Update no.1196

 Update from the Sunland

No.1196

9.12.24 – 15.12.24

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

Well, what a story I have to tell!

Middle Son, Tyson, had one special annual event on this bucket list—Army-Navy football game . . . live! The COVID-19 pandemic and then my medical travails put a big dent in our fulfillment of Tyson’s bucket list item. Long story short, this was the year to deliver. I joined our two youngest sons, Tyson and Taylor, to attend this year’s game.

My lovely wife, Jeanne, went to extraordinary lengths to arrange all the details of the long weekend with the assistance of family. Granddaughter Shalee Lynn set up our rental car with Enterprise for the weekend, and Daughter-in-Law Mellissa who had the foresight to supply Tyson with packets of hand-warmers that became a godsend. Son Taylor set up an expert guided tour of the U.S. Naval Academy. Jeanne was the keystone to the whole operation. Thank you so much to everyone who helped and all those who wished us bon chance e bon voyage.

I learned a hard lesson during my connecting flights from Phoenix to Washington, DC. My body was not as capable as my mind thought it was. As a consequence of the lesson learned, I had to swallow my pride and use a wheelchair for better mobility. The boys were extraordinarily helpful in assisting me during the weekend adventure. I am very grateful and proud of both of them. Taylor served as our driver-extraordinaire getting us where we needed to be on every day; it was reassuring to have a chief of police as our skilled driver.

On Friday, we enjoyed an incredible breakfast at the Unconventional Café on 9^th Street—highly recommended. Tyson gets all the credit for finding the place. I narrated highlights on our drive around the Yard. We spent the afternoon at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. So much has changed in the Yard, but quite a bit remains just as it was in my day, 55 years ago. Of course, I had to retell the story of the ‘Diggers and Fillers,’ but this time I showed them the actual brick promenade and the blond brick cobblestone street that were torn up every fall to install a large utility tunnel.  I explained the various buildings that were present when I was a midshipman nearly 60 years ago. There were numerous new buildings that were built after I was a member of the Brigade. As Taylor had arranged, we had an expert guided tour by the head Guest Services guide—Mike. He got us into the old Natatorium where I did all my intercollegiate swimming along with the 40-foot platform used to verify each midshipman’s ability to abandon ship. The platform was removed decades ago since the Service eliminated the requirement. We also went inside the main dining hall where they fed the entire Brigade three times a day at one sitting.

Saturday was the big day—the 125^th Army-Navy football game 2024 at the Washington Commander’s Stadium in Landover, Maryland (outside Washington, DC). Army was a ranked team and was the statistical favorite to win the big game. It was a great game, and surprise, surprise, Navy won 31-13. The Navy football team won their N*. There is no question that Navy earned the win and outplayed Army. The benefit was our two sons were able to experience the full Monty of the game from the march on of the Corps of Cadets and the Brigade of Midshipmen to the singing of Navy Blue and Gold. The cold weather was difficult to handle, but we did it. I think it is safe to say we had a grand experience and some excellent family time. Tyson’s wish was fulfilled.

Thank you far beyond mere words to Tyson and Taylor for the inspiration and extra care for an old man. The weekend will not be forgotten.

 

General Notice:

It is with profound sadness that it is my duty to report that the publisher/founder of Saint Gaudens Press, Inc., passed away on the 19^th of November 2024. He fought a valiant battle against a very swift cancer. His heirs have begun closing down and dismantling the small press company he founded 50 years ago. The marker does not affect works already in print; they remain available through any and all retail sources. What will change is the publication of new works.

I delivered the submittal package for my latest completed project—Anod’s Glory—in August, before the seriousness of his affliction became evident. The manuscript was the 3^rd book of the Anod series of science fiction novels and my 24^th completed work. As a result of Saint Gaudens Press ceasing operations, I must find a new publisher to transform my submittal packages into public released books.

My current project is a project of passion. I am two-thirds through the first draft, so I still have several months of writing ahead. The manuscript is provisionally titled Innocence Lost. The skeleton of the story is a box of letters I inherited with my father’s passing. The letters were written by my Great-Uncle Charles Newton Parlier (my grandfather’s older brother) during his service in the U.S. Marine Corps before, during, and after his duty with 2^nd Battalion, 6^thMarines. He survived the war and the Battles of Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry, Soisson, and was seriously wounded during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.

In the ‘On Deck’ circle is the 12^th book of the To So Few series as ‘Hunter’ Drummond is convinced to join U.S. Marine Corps four years after his discharge from the U.S. Army Air Forces. The story will follow Brian through the tumultuous transition years and into the Korean War. I have plans to follow Brian through the Vietnam War.

As I have written many times, I will continue writing as long as I am able. I still enjoy the process, which is perfect to keep me busy during my retirement years and the trials of old age.

