This Turning World

I recently read Stephen King’s epic fantasy tale The Dark Tower series. This is a massive work that King spent twenty years writing. One of the recurring themes is the idea that the story takes place “after the world had turned” … meaning that the world (or in the case of King's tale, worlds) and all its inhabitants experienced a massive change which affected the physical and social fabric of life. Even time seems a bit wobbly as the story unfolds.

I started thinking about our own world. Have there been times when it has “turned”? Have there been times here in the real world when events radically and permanently changed the lives of everyone on the planet … or at least such that everyone on the planet noticed? … And those who were born after the world turned had no concept of what the world was like before it “turned”.

The industrial revolution of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s jumps to mind. The advent of electricity, cars, planes, communications, rail systems, and scores of other technological breakthroughs rocketed the world from a slow paced agricultural based world to an industrial engine driven world. This allowed two massive world wars to explode before humans learned to operate in this new environment.

… The world had turned.

The period which began shortly after the Second World War and lasted until sometime in the early 70’s was a quiet growing time for the world … Oh sure, there were regional flair-ups and the cold war was constantly festering. This was a real war but waged with ideology rather than bullets (although several hot spots did erupt). The competing ideas of freedom and communism vied for dominance. But generally, the concepts of right and wrong, good and evil were accepted by nearly everyone. But sometime in the early 70’s something happened that changed everything again. …. I’m not sure what it was. Perhaps it was the Viet Nam War. Perhaps it was the influence of the free love movement and enabling birth control pill. Perhaps it was the activist Supreme Court ruling on abortion. Maybe these are all just symptoms of the true change that happened. People started embracing the notion that there are no universal truths. The idea that there was a right and a wrong fell out of fashion. Certainly a code of behavior as defined by some old dusty book (the Bible) was viewed by many (including those who produced our entertainment in Hollywood) as outdated and unenlightened. This paved the way for all kinds of behavior that wouldn’t have been tolerated just ten years earlier.

… The world had turned.

And now here we are in the later part of 2009. In September of 2001, we all became keenly aware that the world had been changing once again. When an especially virulent form of radical Islam attacked New York and Washington D.C., we began to understand that our way of life here in America and other western countries was being seriously challenged. We’re seeing the world being polarized by clashing ideologies. Ideologies which often cannot tolerate the coexistance of the other.

Even here in America, the polarization between good and evil is slowly creating a gulf. Many politcal leaders are begining to question whether the inspired principals of individual freedoms as outlined in our constitution apply in today's world. As they try to move the country toward a more socially enligtend political structure, those who love a revere the principles of individual freedoms are resisting with an increasing voice. This growing gulf is becoming more and more difficult to bridge.

…. The world is turning once again.

Where will this new “turned” world will end up is unclear. What is clear is that it will never be the old world again. And sadly, only those of us who have lived in both "worlds" will have any memory of earlier (and I believe better) world.

People are still mostly good ... and often better than we think

Shortly after I became handicapped and started using a scooter for longer distances, I commented that it seemed that I had disappeared. What I meant by that, was that when you're in a wheelchair or some other wheeled device (and a lot shorter than you used to be) people tend not to notice you. This is especially true in large crowds.



But one thing I've been noticing recently is that there are an awful lot of folks who offer help ... just little things really. Like holding the door or offering to help carry groceries. And it's not just the kind of people you'd expect ... you know off duty nurses, kindly school teachers and the like. Often I'm offered help by folks who look to be bikers or maybe inner city hooligans (baggy pants and all).



The thing is, we often draw conclusions about the state of the world after watching perhaps just a little too much of the evening news ... but in reality, people are a lot better then we think they are ... and are still mostly good.

Back Again

Well, it's been a while since my last blog ... I have no excuses ... oh, I could claim some lame excuse, but I really have none. ... so here's my thought for now.

My last blog talked about 'This Turning World'. It seems that since that last blog, the world has just increased it's spin. Even the most casual observer would have to say that the gathering clouds on the horizon seem to be increasing, a harbinger of nothing good. More to come.

