Monday, January 14, 2008

Random Items

My posts seem to be coming more infrequently than I intended. I must admit that the plan was to slow a little -- to not feel pressured to post something daily -- but taking it to such an extreme was not desired.

It isn't that I am writing less. In fact, I may be writing more. My Ag blog is catching more of my attention. I am writing for the paper on a weekly basis (with a few exceptions), and I am working on Billy -- although not in as disciplined manner as I should. I also have been invited to participate in a collaborative blog that will be rolled out sometime soon. I will say more about that as the plans are firmed. A number of pieces that I wrote as educational material for work are being translated into Spanish for distribution throughout Mexico and South America. In a way, that will make me an Internationally read author! Too bad it doesn't pay any extra. But, I guess as bloggers, most of us are Internationally read authors. I also have been participating (although infrequently) in the American Conservative Forum (I had to have a political outlet!).

The Presidential race has me disgusted. The only candidate that I have any positive feelings toward is Fred Thompson (you can tell from my sidebar). His race seems to be faltering -- probably from a lack of money. I hope that he pulls a surprise showing in South Carolina, but I'm not optimistic. He is the only candidate that seems to consistently represent the values that I believe to be important. What bothers me most is that there isn't really a good choice among the others -- of either party. They each terrify me although not all for the same reasons.

It seems that our President has decided that he wants to add a Middle East Peace Treaty to his legacy. The Middle East has been the focus of his Presidency since 9-11. I suppose it fits. It also fits the Armageddon scenario of the end times. If you look at the world situation closely, there are many things that fit the foreshadowing of Revelation. The environmental issues, earthquakes, famines, volcanoes, unrest, wars, China and India, the European Union, the former Soviet states, the "villainization" of some world political figures, the rise of Islam, and on and on ad nauseum. I'm not convinced that God is ready to "roll up the scroll" and be done with it -- but He could be....

On the other hand, I'm amazed to watch my son as an 11th grader in High School, totally focused on the career that he wishes to pursue in either Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering. He and his team are building a hover craft for their physics project. I was skeptical at first but now I seriously think they have a real chance of getting it off the ground. He also is working on a program with NASA in which he is going through a series of lessons with them through the Internet that if he passes will mean a two-week all-expenses-paid trip to NASA this summer. He is also working with another student on a NASA sponsored scholarship project that includes the design of a future spacecraft. He recently received score reports from both SAT and ACT and did quite well on both -- a near-perfect score on the ACT. He has a very high natural ability in mathematics -- almost intuitive. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!

So much for random thoughts -- I think I will end.

6 comments:

WomanHonorThyself said...

Long time no see..glad all is well~!

i beati said...

What legacy would that be ??I wonder

i beati said...

is your son in Rotc in High School ??

Chris McClure aka Panhandle Poet said...

i beati: Not in ROTC -- not interested. I've suggested it at A&M which is where he is indicating that he wants to attend but I don't think it will happen. I've also mentioned military academies but again no interest. He says, "I don't want to fly them, I want to design them."

Ranando said...

Tell him to hurry up and design them so I can get the Hell out of here.

Sounds like a great kid who knows what he wants, good for him.

Chris McClure aka Panhandle Poet said...

Ranando: Yes, a good kid. On his NASA application one of the questions asked, "what are your career plans after college?" His reply was, "start my own air/spacecraft design firm."

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