Tangents

The class of 1972 had its dreams.

July 14, 2022

Do you remember the Statler Brothers’ song “The Class of Fifty-Seven”? I’m from the class that has celebrated our fiftieth reunion this year. I also have two grandsons in the class of 2022. Fifty years is half of a century. That is a long time.

Things get complicated when you get past nineteen. But you and your class had your dreams. Stop for a minute or two and remember those dreams. My dream was to become a journalist. I am now a columnist. I’ve not worked as a reporter.

Many of my classmates had dreams of becoming mothers or fathers and raising another generation of decent human beings. At our reunion in June, I visited with many of these classmates and talked about their children and grandchildren. These dreams seem to have been fulfilled.

A few of our class members joined the military and I have not discovered any that died during their military careers. We did lose over forty in the last fifty years. The toughest were the ones that had passed before we even had our ten-year reunion.

I don’t have a count of the number of my classmates that are in ministry. I am sure of at least six and probably more that I am not aware of. Some are retired and others have gone home. Others are just now accepting the call to something beyond themselves.

I spoke with many of these graduates and reconnected with old friends and some that I never knew in High School. We saw improvements that have been made to the building. We heard of other details of construction that should be completed this year.

Almost all of us are retired or will be joining those ranks in the next few years. At least one is starting a new career as a servant of Greene County. He is running for an office and is unopposed. We have decided to start new careers or projects. All are embracing being grandparents and like my mother believe grandkids are so great, that we should have had them first.

Some of us have reached our goals and have created new ones. Life may continue for some of us to see another thirty or forty years. We still have time to accomplish our dreams. I wish to lead as many to Christ as I can before I enjoy my life with my Heavenly Father.

That is the goal I have had for almost fifty years now. I write to educate and to encourage. We must become the followers of Christ to accomplish the dream of reaching as many as we can for the Kingdom. I hope you have joined this dream.

THE STAPLER

July 8, 2022

If you have seen the movie “Office Space” and you know the character Milton Waddams and have seen photos of me, the humor in this will not be missed. If you do not have these three elements, do not read further. Stop and find photos of me on Facebook or elsewhere and go to IMDB and look up the movie and character. Only then will this story become funny.

After I had started at Positronic Industries in the Purchasing Department comments began to be made about me that I did not understand. I was asked if my stapler was missing and from time to time it would disappear. I would be jokingly told that I was being moved downstairs to a different office. I took all of this in stride and knew the joke was on me because I did not understand what the joke was.

One day Gary, the Purchasing Manager, my boss, caught me in the central purchasing office and presented me with a red Swingline stapler. The rest of the department broke out in hysterical laughter. I smiled and thanked him. Once again I was the butt of the joke and did not know why. I put my black stapler in my desk drawer for a spare and put the red one in its rightful place.

It disappeared almost immediately. Every few days it would reappear through no effort on my part only to disappear later. Each time the red would be filched I would retrieve the black from my drawer. With the return of the red, the black would hide again.

The mystery was revealed when a co-worker from another department noted my red stapler and that it was a Swingline. She asked where I had gotten it and when I told the story of its presentation to me, laughter filled the plant. Cautiously looking around she leaned across my desk and told me about Milton Waddams in the movie “Office Space”. When she asked if I had seen it, my answer was no. After promising to get the movie and watch it she left still laughing and went next door to talk to Gary. More laughter came from his office.

That weekend I found a copy of the movie at a video rental and watched it. I was not especially pleased with being compared to Milton. He comes off as whiney and the type that can easily be abused. I did see the physical resemblance. The character traits of Milton did not appear to be those of myself. Until the end of the movie.

If you have not seen the movie yet, I don’t want to spoil it for you. All I will say is that I looked at this character in a new light after the end of the movie. When my red Swingline Stapler would disappear, I would announce to the entire office that it was missing and ask if anyone smelled smoke.

When I left that company, Gary made sure I took my stapler with me. Here it is in front of me on my desk in my office at home. No buildings were burned when I left.

What does independence mean?

July 3, 2022

The fourth of July is coming around once more. July 4, 1776, is the day that The Declaration of Independence was signed by the Continental Congress. The name of the holiday is Independence Day. This group of men knew that attaching their names to this letter could mean the loss of everything including their lives.

Let’s look at the highlights of this document. It begins with why the thirteen colonies needed to separate themselves from Britain. The first reason is the fact that we all should have life, liberty, and the right to pursue our own happiness. The government can be replaced when it fails to do its job.

There is a long list of violations of these rights. They end the statement of abuse by pledging lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the fight for these rights. After the war ended in favor of the colonies they attempted to survive alone and realized that they needed to remain working as one unit.

