Correct me if I'm wrong! - Castanet.net - Guest Columnist
www.bryceabaker.com
In the course of the past fifty odd years I have been blessed with the ability to capture life to the fullest. Not through wanton disregard of God’s plan, but through the greatest gift of all, the experience of adventure. God gives us tools to experience life in all its fullness and we learn to use them.
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Here is the link to the Castanet column, They did an awesome job too!
http://lnkd.in/SPBUWM
www.bryceabaker.com
http://lnkd.in/SPBUWM
www.bryceabaker.com
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Road Raging 101
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG! 11th Edition June 14, 2013
By author
Bryce A Baker
ROAD
RAGING 101
In the beginning of my career, my duties included
motor vehicle accident investigation. To those that don’t know what that is, it
involves scene evaluation, witness interviews, interviews of the involved
parties and the physical engineering behind the accident itself. Now to have a
detailed investigation called, it meant there was a fatality. It was a gruesome
duty but because of my mechanical skills it was my first posting.
The reason for this subject has been brought through constant criticism from my wife about my constant criticism of dangerous drivers. Understandably we have all gone through driving stages of stupidity but after dealing with the horrors, I find some drivers just haven’t got a clue that they are not immortal and the weapon they drive is lethal. I don’t have to describe these acts of IQ less donuts. It’s like watching an unknowing child taunt a two ton chunk of steel and not heeding warnings that it is dangerous. No matter how many lectures I and others have given to teenage school kids, they still don’t get the picture.
It is an ordeal for my wife to take me to the
grocery store. It seems they… the navigators of the shopping carts, bring their
driving skills into the store with them. Blinders on, petal to the metal and
hell bent for the next item on the shopping list. They take NO prisoners and
fail to understand that dragging me under their grocery laden cart is not
acceptable to my fragile state of mind. I feel like shooting out their tires. Maybe
we need grocery cart police.
My pet peeve is tailgaters. When I rode motor bike
they thought that the closer they got to my tail light the more they loved me,
but after taking a hand full of marbles across their windshield the romance
ended. I know it was improper of me to use marbles but ball bearings were too
expensive.
Seniors and driving… I have to be careful what I
say, but I am proud of my mom who is fully capable of safely driving but feels
the roads are just too crazy for her to add to it. Kidding she is a good
driver… Taking the freedom of mobility away from someone in their senior years
is a brutal decision. They need to evaluate when it is time to park the covered
wagon and take the trolley. I responded to a minor accident one time that
involved an eighty five year old lady driving a big old Cadillac. She
approached a courtesy intersection and failed to yield to the vehicle
approaching from the right. She toasted the other vehicle. When I asked why she
didn’t yield right, she replied that since she had the bigger vehicle, she had
the right of way. One would assume with years of experience, common sense might
be a small factor in the equation.
Just today on the highway a vehicle approached me
from the rear and tailgated. Speed of the traffic was 90 to 100 km an hour. I
moved over to let her pass. As she passed I noticed a young child in the front
seat and a younger one in the back child seat. She took off like a shot with
speeds in excess of 120. A truck was slowing for a 50 km an hour construction
zone and she ever so slightly avoided a rear end collision. Now it is bad
enough to be young and speed obsessed but this ‘woman’… put two young lives at
risk and for what!? Let her talk to the families of road carnage and see how
her actions are no different than putting a gun to someone’s head.
We all make mistakes while driving but
premeditated idiocy should be grounds for sending them back to kindergarten and
learn from the children.
WOW does that feel good venting ever so slightly.
Now I can travel with my wife on our next trip with a revitalized verbal
assault on the stupid, lame, dirt bags that jeopardize everyone’s safety!!
Please... CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!
By Bryce A Baker
Friday, 31 May 2013
Does Anyone Know Where I Put My Sanity? CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG! 10th edition May 31, 2013
CORRECT ME
IF I’M WRONG! 10th edition May
31, 2013
By author
Bryce A Baker
Does Anyone Know Where I Put My Sanity?
