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 Holabird AdvocateProviding all the news we see fit to print since 2002!Wednesday, October 31, 2012 While you're waiting for the relaunch of the Holabird Advocate vote in our first poll! Tuesday, October 30, 2012 With the website changing back to it's original name, I hope to set a few things right. It won't be as good as it used to be, but it will still be better than what I've been doing here. I hope that the 5 of you still reading enjoy it. The relaunch issue will poke fun at my favorite target:myself!
When I started the Holabird Advocate 10 years ago, I really didn't think anyone outside of my family and a few close friends would read it. But at it's height, the "Hinkle Empire" reached 16 countries and has been read on every continent except Antarctica. Not bad!
Last night I went to the Haunted House on Main Street that benefits the Children's Miracle Network. All who can really should make the effort, even if you, like me, don't believe in Halloween. It is for a good cause. For me, most of the entertainment came from the 4 or 5 screaming ladies who, if they weren't scared sure fooled me! I decided to get into the spirit of the holiday and wear black, which pretty much made me invisible. At any rate it was $5 well spent, and it was fun if I do say so myself. DWU Theatre sponsored it, so that in itself was another good reason for me to show support!
Quinten Burg, Candidate for State Senate in District 20 was at Java City for the McGovern brown bag, so I went to see what, if anything he has to offer! He has a rather refreshing honest and common sense approach to politics. Whether that is enough to unseat Senator Vehle remains to be seen.
Monday, October 29, 2012 As I posted earlier this year, barring the unforeseen I would be bringing back the old Holabird Advocate to this web address, effectively canceling the Jerry Hinkle Program, on Jan 1, 2013. I have since decided to move up this relaunch to November 1, 2012. To celebrate the relaunch, I'll be hosting a relaunch party in the lobby of the Ramada Inn at 9:30 Halloween night. It will be formal, unless I can find a Peyton Manning Jersey that will fit me, in which case it will be a costume party. Thursday, October 25, 2012 I had so much fun at yesterday's brown bag at Java City that I wanted to go again. But first I went to see America. She was not having a good day. We had about a half inch of snow, and the coffee machine was broke. Long story short I had to drink Coke for breakfast. Grandad would have had a fit, but what was I to do, ya know! Turns out It goes well with a biscuit, sausage and hash browns
Matt Varilek was one of the speakers, as was James Schorzmann. They are both running for House seats. Varilek for US House, and Schorzmann for the State House in Disrict 20. Both of these gentleman seem honest and sincere. They are also both Democrats. Hopefully the voters won't hold that against them. The Republican incumbants in both of these races have an advantage, but like the car rental people, these men will try harder!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I have a 2 day Vacation from work, so I decided to take in the McGovern Center's brown bag forum at Java City today. Senator Vehle who ran a little late, was the featured speaker. He spoke for a bit and took questions. Tomorrow Matt Varilek is scheduled to show, so that might be interesting to see.
I regret that I missed Kyle Schoenfish's turn at presenting at the McGovern brown bag last Thursday, but Pizza Hut needed me! I hope all the Readers from District 19 went there!
Monday, October 22, 2012 Ever since I heard the news that Senator McGovern passed from the Earth, I have wondered how he'll be remembered. I hope that future DWU students will know that he was more than just a name on the Library building. His life had value to all who knew him, and many who never got the change to know him. Toward the end of his career in public life, the Senator wondered "if the game was worth the candle". I hope that as he approached the end, he discovered that is was! George Stanley McGovern grew up poor. He said so himself. He worked at various jobs around Mitchell ever since he was 14. He literally worked his way through college at DWU, even though being the son of a Methodist minister may have helped him a little. Those of his generation were usually denied a college education because they couldn't afford that luxury. Those of us who availed ourselves of the wonder known as financial aid have him to thank in part. In fact when people say that "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" they need correction. Those growing up today aren't nearly as poor as the McGovern family and those like them back in the 20's and 30's! When Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese, McGovern and other like minded men joined the Army Air Corps. Historian Thomas Knock made the claim that he had the best combat record of any candidate for office of President of the United States. It may be looked upon as ironic that such a war hero would be such an advocate of peace. I'm inclined to believe that because he saw the horrors of war firsthand; the death, disease and famine, it made him want to avoid them if at all possible. When he entered political life, he nearly became a real life Jefferson Smith, a fighter of lost causes. In the movie, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Jeff relates that his father, Clayton Smith, always told him the one fights for lost causes, and sometimes die for them, because they are the only causes worth fighting for. Like Jeff Smith in that movie, Senator McGovern had plenty of Taylors and Paines that went up against him, but he never gave up the fight for peace and an end to hunger. Even after his term in the Senate was over, McGovern still fought for those lost causes as an Ambassador, and even after that, giving his last full measure of devotion.
