Democracy in America

Alex Tocqueville's Democracy in America was a recent read, describing the Frenchman's tour of the newly minted United States of America in the 1830s.

The European mindset was amazed at how the American society had completely eradicated the rigid class system prevalent on "the Continent" at that time. Tocqueville's personal and comprehensive tour of America led him to conclude that the class system had indeed been eradicated, and he concluded there were two major drivers behind this positive political development.

First, he attributed Christianity to the breakdown of the class system. He observed that men who felt their rights emanated from God rather than the king would not tolerate absolute rule by other men/

Second, he felt America's free market system allowed even the lowest economic stratas to sell to the highest, and created a homogenous society.

It's interesting that these two drivers of Americanism are often disparaged today.

Of course, Tocqueville also observed the ominous clouds growing over the regional views on slavery. He correctly predicted the issue would come to a violent head and, in the end, ultimately resolved. He based much of his views on New England, a societal model which he felt would eventually prevail throughout America.

Thinking Like the Rams

I don't think the Rams approach to their #1 draft pick tonight will be difficult to predict.

If Julio Jones is still available (not expected), they take him.

Failing that, if Prince Akukamara is available (not expected), they take him.

Failing that, they'll draft the best available defensive lineman. And if there are a LOT to pick from, they may try to trade down a few slots and pick from the bottom of the lineman list rather than the top.

So barring a surprise slide of Jones or Akukamara, I expect the Rams will add to the D-line.

Gardening

Jena and I decided to try our hand at herb gardening this summer. We planted rosemary, cilantro, and parsley. We threw in a couple of strawberry plants too! I thought I would try out some raspberry's also. Right now they just look like sticks stuck in the ground. She took off for europe before we could get the bigger garden planted. So I'm on my own for that one. Amber will be here before long and then I can turn this all over to her!

Olivia and Daddy

The Quiet Walk

I enjoyed a walk alone in the woods last weekend. Getting in shape for an upcoming hike was one driving factor, but simply getting alone and away from noise was another powerful motivator. The solution: the Lewis and Clark Trail in western St. Charles County (and a few miles from the ol' high school alma mater).

It was a quiet day and the six hilly miles passed quickly. The springtime foliage was still thin enough to avoid great views, and the vistas were filled with dogwood blooms.

This has been a favorite hiking trail, but walking it backwards made it seem completely different. I guess a new perspective on things can make even the familiar seem new,

At many points, the trail skirts high bluffs and the Missouri River (did Lewis and Clark hunt in these woods?) is clearly visible.

I also found geocache #402.

Happy Baby!

I like a girl who is happy!

I really like a girl who can raise her eyebrow like her Grandma!

Grandpa just likes all his girls!

Mystery Music

Here are five songs which I don't understand, but enjoy anyway:

1. I Am the Walrus (The Beatles) ... I suspect drugs have something to do with this (see below) ...


2. American Pie (Don McClean) ... a Chevy, and levee, and lots of interesting things.


3. Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin) ... great music, whatever it means!


4. The Jack of Hearts (Bob Dylan) ... what's going on with Jack, and Jim, and Lily?


5. A Horse with No Name (America) ... why don't they just give it a name?

For example, here are the opening lines to I Am the Walrus:

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together. See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly. I'm crying. Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come. Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday. Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen. I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

Michaels 1st Birthday

Home Alone

Tommy and Jena are off touring Europe, so Kim and I are home alone again.

Nice.

Me and Grandpa

Grandpa and I had a lot of fun on his last visit. I love hanging upside down and giggling!

Grandkids

What's the saying? If I'd known grandkids were so much fun I would have had them first!

Antietam Battlefield

Kim has a habit of "spontaneous tourism", i.e. she'll see a roadside sign for a nearby attraction and drive 20-30 miles out of the way for a look-see. I admire this trait in her.

While driving through Maryland on the way back from the east coast last week, she spotted a sign for "Antietam Battlefield" and asked me if it was a significant site. Yes, I replied, it was one of the major Civil War battles. Robert F. Lee pushed into Maryland hoping to gain the support of reported sympathizers in the area, but after a three-day affair involving 100,000 men and 23,000 casualties, the South retreated back into Virginia. Lincoln was so incensed with General McClellan's failure to counterattack the Confederates during their lengthy crossing of the Potomac that he personally visited the battlefield and eventually replaced McClellan.