They were attempting to do something that had never been done before. Each of these thirteen governments knew that they could be picked off one at a time by the Brits or some other country.

The Second Continental Congress is formed, and a new organization is devised to join these separate governments under one umbrella. Something they all wanted to do was maintain the ability to make certain laws for themselves. These were referred to as State’s Rights.

The name the United States of America was intended to show this arrangement. When you read our Constitution, you will see that many compromises were made to satisfy the individual purposes of states or other groups. The three branches of the Federal Government were created to solve perceived problems with other national forms of governing.

The President, who is the chief executive, has the final say before a law can become effective. Congress and the Senate can overturn a veto. The number of votes to do this is more than those needed to pass the bill the first time.

The legislature, congress, and senate are responsible for passing the bills that become laws. The president can recommend laws as can individual members. Committees look at these and make changes or prevent these bills from being voted on. Congress represents a member from groups that are similar in population. Each state has only two Senators. This was a compromise. What happens when these two branches attempt to violate the Constitution?

That is the job of the Supreme Court. They are the watchdog of our three-tier system. Nine judges are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. These men and women have no authority to do anything except determine the constitutionality of what the State governments, Congress, and the President does. If they step out of line the President and congress can replace those who have violated their responsibility to interpret the constitution. This only happens when they die or resign.

Your barbecue, party, or vacation is simply a celebration of the start of this country. I hope you already knew all of this. If not, now you know. Happy Independence Day.

Is woke really a derogatory term?

June 30, 2022

I’m a word guy. I read. I write. And I am constantly trying to improve my vocabulary. When I started hearing the term woke in political ads, I had no idea what it was. I thought they were mis-pronouncing wok. I know that a wok is a Chinese cooking pan. I like to make stir fry dishes in mine.

I am woke up every morning by our alarm clock. That doesn’t seem to fit what the Republicans are saying about their opponents. The term Woke Democrat or Woke Liberal is a mystery for most of us. I am not sure that those speaking the word in their commercials know the true definition.

Wikipedia says it means “alert to racial prejudice and discrimination.” The Oxford and Webster dictionaries agree with them. How is it bad to be aware of prejudice and discrimination? I am not sure how to interpret this word.

Do I respond like these Republicans and criticize anyone that can realize when racism and bigotry are evident? I guess they could call me a woke writer. By the way, woke is an adjective. That means it must be used to modify a noun like a democrat, writer, or republican.

I have not heard of a woke Republican. It would be nice to learn that they are alert to racial prejudice and discrimination. We need to be looking for our similarities and not our differences.

How are we the same? We all want what is best for each other. Pro-Choice and Abortion opponents want to protect the life of the mother and the baby. Whites and blacks and other minorities want to understand each other and repair any disagreements that we had in the past. Our differences should not divide us.

Even Democrats and Republicans or conservatives and liberals can cooperate to pass laws that we agree are needed. We all win when we work together.

What is most important to you? Is providing for your family your priority? Are you currently more worried about food or housing? Does your family have everything they need? Should you be helping others? Where and with whom should you be serving others?

We need to put others before ourselves. Many people focus totally on themselves. To be the country and the people that we want to be we must put others first. Step out of your place in line and give it to someone else. Walk to the back of the line and let your children know that is what we should be doing.

Graduation time is here.

June 26, 2022

Earlier this year I went to my daughter’s graduation. Yes, she has been out of High School and College. This was the next step. She received her master’s degree. When she began this process, I was being interviewed by a journalism student and he asked who my hero was. After a short pause, I named her and explained she had begun her program to obtain a graduate degree. I was and am a proud father.

She was motivated to change her career path. This girl who did not want to be in front of the camera in media class in high school has decided to teach media, journalism, drama, English, and/or speech. While obtaining her teaching certificates she has been substitute teaching. She is ready to move into her own classroom next year. If you need a new teacher for any of these subjects, contact me and I will give her your information. Of course, she is the best applicant you could hire.

My other two children have their bachelor’s degrees as well. One has been an elementary teacher for years while our last is a home school educator. I express it that way because she trades off some subjects with other parents. Her degree is in engineering. Teaching is in her DNA.

As usual, we heard a commencement address. It was short and sweet. He told us to time him because he knew it was only seven minutes long. The school slogan is “Shine On.” His comments were based around this theme. As I have for over fifty years, I have been thinking about what I would say if asked to present a commencement address.

I would look at any slogans or mission statement that a particular school used as this speaker did. We highly trained professional speakers have many tricks that we use to make our words as memorable as possible. One that the amateurs miss is to keep it short. When Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg address, he was not the featured speaker. Do you know the name of the other man? Most people have never heard of him.