Karin and I are preparing for our next road trip to the west coast. In preparation, we retired our ancient laptop in favor of a new one with all the bells and whistles. We'll be able to stay in contact more easly as we spend the nest several months on the road.

Watch this site for more on the spinning world

Durwood Ball

About twenty five years ago, I met a successful businessman by the name of Durwood Ball. On several occasions, I'd met with Durwood to discuss potential business opportunities. Nothing really came of it. But it was certainly not hard to like the man. The thing about Durwood was that he was in his eighties and still going strong in the business world. He also had a wife who who appeared to be in her forties. .... Durwood could easily be mistaken for a man twenty years his junior.

One evening, Karin and I visited his home for business discussions .... And to socialize. As we walked down his entry hall, I couldn't help but notice several very old framed black and white faded photos of cowboys ... Complete with chaps ... Some with pistols on their hips. I asked Durwood about the photos.

Durwood told us these were pictures from his youth. It turns out that his father had owned one of those massive ranches in South Texas .... In the neighborhood of 500,000 acres. He told us that he rode in the last cattle drive up the historic Chisolm Trail. He told us stories of riding in open cars for a day or so to the border, and then transferring to horses for a two day ride to visit a Mexican neighbor who had a similarly huge ranch.

I was amazed by the richness of the man's life, having grown up during the dawning of the industrial revolution ... Before the first world war. He grew up in a time and place where horses were still a major mode of transpertation and tool of his father's trade.

I was reminded of Durwood when one of my grandchildren was asking what we had when we were kids.

Q: Did you and Grandma have video games?

A: no ....

Q: Did you and Grandma have TV?

A: Some people had TV's ... But we had only a few programs and TV didn't run all day. TV was in black and white only.

Q: What about Disneyland?

A: no ... Disneyland was built when we were a little older.

Q: What about Telephones?

A: We had telephones, certainly. ... But using long distance was costly and rarely used. We didn't have cell phones

Q: Well, what did you do?

A: Hmmmm ... seems we had plenty to do.


It occurred to me, that to our own grandchildren, our youth was as distant to them as Durwood's was to me.

When we were young, space travel was a dream, the stuff of science fiction. To our grandchildren, space travel is history. To us, cars that routinely communicated with satellites wouldn't even be dreamed of. Today, it's common. .... And the list goes on.

Is there a point to this little essay? .... maybe that as the world turns, it's not a bad thing to remind the next generation what our history really is.

Time Again

It’s been awhile since my last post … Blame it on Brent.  He gave me a copy of his new game “Galactic Civilizations” and I’ve been hooked ever since.  I think I need to spend some time at the Betty Ford Computer Game de-tox.  …

Oh Well … on to my subject.

Karin and I recently rented a completely dreadful time-travel movie … “A Sound of Thunder”.  If your spouse or roommate brings it home from the video store, …. RUN!

I bring this up only because I’m a real sucker for time travel movies  …. Not the really bad ones, but those that that try to seriously explore all the various paradoxes and problems with time travel.    …. Listen to me, I sound like I really believe time travel is even remotely possible.

BTW  … my favorite time travel movie is one that Heather and Jeff put us on to … “Primer”.  I think it’s the best ever … Karin thinks it stinks.  Too bad, I’m buying it.

This brings me to the subject of today’s little blog.  … Does time really exist?

Now I know what you’re thinking (well not really, that’s just a saying) … Has old Dad finally lost it??? … Of course time exists.

Well, let’s examine time.  …. First let’s look at the past (which is part of time).

The past is simply events which have already happened.  Since these events have already happened, the no longer exist.  …. They did at one time, but no more.  Therefore these past events can no longer impact you.  They do make up what you’ve become … have become a part of you so to speak, but the events themselves no longer exist. …They only left their imprints … and then poof, they’re gone. We can say then, that the past really doesn’t exist at all!

Next, lets look at the present  … well I’m pretty sure that the present exists .. at least I think so.

OK  .. so on to the Future!!

Does the future exist?  Well, in a word, no. Since the future is comprised of events that have not yet happened, by definition, it doesn’t exist.  It will exist.  Some of it soon and some a little later.  But the bottom line is that it definitely does not exist right now.

