Independence

I have a friend who is British, but lives in the US. I asked him what he was doing for the 4th. He responded, "Its just another day."

Technically, he is correct. It is just another day. Just another day for Americans to remember the whole point of the origins of our country. Just another day to look at the person across from you and think, I'm glad we're in this country, in this place, where we can disagree without shooting each other (mostly). Just another day to remember that we have the right to disagree with our government and have our words heard. It is just another day.

But like any other holiday, the meaning has gotten obscured by commercialism. Fireworks retailers chuckle madly and rub their hands together as the money rolls in. Food, Alcohol and Fireworks...its the American way.

But, I have friends who have "stood on that wall" between our country and the rest of the world. I might not agree with the administration that put them there...but I respect and appreciate the dedication to their country that put them on that wall.
To them, I say "Thank you!"

Some Beach

Just trying out a newish feature.

Snow Days

Gunmetal clouds obscure what little I can see of the sky from my basement daytime abode. The denizens of my area grow restless as weather reports begin. Snow, snow snow. Its no longer a matter of whether it will snow, but rather how much and when. Unfortunately, the snow will not begin soon enough to cancel work, school or anything worthy of being canceled. Instead, the snow only means that I will be staying home tonight. It won't even rate leaving work early. *sigh*

Fond memories of childhood snow days assail me. Days when the snow blanketed everything, and you no longer heard traffic. Instead, the only sound would be the shushing of snow through trees, and your siblings squabbling in the corner. Who knows why...and here comes the wiffle bat. Its no longer a surprise to me that my parents have gray hair. In retrospect, I'm not sure how they survived our childhood.

Passive Voice

If you asked my sister what is wrong with today's youth, she would tell you "Air conditioning and microwaves are the ruination of man!" Though I think those inventions definitely made life too easy for the general population, I disagree that they are the "ruination of man".

Passive voice is ruining today's youth. If you read their scholastic papers, or writings in the school rag, you will find a commonality: the use of passive voice. The use of passive voice allows the writer to feel comfortable, and distant from the topic. Oddly enough, it also allows the writer to slip any blame or accountability off their plate, and if not onto someone else...at least under the table. That lack of ownership is pervasive and debilitating.