio versions of books.

• I love books. I have been a pretty avid reader since my early childhood years.  

• Since my Heart Surgery, I have trouble staying awake all night to plow through a good book. I just can't stay awake like I used to.  An unfortunate side effect, but I just am much sleepier than I used to be.  Audio Books have become my 'go to' literature source.

• My drive to work is about 1 hour of stop and go traffic. An Audio Book is perfect for this boring two hour entrapment each way each day. What better way to make the drive go quicker than a literary escape each day.

• Overdrive audio books checked out from my local library are free and the ease of downloading a new book is amazing. A few clicks on my Overdrive App on my I-Phone and I am ready to go.

• There are some terrific narrators out there folks.  A great narrator can add amazing depth to a great yarn.  I have found several favorites I consider top knotch, and I treasure new finds as I come across then.  Occasionally an A-List celebrity will take on the job. And there are some terrific professionals you come across quite often. Some of my favorite narrators include Jim Dale, John McDonough, Judy Kay, , and George Guidall, It is a shame to limit it to these favorites, there are many more. 

Recently I came across a new favorite to join these others narrators I enjoy.  I was quite surprised to discover that "Hell-Boy" Ron Perlman had done some Audio-book narration. Dudes, this guy is an excellent story teller.  I had picked up the David Benioff book "City Of Thieves" from Audible because it was set in Leningrad ('St. Pete') during the Nazi siege. This is a historic time that I am always fascinated to read about.  Within a few pages of Perlman's narration I was hooked.  I had to do a Google search on other books he has narrated and I was disappointed that the pick'ens were so slim.

Perlman did not try to disguise his rich voice nor swap to some funky Russian accent, he stuck to his own tone, accent, and cadence....and it was a real treat. I could not put my headphones down.

I'd like to encourage you my followers that if you are looking for a great story told by a unique celebrity voice, then check out the Audiobook of David Benioff's "City Of Thieves". And I'd like to encourage Mr. Perlman to keep up the 'narrating', I will continue to look for your work.

Cheers, nca

p.s. I'd love to hear some of your favorite audio-book narrators if you have a chance to comment. 

Sometimes I think they sort too early

I believe there is a reason depictions of the Devil often show him carrying a fork. Likely there are a skew of reasons, but the one that occurs to me is how forks in the road we travel can sometimes place us on a path we did not intend.

As a long time fan of the Arizona State Sun Devils, I am familiar with the cheer 'Fork 'em Devils'.  How appropriate for me, I have had a lot of forks in my travels through life, and some of my decisions upon reaching those forks have not always been the best choices.  My brothers were asking me the other day....what year did you graduate from ASU....and I am almost sure they were shocked at my answer....I did not graduate.  What brilliant fork decision could have led me to that status? Was I 'forked' over?

I live with my decisions, I own them...for better or worse.  Any forks I chose which would have led me to any other path besides the one that led me to be husband to my wife or father to my daughters, and later to being a patriarch for my grandchildren could not arrive with any significant regrets, could they?  Upon my honor, I think not.

Yet, it was not, is not, has not been an easy path.  The stress I placed upon my family with some of my decisions could be measured if it was put under a microscope. But this blog entry is not about putting my decisions under a microscope. Not at this point.

I wanted to ask you which decisions in life are irreversible? Certainly, my decisions that led me to not have a University degree are certainly reversible. Indeed, I have the power to overcome that if I choose.  So, which ones are irreversible I ask a second time?  Marriage decisions? The decisions to have children? Lifestyle decisions? Life and death decisions?

I think there are some irreversible decisions that we can make.  But I also think there are traps we can put ourselves in that we might think are irreversible, but perhaps we 'sort too early' sometimes.

I'm still being too general, I know.

So, let me be more specific.  This, from my youth...

I remember a very sad day from my youth.  A hard day at home led me to think my only option was to run away. I had no job, no where to go, no one to turn to. So I thought I would just run away.  I had wanted to know how I could support myself, and one thought I had was to turn to a life of crime. That day, I experimented around with doing some pretty significant shop-lifting to see how good I could support myself through a life of crime.  I turned out to be pretty good.  I was able to successfully lift several items over a day in time, and I felt that perhaps I could get away with this if I needed to. Items included food stuffs, clothes, and other essentials.

After a day in this mode, my temper cooled and my loneliness flared and I ended up going back home. My decision to lead a life of crime to support myself had come to a temporary end.

I had entertained my criminal side for the better part of a day. But, was I now a 'criminal'?  I showed that I was good at it, even though I had also shown I was not too good at living a criminal lifestyle. If that 'crime spree' defined me for a day, did it define me for all of my life?