So there you have it.  The future doesn’t exist, but when it does wink into existence as today,  it’l be comprised largely of our actions that preceded it.

The past doesn’t exist, but actions and events from that mythical place make up today.

OK, now I’m confused  …. But that’s why I like time travel movies … I guess I’ll go see one tomorrow.  Hmmmm …    

The Seeds we Sow

While this blog often shies away from political comment (well most of the time anyway), with everyone and their mother jumping on the immigration bashing band wagon, I just can't help myself.

One of the things our politicians have a hard time with is the law of unintended consequences. Every few years, and usually during an election cycle, our politicians decide that the minimum wage needs another boost. This is a great warm and fuzzy designed to curry favor with the electorate ... never mind that when it all shakes out, our free market system will level the playing field and in a few years and all the 'feel good' wears off.

OK ... now fast forward. ... Some industries compete in the world market(for example we now get much of our fruit and vegetables from Mexico). In order to compete, or to meet the demands and expectations of the American consumer, many industries must either automate or find a workforce willing to work harder and at competitive wages ... Note: not necessarily below minimum wage.

Years ago, my own children would sometimes pick strawberries during the summer for extra money. Since they were paid by the number of flats they picked, their earnings were predicated on how hard they were willing to work ... They had to work really hard to make any money. .... as soon as they were old enough, McDonald and Taco Bell became the employer of choice. Soon the growers in our area could no longer count on Youth Movement to get their crops in.

Migrant seasonal workers (most undocumented) quickly and happily took up the slack.

With the Government artificially managing the price of labor, The Law of Unintended Consequences took over and created vacuum that Mexican laborers were only too happy to fill.

So there you have it ... we now have 10 - 15 million immigrant workers in America because politicians like to feel good

..... Boomer


The Boomer By-line

Sidewalk Art to an Uber Level

A bit self serving since this is an article on my other Blog .... but it's worth a look



McCoy USA: Must See Sidewalk Art

From Sea to Shining Sea

This is me at Huegonot State Park ... see article below

As a result of some unfortunate health issues, I was forced to retire almost five years ago (at a very young age, I might add). About retirement, I often hear people say something like this: "Boy, I won't ever retire, I can't see myself sitting in a rocking chair wasting my life away. No sir, I'm going to work until I die!" To those folks I say ... ARE YOU NUTS?

Now I have to admit that it took my system about a year to get used to not working ... You know, waking up at 5:30 AM, always thinking that I had a meeting to go to, that kind of stuff. But once I convinced my internal clock that it was perfecting OK to sleep in to 8:00 or even 9:00 everything fell into place. Now I don't have to worry about being anyplace at a certain time or calling someone at specific time .... Hey, I'm retired. Well, that's not exactly true, I'm pretty certain that my doctors wouldn't be too exited about my newly acquired sense of freedom when I miss my doctors appointment with ... Hey, I'm retired. But all in all, this retirement thing is pretty good. And for all of you who insist on working until you're 80, good on ya! It just means more shuffleboard courts for me.

So this brings me to the real subject of today's little talk. What is that we do with our time? Well, since we have six married children spread all across this fine land, my wife and I travel a fair amount. While traveling, we like to visit local places of interest. When we do, I'll report on them. Now we're not rich or anything like that, so the places we visit are cheap, but interesting.

My first offering is one of the finest unknown beaches on the East coast of Florida. Just north of Jacksonville on Highway A1A, on the north side of the St Johns River is the Huegonot Memorial State Park. This beach is long with white sandy beaches and you can drive right to the water and park on the sand. But the best part of this park is the cove which is reserved for families. The beach is actually a peninsula that curves around forming a large lagoon with calm warm waters ... just right for moms with little children ... no big waves here. If you're looking for surf, just drive to the other side of the peninsula ... and voila!

On the down side, bathrooms are far and few between. Basically, there is only one location .. at the snack shop as you drive in. So plan ahead.

OK ... That's my report ... So, to those who ask "how do you like being retired?", I respond, "well, how do you like Saturday's?"