I received an email today from a friend who just travelled to San Diego to watch his son graduate from Marine Boot Camp. I come from the America that had a draft. Yep, that's right! Turn 18 and wham bam thank you maam you are now a soldier. I'm not sure anyone under the age of 45 even remembers that America had a draft?
The email started, "my son left a boy, and came home a man!" I agree with this statement but the irony of it is... they are still boys. I don't mean that in a derogatory way because by all means they are men, and women in courage and in what they now do as professionals! However, still 18. But now - responsible for multi million dollar equipment, responsible for the safety of people they don't even know, responsible for lives of those around them. Imagine, holding someones life in your hands at 18! Make the wrong decision and how many die? 18 and being responsible for multi million dollar jets, ships, tanks and put in situations that most people never face in life. 18! what did you do at 18?
We take these men and women for granted - please, if you meet any of our brave serviceman or women... take a moment and walk up and say thank you. I know their parents would appreciate it!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Duh, Winning
You know, it's only been a week or so but the media has so over covered Charlie Sheen's antics and over indulgence to an extreme. Basiclly, it seems as though the media venues are already running the Charlie Sheen reality show with all their coverage.
Seeing all this silly coverage just got me to thinking and I know how bad that is - but it really brings America and it's obsessions with so called celebrities/athletes to the front of my thoughts. Here's some things I thought about.
1. Charlie Sheen - 'nough said! 2 million an episode, 22 episodes per season = 44 million! Hey, I'm just using him as an example but geeze look at friends. Weren't they paid $1,000,000 per episode. Man, tough work!
2. Multi-million dollar football players and team owners fighting over who gets the cut in the billions, yes billions of dollars we the poor and scrapping public pay to watch their silly antics. And they are so obsessed with greed we all possibly lose football for the season over their greed. How much does it cost to take your spouse and one child to a game today? I think here the Cowboys are like $200 per ticket and $50 to park and a beer is like $12. Sounds like an affordable day out for a family of 3 - if you are one of the players making a couple of mil! Football ticket price for the Bears vs St. Louis in '69 was $6.00
Here's an interesting perspective. Mickey Mantle, one of the best known players in MLB in his era made $100,000 per year. Now, that's thousands, not millions. Albert Pujol's salary is over $14,000,000. Yes millions. The average baseball player made $24,000 in 1969. Today the avg is well over $1,900,000 Gee, who pays for this??? Yes, us suckers!
Hey - I'm not great at math but those salaries based on average household income are off the charts in comparison. But, I guess we are the ones to blame. We the fan seem willing to finance all these greedy athletes, owners, agents. It must be an addiction like drugs. We lack the will power to turn off the tv, or stop attending games. What do you think would happen if fans, in force, just stopped watching for a year. Maybe the rich, greedy people associated with our entertainment would actually feel the pinch because instead of over indulging and feeling their sense of entitlement might actually start to suffer a little too?
I wish I had the energy to compare the comparison of tv advertising in the 60's to present and even the comparison cost of purchasing a product. Anyway, I wish as a population we could walk away from it all for a year to see what happens. Plus Gas! :-)
Seeing all this silly coverage just got me to thinking and I know how bad that is - but it really brings America and it's obsessions with so called celebrities/athletes to the front of my thoughts. Here's some things I thought about.
1. Charlie Sheen - 'nough said! 2 million an episode, 22 episodes per season = 44 million! Hey, I'm just using him as an example but geeze look at friends. Weren't they paid $1,000,000 per episode. Man, tough work!
2. Multi-million dollar football players and team owners fighting over who gets the cut in the billions, yes billions of dollars we the poor and scrapping public pay to watch their silly antics. And they are so obsessed with greed we all possibly lose football for the season over their greed. How much does it cost to take your spouse and one child to a game today? I think here the Cowboys are like $200 per ticket and $50 to park and a beer is like $12. Sounds like an affordable day out for a family of 3 - if you are one of the players making a couple of mil! Football ticket price for the Bears vs St. Louis in '69 was $6.00
Here's an interesting perspective. Mickey Mantle, one of the best known players in MLB in his era made $100,000 per year. Now, that's thousands, not millions. Albert Pujol's salary is over $14,000,000. Yes millions. The average baseball player made $24,000 in 1969. Today the avg is well over $1,900,000 Gee, who pays for this??? Yes, us suckers!
Hey - I'm not great at math but those salaries based on average household income are off the charts in comparison. But, I guess we are the ones to blame. We the fan seem willing to finance all these greedy athletes, owners, agents. It must be an addiction like drugs. We lack the will power to turn off the tv, or stop attending games. What do you think would happen if fans, in force, just stopped watching for a year. Maybe the rich, greedy people associated with our entertainment would actually feel the pinch because instead of over indulging and feeling their sense of entitlement might actually start to suffer a little too?
I wish I had the energy to compare the comparison of tv advertising in the 60's to present and even the comparison cost of purchasing a product. Anyway, I wish as a population we could walk away from it all for a year to see what happens. Plus Gas! :-)
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