Thirty minutes later we were touring the battlefield, and despite the cold rain, I enjoyed it. This is a picture of "Burnside's bridge" which was the site of some pitched battles as the South departed the battlefield.

It's ironic how beautiful and peaceful these sites of awful battles can be. A line in The Red Badge of Courage captures this sentiment: It was surprising that Nature had gone tranquilly on with her golden process in the midst of so much devilment.

Firms of Endearment

For some reason, I’ve always been fascinated by corporate cultures, how they are achieved, and the potential they deliver. By “corporate culture”, I mean the real long-term attitude of the company toward its’ mission, not what is stated on the posters (and tend to change every year or so).

A book, Firms of Endearment, recently focused on this topic. It claimed that as our population ages (for the first time, more people are over 40 than under), people would have more balanced expectations of companies. Rather than having a singular focus on shareholders, businesses will need to please ALL stakeholders, including owners, employees, customers, and the community.

Examples of firms which endear themselves to all stakeholders include Starbucks, Costco, Whole Foods, Southwest Airlines, Harley Davidson, Toyota, Honda, The Container Store, REI, Google, Timberland, and New Balance. The book was not a denial of capitalism; these companies excel in generating value.

But they sure think differently …

They pay more than their competitors, eschew layoffs, avoid outsourcing, think innovatively, seek to serve the community, pay their taxes, seek long-term partnerships with their suppliers, and do not pay outlandish salaries to their executives. As a result, their work forces are highly productive (but are selectively hired), communities welcome them with open arms, and their customers are fiercely loyal.

This resonates with me, but face it: achieving this type of culture is not something you layer on, but something you build from the foundation up. It’s genuine, and therefore not easily achieved.

Jena's Birthday Party

We celebrated Jena's birthday on Sunday. It was hot in the house, but beautiful outside on the patio. We ate a little BBQ.

I asked Jena what kind of cake she wanted. She requested chocolate cake with peanut butter. These cupcakes were chocolate with peanut butter filling on the inside. Chocolate icing and peanut butter cup for decoration. They were pretty good.

Courage

For years, our budgetary situation has approached closer and closer to financial disaster. All along, the public has been pacified with "we have a few more years, then it'll be fixed". But it's never been fixed. Neither party wants to be the one to interject a little adult supervision into the situation, so it has continued to deteriorate. Talk about slippery slopes ...

Finally, someone has put a bill on the table. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, has introduced a bill which is of the proper magnitude ($6 trillion over ten years) to right the ship. If you think about it, this should be do-able. After all, that's only a 15% cut (which I've made several times to my corporate budget without adverse impact). It's a matter of quit complaining, facing realities, and making the budget work within your limits.

Talk of a government shutdown is overblown, as it would have no real impact to our safety or those receiving checks. This cut is about financial health for all, and should be able to be accomplished without adverse pain to anyone. Medicaid? Why not put it out for competitive bid to Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and CVS? It would be cheaper, better, and faster. We can serve the people without bankrupting them via outdated City Hall tactics.

It'll be a long debate with arguments which will tax the logic, but you have to admit that Mr. Ryan is exhibiting courage by finally putting a viable solution on the table.

Jena's Birthday

Today is Jena’s birthday. I think everyone is already aware of her positive spirit and selfless approach to life. She is a testament to Tommy’s ability to make wise decisions!

So, when we wish her “happy birthday” today, we mean it in the fullest sense: may your future be prosperous and full of joy, Jena!

Geocaching with the iPhone

Kim downloaded a free geocaching app to her iPhone for me to try. It was super-convenient, even in its slimmed-down free mode (the full version costs $9.99).

It's totally paperless. No coordinate entries are required as the phone's GPS automatically scans for all nearby caches. We found four caches fairly quickly with no advance preparation.

By the way, I'm up to 30 states now.

Grandma

I was out walking with my Granddaughter. She picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that. 'Why' my Granddaughter asked. "Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs," I replied.

At this point, my Granddaughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Grandma, how do you know all this stuff?? You are so smart."
I was thinking quickly and said to her, "All Grandmas know stuff. It's on the Grandma Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Grandma."

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "Oh....I get it! she beamed, So if you don't pass the test you have to be the Grandpa".

'Exactly,' I replied with a big smile on my face.

Buffalo River Trail

We just completed a 36 1/2 mile trek of the Buffalo River Trail in northern Arkansas. Being sadly out of shape, it was probably more challenging than it should have been. Cold, rain, hills, and a blister didn't deter us from a successful and picuresque hike. Pictures follow ...