Aging is a
biological progression of a body deteriorating to a rickety fragile state of
grumpiness. Well okay, that only pertains to me. We all have made the comment.
“If I would have known then what I know now!” It’s sad that we spend decades
gathering experience and knowledge and when we finally get smart to living we
bite the bullet.
I watch the
ads on television on age defying creams and lotions to look years younger.
After years of research into this I can without doubt confirm this is bodlewoggle.
I still look old! I am very disappointed with myself having my chest move south
like the birds and forcibly steaming the bathroom mirror to avoid the shock in
the morning. Unfortunately the mind sails into stormy waters as well. I post sticky notes all over the house
reminding me of the chores and responsibilities forced on me. My wife does have
a problem with the sticky note I placed on her though. She feels my duties of
marriage should not have a sticky note to remind me.
One knows
they are getting old because your grown children have teenage children of their
own. Your grandkids buy you Geritol in bulk for you for Christmas. You don’t
understand the new form of language spoken by the young people. Then there is
technology! What the heck do we need cars that park themselves? No wonder no
one knows how to park. Back in the day we used to pick up a corded phone and
say something to the person on the other end, seemed to work pretty well. Now
cellphones are almost surgically attached to their hands, and people don’t talk
anymore, they Flitter or Oogle or Twicker. I think it’s an
alien conspiracy.
Computers…
took me two years to learn how to turn the stupid thing on. Then it says “you’ve
got mail.” How do you get the letter out of the machine? I had to write my
password on the computer because it wouldn’t talk to me otherwise, and I was
short on sticky notes. Life was simpler back in my younger days. When you
bought something you paid with money, now they invented electronic money. As
long as I can remember what my pin number is I have money. THAT works for me.
Anyway,
amidst all my confusion of aging there are some benefits. I get seniors price
on my coffee. I can con my kids to do chores because my Arthritis is acting
up. I can blame my poor hearing for not
understanding my wife’s nagging. So I know now that when I pass on, I will be
the smartest, dumb dead person.
By the way…
does anyone know how to turn a computer off!
Please... CORRECT
ME IF I’M WRONG!
Bryce A
Baker
Friday, 17 May 2013
'Bullets Don’t Feed the CHILDREN' the 9th edition of CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!
www.bryceabaker.com
CORRECT ME IF I’M
WRONG! May
17, 2013
By author Bryce A Baker
Bullets Don’t Feed
the CHILDREN
Through the years
in my previous career I, like most in law enforcement, have seen the worst of
society and rarely seen the best. But there have been bright lights of
encouragement. To those of good character I salute you, for every person that
voluntarily contributes to those around them add to the army against the evils
that encompass the globe. The people that TRULY aide those at home and around
the world, sacrifice everything to help the ravaged. What I am about to vent
excludes these great people.
Worldwide people
are suffering and dying over territory, religion, money and or the need for
supremacy. Sociopathic personalities command places of power and they have no
qualms of taking life whether it be man, women or child. This leads to my vent.
In my spiritual understanding ‘family’ come first, then neighbors, then countrymen.
After this we try to help those of other countries.
For as long as I
can remember there has been advertising on TV about the starving children
orphaned overseas or those in war battled countries. Please understand that my
unbridled compassion for children has been paramount personally and
professionally. But when organizations put us under the guilt of morality to
help these defenceless young children and donate, or sponsor them… it
infuriates me that for the fifty years plus of these campaigns, nothing has
improved. Education, food and medicine IS desperately needed for these children
but when funds are manipulated away from the needs to really make positive
change, it is only the children that suffer. Not far from these needy children
are battles going on amongst their own countrymen who have the funds for billions
of dollars of weapons and WAR is more important than a progressive country.
I am a Christian, and
as a proper Christian, people are mirrored by those who claim to be and use
their self-delegation as a tool to profit by those that truly want to help.