 

They got the bastard!

The Altoona, Pennsylvania, Police Department responded to a tip from a local McDonald’s employee and arrested the Thompson assassin [1195]. There is still so much we do not know. New York and federal agents are now in Altoona to seek the swift extradition of the “Person of Interest” [PoI] back to New York to face justice. The PoI [or more likely, his wealthy family] hired a high-powered [i.e., expensive] lawyer as they “on again, off again” dink with whether to waive extradition. The best the perpetrator can do it delay the inevitable. He will face justice.

 It is one thing to protest injustice or any other anti-social activity, but assassination of a human being is not and never will be warranted or justifiable. I understand the public resentment toward the profit motive of the medical insurance industry, but that does not and never will validate what he did that morning (4.12.2024). We do not yet know the perpetrator’s motive for such a drastic action.

Worse, as an indicative reflection on the corrosion of our society, we have a significant number of citizen’s praising the perpetrator like he was some kind of hero. The perpetrator is the anti-thesis of a hero; he is, in fact, a stone-cold killer. And, his fancy lawyer is probably going to convince him to make a temporary insanity plea. With as much planning and preparation as this felonious crime took, I cannot imagine an insanity plea being successful. The only thing he deserves is life in prison with no chance for parole. There is nothing good or positive about that he did that morning.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1195:

Comment to the Blog:

“My objection to not naming the Chump is that audiences interpret that as fear rather than the intended contempt.

“I still hope to see Biden use the powers of the Presidency granted to the Chump against him.

“On Europe: The key players act in a Kissinger-like ‘geopolitics’ framing. They overthink everything and lack any morals. They say whatever comes to mind to justify their actions. While Kissinger continues to be renowned in powerful circles, his methods have harmed far more people than they’ve helped.

“Pete Hegseth appears to be an active alcoholic with other untreated issues. I wouldn’t hire him for any job.

“Whatever motive fueled the killer of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, political people need to take note of the positive public response. That’s more important than the technique.

“This week’s other comment was rational and thoughtful, but many others commenting all over the Internet bring to mind an Isaac Asimov quote:

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” 

― Isaac Asimov

My response to the Blog:

People are free to think what they wish. I am far beyond tired of that man’s malfeasance, and I refuse to repeat his name—persona non grata. Contempt indeed . . . an understatement.

Well, we shall see. He only has a few more days to exercise that power.

Kissinger was never president. He was only an advisor. Presidents listened to him. He never set policy.

Yes, he does . . . among many other personal flaws. I would not hire him for any job either. Other than alcohol separating Hegseth from [no name]. those two men share more in common, which is not good and is a disqualification in my book.

The Thompson assassin has certainly brought the insurance industry profit motive to the forefront of public debate and rightly so. Law enforcement captured him in an Altoona, PA, McDonalds yesterday. Looks like that employee should receive the reward. There is still so much we do not yet know, but congratulations to the law enforcement agencies involved in his capture.

Asimov was a wise, insightful, and observant person. “A cult of ignorance” indeed! Wise words it seems to me. That is why I use the earned motto of “Ignorance over knowledge” for the MAGAts—they earned it.

I want to live to see the day when knowledge and enlightenment rule the day, again. We are a long way from that state today.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“Kissinger had enormous ‘informal’ authority. Whether or not he was President, he made policy and influenced the powerful worldwide. 

“The Chump had an older brother who died at 42 from alcoholism. Assuming the Chump hasn’t had therapy or some healing modality for that, it influences his life. Hegseth probably benefits from that. Also, it leaves the Chump in a position similar to Henry VIII concerning succession.

“Someone has already asked online where New York will find 12 jurors who don’t hate the health insurance industry. I don’t know anyone like that.

“The American way insists that all opinions can be voiced, but Asimov reminds us that we needn’t value them equally. The Chump has outlets for his views, but I choose whether I listen. One flaw of our mass media is ‘both sides-ism,’ where they value the rantings of madmen equally to the ideas of sane, experienced officials.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

I cannot offer counterpoint to your assessment of Kissinger.

Quite so. Alcoholism has affected his behavior indirectly. I do not know how that benefits Hegseth; I suspect Little Fingers sees that affliction as a negative in Hegseth. Perhaps so, but we shall see within four years.

Good point. The public protest and criticism of the medical insurance industry has been dramatic and nearly unanimous. Making the assassin a hero is flat-ass wrong no matter how we cut it. I imagine there are other citizens like me. I have not suffered that abuse with respect to medical insurance. I am most grateful for Medicare and my military medical coverage; no complaints whatsoever . . . and I am dealing with some very expensive treatments.

Again, quite so. Asimov was a very wise and observant person. I try very hard to ignore Little Fingers. That is why I refuse to use his familial name. Good point about “both sides-ism.”

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)