Now that his work on Earth is done, I wonder if there is anyone willing to take up the fight, because even though his work is done, there is still a great big job to do! His passing has left a vacancy for anyone willing to put forth the effort! I hope they show up soon! God be with you and do the best you can!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
It's been quite a week! I've been busy with work, and I've discovered a new game on Facebook called Journey of Jesus: the Calling, which I'll write more some other time. Right now the thing weighing heaviest on my mind is Senator McGovern.
I'm sure all who care to know have already heard that he is under hospice care and not responsive. My heart goes out to the Senator's family, because my own faced this same issue when Grandad was approaching the winter season of his life. We all knew the end was near, and that short of a miracle, nothing would get him out of what was to be his death bed. those last three weeks were awful for him. There were times I wondered if I should be fighting to keep him home instead of sticking him in a nursing home. The fact is we all did what we thought was right, and looking back I can honestly say we did everything that a nursing home could do.
As for the Senator, when his end comes, there will be much attention paid to it. People who never said a nice word about him will be going out of their way to say the nicest thing possible. Every newspaper in the state, the dailies anyway, will prints hundreds of words about his life, legend, and legacy. It doesn't seem fair that he should miss all of that.
If any of his family members should catch this article before, during, or after the end of the Senator's time on Earth comes, I have a few things to say. First I've been there too! I know how it is. You are going to be fine, and in a way so is he. Secondly, thank you for sharing such a great man with the rest of the world. I know it had to be difficult at times, and your sacrifice was very much appreciated by many, including myself. Lastly, when it comes down to it, only one of all of humanity could do what he did and be who he was. He blessed and was blessed in return
For the rest of us, I'd ask that we keep praying that God delivers Senator George Stanley McGovern from all sickness and pain in the way He sees fit, and that He sends someone to continue the work that the Senator started until it is no longer necessary. God be with you and do the best you can!
Monday, October 15, 2012
According to a SDDP press release, Secretary of State Jason Gant received something like $17500 from a couple corporations that were either awarded contracts or had existing contracts renewed by his office that paid out something to the tune of $300K. My reaction? So what? Isn't this the way it's done? Next thing you'll tell me is that the sun comes up in the east! The fact that Ben Nesselhuf's name appears throughout makes this look like sour grapes, since he was defeated by Gant for the SOS office 2 years ago!
Saturday, October 13, 2012 Last night I went through a sobriety checkpoint here in the big city! I've lived here for more than 5 years, and this was only the second time I've had to do that. Both times, I was getting off work. They never do that in the daytime! I suppose drunks are easier to spot, so no checkpoint is needed.
The checkpoint was under the bridge on Burr, which makes sense, I guess, but when I saw the flashing lights of the patrol car, the fist thing I thought that there was an accident. I slowed down looking for a place to turn, but before I did, I saw the sign that said "Sobriety Check point ahead ", I knew that if i had made a turn, it would look suspicious, and besides I was totes sober, right! I continued until directed to stop. The officer told me what I already knew, and asked if I had anything to drink tonight. I said, Just a frappe, at which point he let me know that he was done.
Before work i went to the coffee shop, as it happens America was there. She remembered that I ordered a frappe on Monday, and asked if that's I would like. Naturally I was impressed. America is really a super lady, very nice and friendly, good at her job, and pretty darn cute. She's almost perfect in fact. That could be because I've only spent a few minutes with her on 2 different days. If she lived with me I'd see the real side of her. This way is MUCH better. She never interrupts me while I'm watching TV, or asks about my feelings-none of that crap. So why spoil a perfectly good relationship by getting to know each other better?
Thursday, October 11, 2012
I am glad I had the chance to go to what I called Coffee Shop Communion. It was very nice to be part of a small group discussion. It's not easy for me to do that because I have a balance problem. By that I mean I tend to either talk too much or too little. People like to hear what I have to say, because they have been given the impression that I'm rather intelligent, so I must be careful in what I say. The best way to fake intelligence is verbal economy. Faking stupidity is easy for me! All I have to do is open my mouth, and just keep talking!