Believe it or not, I have other examples. I can give some examples of several other vices that I embraced during my difficult youth. You may be surprised.

But which of those vices marked me for life? Which ones define me now?

For any youth reading this blog, today.... I want to ask you the same question.  What single act, or even series of act defines you?  Will you chose to let these acts define you forever. Do your paths converge and become one-way lanes...or can you back up to the fork? Can you hop on another road?

I have another story to tell.

My travelling buddy and I wanted to travel to Utah from San Francisco to see a buddy that lived in Provo.  We decided to hop on a freight train to get us from point A to point B. Asking around, we determined that the Oakland Freight Yard had some trains scheduled to go East.  Checking around the yard, we met a lineman who told us what train was headed toward Salt Lake City. He even offered to let us crash in his camper until the train was ready to depart.  That night, he knocked on the camper door and pointed us to the right freight train.

The trip, though a little grimy, ended up being spectacular. The train traveled through the Sierras and through the Lake Tahoe area. It meandered along the Great Salt lake and we were able to see beautiful country that we otherwise would have missed. Once we arrived in the Ogden, Utah yard...we were caught by yard security and tossed from the yard. We did not quite make it to Provo, but our thumb took us there.

Later on the trip, I happened to stay with some cousins in Ft. Branch Indiana. They asked about my trip and I told them stories, like the story above. They looked at me in awe, and said...you were pretty much a 'bum' then.  I thought about that then, as I do now. Was I a 'bum', a 'hobo', 'homeless'?  I suppose each of those adjectives did describe me. The definition fit.  But did that one label define who I was. 

Does the label you have chosen, or the label that chose you define you? At what point does the label become the truth of who you are? 

Cheers, nca

October 1 In Las Vegas

My heart does go out to the victims and loved ones of the tragedy in Las Vegas on October 1.  These destruction crazy lunatics just keep on breaking our hearts. I somehow think of the quote 'Bury my heart at Wounded Knee', another tragedy from another time.  That I have authored or participated on other blogs on this very subject speaks about these times in which I now journal. Whatever unfathomable notions that drive these hurtful actions to be contemplated by human beings stumps my brain beyond belief.

Republicans and the NRA have just recently both come out supportive about putting restrictions on 'bump fire stocks'.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, I think there needs to be more conversations about what controls can be added without upsetting the die-hard 2 Amendment supporters.  I can't help feeling that more can be done if we all really put our thinking caps on.

I read an article recently about Caleb Keeter of the Josh Abbott Band. His band performed at the tragic  Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas on 10/01/2017, so he was a witness to the senseless violence.  Quoting Mr. Keeter, "“I’ve been a proponent of the 2nd amendment my entire life...Until the events of last night. I cannot express how wrong I was.” Several articles go on to discuss the NRA and it's supporting role in Country Music. 

A danger of course, is the NRA has very powerful influence across America.  The NRA speaks for a large number of Americans who are highly guarded against limiting any vestige of firearm limitations.  Conservative leadership is very careful to avoid crossing the NRA and the gun lobby, and that is understandable.  The freedom to bear arms is woven into our culture along with our other inalienable rights. I understand that. The fact that the NRA took a stand against bump fire stocks tells me that intelligent discussions can be had; this is a very positive sign for me.  But I do think much more can be done if we put our minds to it.

I have mentioned before that I have had some training on firearms, I even have a fondness for these items. But I have chosen to not have any firearms in my house to this date.  I raised my daughters and protected my family without the benefit of lethal weapons. I pray daily for the safety of my loved ones, and I feel that my prayers have been heard. For now, that has been enough protection for me. My thoughts about owning firearms for protection are tempered by a small voice that tells me that I don't want to ever use a weapon against another human, and that I know I could not live with one of my loved ones accidentally using my weapon to hurt another of my loved ones.  That would be beyond any pain that I could possibly endure. I hear people say 'if I raise my children to respect guns, they would never use it inappropriately', and I just don't buy into that particular notion. I was a boy, I think a very typical boy, and I know that s*** happens.  The temptation is just too big for some children that I would not want to bet their precious lives on 'teaching them to respect' a weapon that can do such heart-breaking damage.

It is interesting to me that one family member of mine has had two weapons stolen out of his vehicles. That is two lethal weapons out on the street available to inflict even more pain.  And he is probably one of the most responsible of my family members when it comes to firearms. Even his diligence and training has not prevented odd items of  unforeseeable consequence from occurring. The randomness of that alone tells me that our world needs a few more controls to protect us from our own foibles. And our world needs quite a bit more common sense advocated.

I guess I am asking each of you, dear readers, to have an open mind when it comes to discussing sensible, doable, gun control rules.  Do considerable contemplation on what controls can be achievable and make sense.  Think about locking up your guns, keeping ammunition separated as much as you can and still provide you the safety you feel that you need.  And, remember that prayers are very much stronger than bullets. I truly believe that.