We want to give the graduates hope and encouragement. We want them to see the occasion as a beginning and not an ending. I would begin with a personal story or joke. Have you heard the one about the graduate who was so proud that she had earned her cap and gown that she wore it every day for the rest of her life and was even buried in it seventy-five years later? Finding a designer to make a wedding dress that fit over it was the difficult part.

Every great talk must have a catchphrase like “Go ahead. Make my day.” “Four score and seven years ago” worked for Lincoln. I think I would use something more like “Give a hoot. Don’t pollute.” Or “Help prevent forest fires. Pee on the campfire before you leave.” Maybe I should use “Live as if someone is writing your story.”

Graduates often do not listen to these commencement addresses. A short time later, my grandsons and her sons graduated from High School. Adulthood is beginning for them. Their speakers were administrators and some of their classmates. I enjoyed those speakers also. The students more than the professional educators.

Life teaches us many lessons. I learned some in school. I have been educated more by the day-to-day life I lead. My three points would be, always use spell check, sometimes color outside the lines, and live your life as if you are writing your own story.

Let me close with this. Your story has not been written, yet. Make it a good one. Thanks, Doc Brown.

Trujmpy bear is back.

March 11, 2022

Have you seen the latest TV commercial for the new and improved Trumpy Bear? He still has the long hair that looks like a toupee’. He now sports a tie that says America First. If you have ever wondered why things like these special stuffed animals are marketed, I will give you that answer.

In Economics 101 my freshman year in college the instructor told us about the concept of supply and demand. This is the basic tenant of the American idea of free trade. Manufacturers make what they want. Stores buy what they think they can sell.

The price is set by the manufacturer in the form of the MSRP. That means the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price. Many retailers use this price as their price. When you see items on sale for 20% or more off, they mean that is off the MSRP. Most retail stores want to make a minimum of 45% profit on their sales. Often the suggested price allows the stores to make up to 80% off.

If the items sell as the producer hoped they would, they and the wholesalers and retailers are all happy. The customers are also happy unless they believe the manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer is overcharging them. Those of us who don’t want to pay that high a price will wait for a sale or buy them on clearance if any are left.

Supply and demand sometimes don’t work well for the companies that make products or sell them. That is why they have marketing departments that work with advertising agencies to promote their wares. That brings us back to the new version of Trumpy bear. It is directly marketed. That means the distributor sells it to consumers.

This method allows the company to sell products even before they receive the shipment of goods. A six-to-eight-week lead time is usually enough to allow for judging the demand for the goods. Personally, I would not purchase most of these TV-only items. I prefer shopping sales and online dealers who buy unsold goods and sell them at reduced prices. When I really need or want a particular item, I purchase it at the regular price. That doesn’t happen often.

Our current explosion of gasoline prices is explained by the fact that three percent of our gas comes from Russia. Other prices are going up because Ukraine produces a lot of wheat. Crude oil prices went up the day the invasion began. There was absolutely no delay in the oil companies waiting for their cost to increase.

The oil companies use any excuse they can find to increase the price to their stations and in turn to the customer. The supply has not gone down. The cost of production is not changing yet. They want to make more money from you and I. What can we do about it? Any Congressperson, Senator, or other elected official that does nothing to stop them should be replaced.

Force those who are running this year to declare now what they will do and give them one month to stop this rape of the American public or vote them out in the primaries and in November. Remember that they must do this in a month, not wait until they are home for the election, and we must wait until the next Congress is seated.

The next time you hear someone explaining this travesty is caused by the Russian/Ukrainian war remember that they are wrong. The prices soared the day this battle began. The gas price increased due to the greed of the oil companies. They finance both Republican and Democratic candidates. The third-party candidates won’t get these funds until you elect them.

10 REASONS NOT TO RELOAD THE TOILET PAPER DISPENSER

February 3, 2022

The dispenser in the men’s room that is closest to the office at the Springfield business always seems to be out of t.p. when it is needed the most. While contemplating this sad state of affairs and reloading it, these reasons why one might not want to do this task came to mind. Most would not apply to a Christian because of the command to be a servant.

It is not your job. While working in food service, a printed job description was provided that included cleaning and restocking the restrooms every hour as needed. Since it did not specifically mention this product, it might not be your job.
It is below the pay grade. Why not perform tasks that are below your pay scale? That must mean that you are doing something and getting paid more than you should. Isn’t that what everyone wants?
It is above the pay grade. A philosophy of always demonstrating the positions above one’s current job are not beyond one’s capabilities can lead to a promotion and raise in pay. Isn’t that what we want?
There has been no training for the job. Really? You are not smart enough to know how to load a dispenser? The key is in the lock on the top. Anyone with half a brain should be able to reload it.
This is my personal time. Are you on the clock? You take your breaks including lunch and do not use the facilities during those times. Right?
It is demeaning. We aren’t asking you to clean the toilet.
It is unsanitary. See reason number 6.
Where is the spare tissue kept? Look over your right shoulder on that shelf that is on an eye level when you walk in.
No one else seems to be willing to do this job. You want to be like everyone else? You are just one of the lemmings, aren’t you?
If one wanted to, one could. But you really don’t care about anyone else. So why should you?

