School security

Caring not about predictable comments from teacher union leadership, why have not the billions and billions of dollars pumped into public education provided for adequate school security?

It is criminal that public K-12 schools are not fully protected, with tight perimeters, limited and fully secured entry points with metal detectors, and armed law enforcement personnel who continuously patrol each campus.

Columbine. Sandy Hook. And most recently Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  Reasonable physical security could have prevented or significantly mitigated the tragedies.

The teacher union leaders shout long and loud for increased budgets for salaries and pensions, and now shout out for "social justice" initiatives. But nowhere in the National Education Association (NEA) NEAToday on-line report of the 2017 NEA Representative Assembly was there any mention of school security.  Indeed, the report stated, "NEA Executive Director John Stocks celebrated the student advocacy, member solidarity, and recent victories by NEA state affiliates."  The usual union leadership tripe.

Yet, from my time employed at a school site, I am confident the teachers and staff were absolutely concerned about safety for their students, as well as themselves.  Too bad the union leaders do not display that concern, as they focus on political matters and their own large salaries, benefits, and pensions.

It is not only the union leaders that must be held accountable.  State legislators who approve funding, school boards that approve budgets, and district administrators who manage are equally if not more at fault.  They are responsible for establishing and maintaining the physical environments in which the education is to occur.

Looking into the proverbial crystal ball, do not be surprised if all of the aforementioned begin a resounding chorus demanding more money for public education to increase security.  Would they care to reallocate already provided resources to security?  Highly doubtful.  Sadly, if it plays out like California's history, more funds might be approved, but then used for teacher pay and benefits.

At the end of the day, we know who is to fault for the lack of adequate physical security in our K-12 schools.       

Summer road trip

Wahoo, we received rain overnight and it has been cold by San Diego standards.  Heck, around here, if it is in the 40s and 50s, people break out the parkas, gloves, and watch caps.  Might be wearing long johns too.  Having lived around the world, including areas suffering from snow and frigid temps, as well as cold rain, this really ain't that bad.  But as an old and wise biker, riding in the rain is something to be avoided.

Consequently, the Harley remained in the garage today.  Not a wasted day, because it was time to tackle the taxes.

But, all day, in the back of my mind were thoughts of the summer road trip.




My buddy and I have been talking about the options for this summer for the past several months.  

Due to a variety of factors, we weren't able to hit the road for anything by short day rides over the past year, when he and his bride were in the area.  So the need for a new adventure has been uppermost in our minds.

We've done Sturgis.

We've done Hollister.

We've done back roads in Oregon.

And we've done the PCH, including stopping at the ubiquitous Whale Watcher Inn.

At the dinner table, over a beer, with our brides listening, we last discussed doing some of the less traveled roads in Oregon.  That's a good destination for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being it is the state between the two of us.  I'm in the San Diego region and he is on the Washington coast.  Furthermore, we grew up together in Oregon and are partial to the terrain and natural beauty.

In years past, we have met in northern California to begin an adventure.  Doing the same this year, we could head up the PCH from Eureka to Newport and then head east on Route 20, maybe as far as Ontario.  Maybe hooking south at Bend on Route 97 to Klamath Falls, with a side trip to Crater Lake.  Unparalleled beauty.

 

Sitting here at the computer, it is very easy to envision rolling along those roads, side-by-side with my buddy of 60 years.  Two grey beards in the prime of their lives, enjoying the freedom and independence of the open road.

Ah, yes, the summer road trip.
 

A new bike

Why is this even a thought running through my head?  Ducati or Harley-Davidson?  (Listed alphabetically.)

As written about before, these two 2018 bikes are attractive, interesting, and on the short "if I had the money" list.  The Ducati Mutlistrada 1260 and the Harley-Davidson Heritage.  One Italian, the other American.  Each has a base MSRP of around $19K; the Heritage complete with saddlebags, while adding side cases on the Multistrada means opening the wallet wider and deeper.  The Multistrada seat height of 32.5 inches is higher than the Heritage's 26.3 inches.  A significant point for a 5'8" rider.  Then the Heritage weight of close to 700 pounds is quite a bit higher than the Multistrada's approximately 520 pounds.  If thinking horsepower, the Multistrada handily outclasses the Heritage.   The numbers provide advantages for both bikes.