Let's use this example of the 'bump fire stocks' to stoke more conversations about controls that do make sense. Limitations of magazine size? Limitations on various extremely lethal ammunition or weapon types? Locking down gun sales at gun shows?  I am not an expert on this discussion, but I know some of you are, I just know that more can be done if we put our minds (and prayers) toward a common goal...seeking sensible ways to reduce the damage these insane and destructive ne'er-do-wells can inflict upon those people we love.

Cheers---nca

How Firm A Foundation II

I remember a dear colleague of mine, many years back describing herself as a 'Recovering Catholic'. I remember laughing with her and agreeing that I too, was a 'Recovering Catholic'.  It was an easy concept to laugh at.  There were definitive aspects of our shared upbringing as Parochial School Catholics that we could instantly relate to.

Originally I was  amazed at the number of Catholics in my chosen profession. I have long since stopped being surprised when I am introduced to a new 'Cobol' Developer that had roots in Catholicism, there is something about the structure, logic, and precision of Cobol working with Relational Databases that attracts the Parochial trained mind.  Someday I may write a blog studying this more.

Regardless of the cause, my Parochial upbringing was a very powerful and direct influence upon me, lifelong. Though, it has been decades since I have considered myself Catholic, the aspects of Catholicism that continue to effect my life are countless.

What I learned about Mathematics and Algebra, I learned in Elementary School, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in Phoenix Arizona provided me a firm foundation in those two key tools. Mathematics and being a Cobol developer go hand in hand. My mind is geared toward pretty and precise If-Then logic. For my mind, there is an algorithmic solution for every technical or business problem. That I try to instill this formula for problem solving in my personal life may not always be as successful, but I never fail to try to apply it.  I know that my Parochial upbringing was a big part of me being able to support myself and my family for all these years. And from the number of Catholics in my profession, I don't think this was unique for me.

There is more Catholic in my makeup than just the logic I use in my occupation.  'Catholic Guilt' courses through my veins as one of my chief moral drivers. I am a living breathing example of 'Catholic Guilt'.  I am loyal to my Children and wife, I am loyal to my siblings, any personal challenge to that loyalty triggers the 'Guilt' gene in my like an ignition switch. My 'Recovering' friend would laugh at this part of me if she were to read this now, like this 'guilt' is some type of curse.  I guess I have learned to come to grips with this part of myself.  At this later stage in my life, I start to look back at the precept of  'Catholic Guilt' as a productive guiding part of me. I am proud to be dedicated to the institution of family, the preservation of that institution to me is a noble endeavor. When I look at some of the countries where Catholicism is prevalent, like south of our border, or Italy...I see that institution of family has been put on a pedestal. Grandparents, the elderly, are treated with respect and kindness. Children are protected and cherished. Large, close knit families are not mocked and abused, rather they are admired and cherished.   I fail to see this as a negative outcome of 'Catholic' Guilt. That my moral compass is influenced from the Catholic upbringing can not be denied, and I would not want it to be denied.

I believe my parents raised me as best they could. They chose to raise me within the boundaries of their faith. My father was raised a Catholic, and my Mom adopted Catholicism as a married adult.  At times when I choose to view my parents through my 20/20 hindsight, all their mistakes and blemishes are so very clear and obvious. It becomes so easy for me to itemize all their faults.  But they did not have the luxury of 20/20 hindsight as they were fostering us through out our lives, putting their parenthood skills to the test.  That they turned to the Catholic Church for help in building my moral character means that they did have faith in the family unit, enough faith to entrust me and my siblings to the teachings that they understood to be the best for us as a family. It also meant they had faith in Our Father in Heaven, and in his begotten Son,  such faith that they chose to add those helping hands into our lives. This is no small thing. It took a great deal of sacrifice of their time, their Sundays, and their budget to educate and indoctrinate my siblings and myself.  If I look at my seven living brothers and sisters, I see that miracles did happen. That each of us were able to raise ourselves up out of poverty and to build our own families with moral character and with faith. This is no small accomplishment from such humble beginnings.

Occasionally I hear a judgment  passed upon organized Religion concerning raising children within the loving arms of faith.  The judgement is some variation of 'I prefer to let my children learn religion at their own pace, as they are ready for it, and without my guidance or leanings'.  I believe I understand that concept, and I see some value in it.  But, as I look at how I was raised, and how I raised my daughters, and how my grandchildren are being raised, I am not sure that is the only way to raise children. Yes, it may be fine for others, it is not for me to judge. But for me, and mine, I feel that a parent wishing to add faith to the mix when raising children is perfectly within his rights as a parent.  I believe that faith is a virtue, and that sharing faith can be an act of love passed parent to child.  I believe Children may choose to reject that Faith, move on to other Faiths, or perhaps even adopt that Faith in their lives as they move to their own adulthood. But the foundation of Faith provided and taught by the parents, when it is done with respect and love for the child, is also of great value.