Of course the question of when to talk or not to talk is only a minor concern compared to when to listen. The right answer? ALWAYS! It's also very rude it interrupt someone when they are talking. My course of action? The knowing and understanding nod. The best time to say anything for me is usually to answer a question, but even then it's tricky. When someone asks me a yes or no question and I give a 45 second reply in which neither yes nor no is present really confirms to the questioner that I may not be as intelligent as he or she though! Those who have read this so far have noticed that I haven't actually mentioned what was discussed at the meeting. That's because I forgot most of it. What I do remember will be revealed here when it becomes relevant to me as the Publisher and you as the reader. Until then, God be with you and do the best you can! Wednesday, October 10, 2012
One of the ways that the big city churches are keeping the faithful coming to the Sunday service is to get together in the middle of the week in a more intimate setting. One such setting is the new coffee shop in the County Fair Food Store here in Mitchell. I haven't been to either the shop, nor to these meetings. That is about to change. I will be heading out to my first such meeting which is in connection to the Mitchell Fusion outreach that FUMC is doing in about an hour. I have my bible packed in case I have need of it. Well, one of them anyway.
This kind of togetherness is nothing new for the big city, or the small town as far as that goes. I must say that I am quite curious as to see how this will all work out. If indeed it does, I may be attending this kind of "communion" again, and possibly more oftenMonday, October 08, 2012
I went to my favorite coffee shop for breakfast this morning and met a perfectly wonderful lady who just started working there. I detected a slight hint of Oklahoma in her voice as she said "What can I get ya, honey?" It turns out that her name is America, that is if the name-tag she was wearing was telling me the truth. She was an excellent server, and always knew when to ask "More coffee honey?" All my senses were on overload. Never before had I ever felt such a deep spiritual connection with someone.
I've heard of love at first sight, and wondered if such a thing was possible, and if it was happening now. I must I was open to the possibility, as absurd as the notion sounded. The relationship between server and customer is not unlike that between husband and wife. I ask for food, she brings it. She asks for money, and I give it to her. My grandparents did that for 63 years!
Alas, as love often does, things went wrong. Another gentlemen walks in, and America asks him, "What can I get ya, honey?" and BOOM!!!! I'd been replaced. Another man has discovered America! Still, it was the best 15 minutes of my day. If she's still there on Halloween, I just might rediscover America. Until then, God be with you and do the best you can!
Thursday, October 04, 2012
This month of October 2012 is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. I was not aware of that until I saw the Jennifer Livingston video . I find it hard to believe that people are not aware of bullying, since the media likes to beat us over the head with this issue. Everyone has an opinion on bullying, but not everyone has their own blog. At any rate the reason we all have an opinion is because each and every one of us have either been bullied or have been the bully. I myself have been on both sides of this stick, I take no pleasure in that claim.
Some suggest that there is a need for anti-bullying legislation. I'm not sure about that myself. Just as one can not legislate morality, one can't make one person be nice to another no matter how many laws get passed. Some who are bullied want revenge, or some kind of payback. When nations do this, wars get started. Proverbs 15:1 tells us, depending on the translation, that "A gentle answer turns away wrath". This may be the case, but speaking from personal experience, finding that gentle answer is not always easy, and sometimes comes at a price.
Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, but never tells us what to do after that cheek has been struck. Does Jesus want us to be bullied? By no means! Yet he let himself be bullied in Jerusalem-to the death! His last words were, depending on the biblical translation, "Forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing"
As bad as I felt about those who bullied me, I feel much more worse about those that I've bullied back, or those that I've bullied who did not have it coming. Especially to those I've hurt and I never knew that I was hurting them if such a thing is possible. The worst part about this effort of mine to raise awareness of bullying is that the bullies won't read it, and those that do will think it applies to someone else, or they won't care that they are hurting someone. In the Livingston video, I have to wonder if the person she talks about thinks he was bullying her, or if he thought that he was giving her constructive criticism. She certainly didn't feel as though he did. I'd like to hear his side of the story before I say anything about him.
God be with you and do the best you can!
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Some time ago I was talking to some young people on Facebook about philosophy and I mentioned that the answer to everything was "42, but what is the question". One of the guys in this group replied "What is 6x9" Needless to say I laughed! Then he pointed out that according to "Base 13" that was the right answer. To which I said, "Unlucky for some".
I had heard of "The Base Method" before. On "The Cosby Show" Vanessa tried to explain it to Dr. Huxtable, but he understood it about as well as I did, and still don't. My sister in law talked about "new math" at the Hyde County School. I asked if 2+2=5 still, and my niece Shelby, who was just starting school said "2+2 isn't 5!, and I thought it was the end of the discussion.
Then I heard something about "order of operations"on Facebook. I actually had to Google that, but understood only some of what I had a vague recollection of in high school algebra. I'm glad to know that I'll never have to know that for any useful purpose I serve on Earth.
Mathematics, to me, was always absolute. 2+2=4, not 5 as I tried to convince my Shelby pal. Bt what if there is a base method to make it 5 instead of 4. As for order of operations, I'll go from left to right like I always do! Math is the one subject I could always count on where there was only one right answer. It would appear I gave up academe at just the right time!
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