As a forty-year veteran of management, things as small as changing the toilet tissue in the common bathroom is a way I determine whether you are a good employee. I also notice how you treat others and if you do your work without complaining. Another technique I use is to listen to your attitude about everything you talk about. Many promotions are decided because of whether you are a positive or negative influence on those around you. Can you believe that something as simple as not changing the toilet paper roll keeps you where you are or may cost you your job?

Is Public Safety a Governmental Issue?

November 12, 2021

The masking issue, social distancing, business closings, and now the push for everyone above the age of five to be vaccinated are some of the things involved in the controversy. Your attitude about each of the topics may vary. I do not want to change your position on these. I simply want to deal with information that some people have been giving that is not factual.

Government should not tell us what we can and cannot do. You are going to receive a letter in the mail in the next week. Be waiting for it. It is from one of your neighbors. The state has decided to build a maximum-security prison on property within three blocks of your home. They want you to join them at a zoning meeting next week to protest this decision. Will you join them?

Why should the city do anything to prevent this from happening in your backyard? You and your neighbors say it is a matter of public safety. Who cares?

The local newspaper has stopped publishing the reports from the health department about inspections of local food service establishments. They say these are not important as they once were. Your child had a terrible case of stomach flu and suddenly you look at an old newspaper and see that your favorite restaurant has been cited twelve times in the last year for leaving food out for longer than recommended. Who cares?

You are being prepped for surgery at the local hospital. None of the nurses, technicians, or doctors are wearing masks. You ask about this and their reply is that they heard that you did not think that masks were necessary during the Covid-19 scare because wearing a mask would not protect you. They have decided not to wear them around you during surgery because they are a lot of trouble. They know you will understand.

Some day cancer will be eliminated from the lists of hazards in our lives. This has been written in internet blogs by many of your favorite writers. It does not concern you when the Surgeon General announces that tobacco companies do not have to print the warning label on the side of the cigarette packages anymore. You don’t care because you haven’t smoked in years.

The Federal government has decided that seat belts, airbags, and other automobile safety equipment is not used by everyone, and congress is in the process of repealing all these laws. The automobile manufacturers are ecstatic. This will save thousands of dollars on every vehicle. They won’t even have to cut the prices.

One last item in case you have not caught on to what I am saying. All the stop signs, yield signs, traffic lights, and other street markers are going to be removed in your city. It has been decided by the city authorities that 20 percent of drivers do not obey them. If they don’t care, why should anyone else? You have even broken those laws yourself. Apparently, you don’t care either.

My point is that the only reason we live in a civilized society is that we care about each other and they care about us. If all rules of conduct are violated because we don’t care anymore, we are back to the dark ages, and life as we know it ceases to exist. That’s o.k. You want to do what you want to do.

January 31, 2020

Tangents seems like an odd name for a column, don’t you think? Or maybe you are like me and you do think. You think entirely too much and you must do something with your thoughts. I believe that may have been the reason I first started writing as a child. Teachers had us put these thoughts on paper and I realized it was a good way to clear my head. Write it down.

That was a tangent. We started to discuss “the line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but if extended does not cross it at that point.” I veered off on a different course. (Is that course or coarse? Another tangent.) This is the geometrical definition taken from the dictionary. The second possible definition listed is “a completely different line of thought or action.” Isn’t English a great language?
That is why these articles will be called tangents. In the two paragraphs above there were at least a half dozen ideas for articles that distracted me. I had to pull myself back to explaining what you will read here. When I chase a rabbit while I am writing and it does not fit in that article, I will remove it, finish it later and publish it in this series. Be very careful. By reading these you may fall helplessly into the mind of a writer. It can be a scary place.

That makes about ten tangents now. Those will be for another day. The purpose of my web site is to introduce you to my style and technique. If you share my love for writing, we will take this journey together and perhaps you will share your tangents with everyone. Or you might be too embarrassed to let others see what clutters your brain. Em- bare-assed. I must stop this, or I will never finish this introduction.

These will be side trips. When I go after the proverbial field rodent, I will spare you that torment. If I think that it is worthwhile to consider at another time, you will find it here. Now I must pursue those other lines of thought and see what emerges from the brush.

Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Walk With a Servant

Category: Tangents