What does this mean to me? Well to destroy a belief or a character, one
impersonates that ideal in the negative and that is what some in society will
believe to be true. Whether we are Christian or any other spiritual belief is
irrelevant if evil prevails as the truth.
Here at home, there
are children in our country that go to school hungry, in need of clothing and
proper medical support, and yet the concerned groups like food banks and
related organizations STRUGGLE to maintain. We have a responsibility to our
children first.
When the tsunami
hit India a few years back, the support in food, medical aid and shelters was
incredible but the aide materials were eventually taken by the two rebelling
factions there and was being sold to the desperate people. That is just
sickening. This goes on in other ravaged locations as well.
Do I have an answer?
No I don`t, but let`s tend to our children and maybe the example we show them,
will change the future for the better. Let’s quit pretending that our
government isn`t bleeding essential services and our ability to feed our
children properly in lieu of their ludicrous retirement packages and corrupt
public manipulation. People say that we have it pretty well in our country, and
we may do better than most, but open our eyes.
My challenge is to
help others in other countries after ours, or if personal funds allow, do both.
Let’s not throw pearls to a sow but be responsible and frugal with our resources.
Just a footnote:
There is an advertisement on TV by a company trying to get healthy food in the
schools for the kids in Canada. So far only eight to nine hundred are being fed
properly because of this great program. Now this program is an awesome idea,
but what about the other MILLIONS of our school kids.
I have no sarcasm or
humor this time because there is no place for humor here. Why is peace so
difficult?
“Satan can cast in
righteous vision with acts of Heavenly assumption, but be of concern if in
short term. Angels with Heavenly intent will be of permanent light.” Bryce A.
Baker 2013
Please... ‘CORRECT
ME IF I’M WRONG!’
Bryce A Baker
Thursday, 2 May 2013
'An Awesome Cure for Absolutely NOTHING!' the 8th edition of CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG! May 3, 2013
By author Bryce A Baker
An Awesome Cure for Absolutely NOTHING!
I was a teenager in the sixties amongst the
Hippie generation. Even though I wasn’t a follower of their ideals of the
flower power, drugs and free love, I was still young and impressionable. I
LIKED the free love part but learned that after three divorces they mislead me
on the FREE.
If drugs did have a place in society: Can you
imagine the production of a coke or meth addict at a McDonalds? The hamburgers
would be served before they were ordered. As a Border Guard, the lineups would
disappear and the drug smugglers would have their own express lane. As a fire fighter
they would circle the fire with the trucks so fast the vortex would extinguish
the flames without water. As a Politician they would take bribes, mislead the
public, pad their expense accounts and get enormous retirement packages……
Can you imagine a dude sucking on a joint…
walking into a bank intending to rob it. ‘Dude’ floats up to the teller and
takes a slow toke. ”Hey damsel…TOKE... Like… I’m here to rob you...TOKE... Like,
I’m in no rush…TOKE… Would you like to partake?...TOKE… Miss… like… could you
tell me why I’m here?...Oh ya I need some green…TOKE… Do you have a lunch
room?…TOKE… I have a gnarly hunger happening.”
The police arrive and take him into custody. On the way to the jail he decides to
enlighten the arresting officers. “Dudes… Did you bring my money, and I
misplaced my weed?” Maybe the world
would be a mellower place.
Why don’t we legalize everything illegal and do
away with the courts and police and the need to feel guilty. I am almost
positively sure, I think, that this would work. The government would regulate,
taxate and manipulate our new freedom to such a degree that we would go
bankrupt. Then we would have to steal to survive and go on the wagon because
drugs are too expensive. But that’s okay, it’s legal. The drug cartels would
apply for a government bailout. To
maintain the cash flow to the Politicians they would apply a BST on anyone that
does a good deed.