For my parents, for their choices and for all the work they did in raising my siblings and myself...I have the greatest love and am gaining greater understanding, day by day. Thanks Mom and Dan. :)

Cheers, nca

Our Cowardly King

President Trump 

Visited Arizona This Week

08/22/2017

Generous Reward

My Mom often walked on paths less warn than my own. Because of this, through much of my life and to this day I lack significant understanding of her.  Not for her lack of trying. Bequeathed to me at her passing I have several of her attempts at novels and her 'life story'.  As of this post I have not sampled her life story, but I have read various passages from her novels.  At some point in my life I may draw from those wells, but at this point I am not quite ready. From our conversations those last few years I am still wary and not trusting enough.

But I am aware of many areas where my Mother lives on in me and my siblings. Her blood courses through me, her peculiar brand of nurturing is in my nature. I find particular phrases of hers in my vocabulary. I see moments where particular mannerisms of hers cross my brows or wrinkle my face. 

This blog itself likely owes some allegiance to my Mother. She was a reader, I am a reader. She was a writer, I attempt to write too. 

My chosen occupation has roots with my Mother too. Certainly not by her design, or mine. But her insistence in us kids attending a Catholic parochial school particularly weighs heavy in what I do for a living.  The emphasis on math and logic I received in school has kept food on my family's tables for 35 years. The summers where she enforced me to do work-sheets when I would rather be swimming or playing ball did have an impact. She even encouraged me to take up typing as an elective in High School, a skill that serves me as a developer and serves me here on this keyboard.

Mom was an artist. Not a classical artist in any way.  She reminds me more of folksy artists like Maud Lewis or Grandma Moses than a more classical artist. She mastered bead work, crotchet, knitting, sewing. She dabbled in wood-burning, painting, writing, dancing, and performance art.  She created scripts, and short plays. She tried her hand at the piano and organ. She had a beautiful soprano singing voice.

How that passed to me was mostly in the writing arts. Though I have made videos, podcasts, and more. I fancied myself a poet at one time, and still dabble at that.  I received a fraction of her creative skills, and am grateful for that.  I get great joy from being able to create something different.

I have strong compassion for equality and fairness. My Mom installed those things in my from a young age. Sadly, late in life she may have lost some of that from her conversation and makeup, but not until it was passed on to me. I hope that as time carries on for me that I don't lose sight of that, it is important to me and worthy of retaining.  I fear that age may wither passion from the vine....perhaps it did for her.

In some ways, Mom's failings have shaped me too.  For better and for worse.  I have strong feelings about 'no kid should ever feel neglected by their parent'. No one should feel unwanted. That every child deserves an attentive parent or Grandparent. This is not to judge my Mother on her motherhood, rather to judge me on allowing those feelings to foster in my youth. It pains me now to think of another youth to have to sample from that bitter well.

To me, as a youth...Mom seemed distant and aloof. Not fully engaged. I share this trait too, which serves me no great service. I apologize to those who may have experienced this from me. My wife particularly. That this one trait from my Mother has continued on in me is no great blessing. Yet, folks....it too is part of me.

All these parts that make a whole. Parts from my Dad, Grandparents, and just from my own life experiences all combine to make me who I am.

When judging our parents and holding them accountable for perceived weakness and failures, are we not in some ways judging ourselves? We do not walk step by step in their every footstep. We only walk part of their journey through life, and they only walk part of our journey.  By judging our parents, we serve judgement on their journey, and we discredit the shared path we have walked. I hope to someday have better understanding of my Mom and her journey.

Mother, thanks.  Thanks for taking the time to raise me in your fashion, the best way you knew how. Thanks for taking me to the Dentist and the Doctor, and for bandaging my cuts and scrapes. Thanks for my yearly birthday movie night. Thanks for working so hard to provide me a great education, and for keeping food on the table when times were tough. Thanks for all the dishes washed, clothes washed, and for taking me to buy school clothes. Thanks for signing me up for little league and boy scouts. Thanks for summer vacations at Mingus Mountain and Indiana. Thanks particularly for my terrific siblings who I love so dearly. And thanks for doing the very best you knew how to do, with what you had, and in your own fashion.

I know that there will be a time when my spirit is reunited with my parents. That is part of my faith. I hope then I will have a better understanding of Mom's journey when we meet again. We will have so much to talk about.

Cheers, nca