Comparing the rides means comparing the intended riding.  Short and long touring must figure in, from 250-300 miles per day for a weekend overnight run, to 400-500 miles per day over a two week extended road trip.  In between, riding several times per week, with a nice outing on the weekends, solo or with friends.  So extended saddle time must be considered.  And the configuration of the bike to carry all the wherewithal taken on an extended road trip.  For this consideration, in my view the Heritage (with optional sissy bar, pad, and sissy bar pack for about $425) has a distinct edge over the Multistrada with side and top cases (roughly $1,590 [plastic] to $2,900 [metal]).

There is one notable feature unique to the Ducati.  The computer select able riding modes: touring, enduro, sport, urban. 

Next, the type of riding figures in greatly.  It is canyon carving on technical roads, thrilling at maintaining speed at the edge, or taking the curves and corners more sedately, as part of the journey, rather than the trill of leaning into the road?  What is that picture in your mind of riding the new bike?  

I see portions of the Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon and California, plus Spearfish Canyon Highway in South Dakota, as well as stretches of I-15 south of Provo, Utah and I-80 west of Cheyenne, Wyoming.  I also see Route 3 between Yreka and Weaverville in northern California.  And Route 22 in Oregon.  (The vision definitely does not include congested traffic on I-5 in Los Angeles during rush hour.)  And the ride  on Routes 28, 89, and 50 around Lake Tahoe in the summer is absolutely compelling. 

Touring.  Cruising.  Just riding.  Comfortably rolling along solo or with a buddy.  These are the types I enjoy the most.  If one accepts the various first ride impressions and other reports available online, either bike will take the rider comfortably over the above roads.  Yes, one riding position sits noticeably higher than the other.  But the other provides foot forward controls.  Again, depending on how you personally weigh the various factors cited earlier, it might be a toss up. 

In the end, there are the intangibles.  The essentially personal decisions meaning so much to a biker.  After all, being a biker is just about the ultimate expression of freedom, so choosing a new bike is an extension of that expression.  It is at this point that Harley-Davidson steps ahead of Ducati for me.

Yes, the unique rumble from that V-twin Milwaukee 8 is part of it.  But it more than the sound.  When attending biker or biker related events at which veterans are prominent, the H-D brand dominates the staging points.  Perhaps it is because the bikes are American made.  Perhaps it is the marketing.  Perhaps it is the image created over the decades, from post WWII through high school years, to Run for the Wall and Rolling Thunder.  

Whatever it is,  the intangible scorecard goes to Harley-Davidson.  If I had the money for one bike, it would be the Heritage.  (Of course, if I had the money for two bikes, the Multistrada would be parked next to it.)



   

So True, Charlie Brown, So True

As famously, if not infamously exclaimed by Charlie Brown, "Good grief!"

Perusing Internet (so called) news sites leaves one thoroughly dismayed.  For example:

• Pelosi declared her six year old grandson wished he were brown.  
• A woman was denied aircraft boarding because of an "emotional support hamster."  
• Two school principals were arrested, one for failing to report six year olds had filmed themselves committing sex acts, and the other for failing to report a sexual assault by a seven year old.    
• A university professor told his class he wished the President were dead.
• POTUS wants a military parade in Washington, DC.
• Opinion writers, who never served in uniform, posing as journalists make categorical declarations about what it means to be in the military.  
• The Dow Jones drops more than 2000 points.
• Congress passes spending bills that deepen our already unfathomable sink hole of national debt.
• Self important "celebrities" declare this and that are horrible, yet strive for the most air time and "news" coverage.
• A bankrupt city wants to provide residents $500 per month, no strings attached. 

Good grief indeed.

Spending other peoples' money.  Narcissism running amok.  Avoiding personal responsibility.  Failing to perform the duties of the office to which elected.  Extending victimology to unheard of and unwarranted areas.  Ascribing sexual awareness where none exists.  Claiming unearned expertise.  Wanting to use the military as potted plants in shameless self-promotion (see footnote).

Good grief.   

That supposed intelligent people are involved in each and every (and vastly more) illustration is disturbing.  From this vantage point is seems as if reason and tolerance have been replaced by absurdity and bigotry.  And it continues unabated.

Good grief.  

The list of examples is virtually endless.  Has the nation gone mad?

Charlie Brown and his fellow characters could certainly do better than those involved in the illustrations.

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Footnote: lest one think this is unique to the current White House, do not forget that First Lady Obama appeared on the broadcast of the 2013 Academy Awards, with uniformed military officers as set decorations and dressing.