The evening news would be interesting. They
wouldn’t have anything of controversy to report, so they would ‘Role Play’
someone feeling bad about committing a murder and pretend they went to prison
to get their degree in Political Science. There is another positive; the need
for lawyers and judges would be obsolete. They would have to get real jobs.
Heard it said many times that the police battle
against illegal drugs hasn’t accomplished a thing. Okay. Donate the confiscated
drug money to the ‘Baker Relief Fund’. Wouldn’t want it to go to waste.
So after hours of consideration and lack of
forethought these ideas could function in today’s society. I kinda liked
chasing bad guys though.
Now at any time, anything I said made sense to
you; CHECK YOUR MEDS!
Bryce A
Baker
http://www.bryceabaker.com/CORRECT_ME_IF_I_M_WRONG.htmlFriday, 19 April 2013
'Legally Stoned' the 7th edition of CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!
www.bryceabaker.com
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG! April 19, 2013
By author Bryce A Baker
LEGALLY STONED
Through the years my eyes have witnessed much.
There have been the incredible acts of kindness and sacrifice by people of
humanity. We are all influenced by another, good or bad. My uncle Matt was
nineteen years old in 1960. When he visited us he impressed me as a great
person. He liked his cigarettes and partying but wasn’t the type to
intentionally hurt anyone. When he spoke to me he shared his good heart. I was
five years old and he started me on a good path. He and a friend were on the side
of the road talking when a drunk driver struck my uncle’s car and pushed it to
where they were standing behind the friend’s. In a split second my uncle pushed
his friend out of the way and my uncle was caught between the two cars. My
uncle died saving another. There wasn’t more than a half second for him to make
that decision. He paid the ultimate sacrifice. He is my Hero.
Now it
may seem off subject but read on. Like many other subjects, people asked my
opinion about the legalization of marijuana. First understand that it is not
anyone’s business what an individual does in their own space, unless it
endangers another or a child. Some people feel, that said legalization is
harmless, and should be legal.
MY
opinion is based on the carnage I have witnessed. Let’s explore the past and
draw from history itself. Personally I never have had the urge to partake in
drugs. Battling the bottle was damage enough. During prohibition alcohol was
bootlegged for enormous profit and helped organized crime put a foot hold in
the States. When it was again legalized the bootlegging still continued because
bootleg alcohol was still in demand, due to taxes and underage drinkers. There
are still Moonshiners and is advertised on Reality TV.
Cigarettes are legal but bootleg ‘Canadian’
smokes are smuggled in from the States because export Canadian smokes are tax
exempt. Again one smuggler was clearing fifteen thousand a week on this
practice. Prescription drugs are legal, but it is a billion dollar business for
organized crime. If there is a blood dollar to be made it is part of the
sociopathic maggots that bleed us of our money and lives.
So legal or not, there will be the demand by
underage and others. Organized crime will figure a way to mortify to maintain
their grip on the demanding public. If one feels the government will properly
regulate it… dream on.
Now people say that Marijuana is a harmless drug
and won’t hurt anyone. Eighty percent of the users want to move to a stronger
effect when the impact lessens. WE lose thousands every year to drunk drivers
and people on meds. Do we need to add another threat on the road? I haven’t
even touched on the carnage to family or the public because of the side crimes
or distribution deaths, and Medicare costs. There are so many fun things to do
instead and they are legal, and have no side effects. Would you as a parent
leave your child in the care and custody of someone that tokes up a joint while
you are gone?
When I finish doing the things I like, I wake
the next day and no one was hurt or killed and my conscience is clear. Mind you
my wallet can take a beating. So in
closing, my uncle died because someone was under the influence and MURDERED a
hero. If one must alter reality and pretend that they ‘aren’t hurting anyone’,
try thinking of the people around you and your lack of future. Marijuana is far
from an innocent drug. Unfortunately a majority of the public is suffering from
the Ostrich Syndrome.
Footnote: I was under the influence of a coffee
while I wrote this!
Please ...CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!
Bryce A Baker
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