Right vs. Prejudice

After spending 38 years as a supervisor/manager in a non union company, I had many grievances, complaints, disputes, etc. to evaluate and pass judgement.  It was pounded into me early in my career that I wore two hats in my role(s).  I was obviously the company's representative to those I was responsible for as well as the people's representative to the company.  If a large company wants to remain non-union, the rank and file must feel that this representation is fair or they will pursue organizing. 

It took me several years to get beyond the emotion of a grievance as I initially felt compelled to side with the company first.  Often I would take a criticism of the company personal and my emotions would tend to defend the company position first.  After handling numerous grievances and receiving guidance from a couple of outstanding bosses and leaders, I eventually moved to getting passed the emotion and dealt with the facts.

Once I accepted the fact I personally didn't have the need to be "right", I became a much more effective leader.  By removing my emotion from each issue, it became easier to look only at the facts and make decisions.   Not always what the grievant wanted but what I felt was the logical decision.

I once had a manager that told me he expected me to handle the grievances.  The employees could appeal to a higher level if not satisfied with my decision.  He did say that if I had this "need to be right" I should consult with him before making a decision as he would do what "he" felt was right.
Otherwise, it was my job as he wanted employees to have a fair appeal process. 

On one such occasion I had a grievance that involved some vacation request as to whom could be off.
There was a lot of gray areas to consider and no concrete rules to apply.  Recalling what he said, I reviewed it with the boss and told him what my decision was gonna be.  After asking me about 100 questions, he said he didn't agree with me, and if I stuck with my answer and the employee appealed, he would overrule me.  Nevertheless, I stuck with my guns and declined the employees request.  He handled it like a man, but said he didn't agree and wanted to see the big boss.  I told him I would set it up. As I shook his hand and he walked out the door, I called him by name and said, "I think you will like the boss"  I was right.

After having many years of similar experiences,  I tend to be neutral on issues until I can see all the sides.  Although I tend to be conservative in beliefs, I do not agree with everything identified as conservative.  I do not consider myself a Republican or Democrat, but prefer to be identified as a Conservative Independent.

My opinion of what is happening in this country is that most people identify themselves as one side or the other.  Their efforts tend to be trying to support or defend their side without trying to look at the entire issue.  No attempt to get to the root cause of things.  One of my subordinates once told me when looking at some new operating equipment, people will find what they want.  If they like it they will see only the good.  If not, only the negative.

My belief is that President Obama has polarized the country into two groups.  All of their efforts are aimed at supporting or defending the liberal or conservative positions and not spending the effort to find out what is "the right thing to do". 

I think that was proven this week when Justice Ruth Ginsberg denounced Trump as a Presidential candidate.  The Supreme Court should be the ultimate group looking for right.  From my limited high school civics  knowledge, I thought the role of the Supreme Court was to review law against the Constitution of the US and rule based on the facts, not whether they are conservative or liberal or by whom they were appointed.  For one of the highest mediators, she should not be taking any public action based upon her personal ideology.  To me this just shows what has happened in the greatest democracy in the world.

I'm not thrilled with either of our Presidential candidates as I don't think either choice will be looking beyond their own personal agendas.  I hate to admit it, but I will be voting for the one I distrust the least. 

Learning Life on Highland Avenue.

In late 2003 my friend was terminally ill with cancer and in the fight of his life.  He was approaching his 60th birthday.  His wife, Linda, asked friends to write him a letter from their past experiences to be presented on his birthday party.  Below is a reproduction of the letter I wrote.

Learning Life on Highland Avenue

This is a story of five boys growing up in the 50's and 60's.  I strongly believe that adult values, behaviors, work ethic and character are founded in those first 15 or so years of our lives. The

following story is offered as proof of that theory.

It all started circa 1951 while Jimmy was playing on a sand pile in front of a house under construction on S. Parkway Dr.  A chubby little guy wearing bib overalls made from mattress ticking wandered up and said, "Hi, I'm George".  They found out they would be going to the same school and became playmates.  Once school started another boy by the name of Buster showed up.  They all enjoyed sports. In the fourth grade a new kid came to town.  He said he was from New Orleans and his name was Bobby.  He wasn't trusted at first because he wore funny brown shoes and wouldn't  go barefoot to school as the rest of them did.  But once they learned he couldn't spell CATs  correctly, he became one of the crowd.  The bond was starting to form.  They all played baseball, football or whatever game they could invent in the vacant lots and play grounds near Highland Ave. They tried out for Little League and the elementary school programs.

By the 5th or 6th grade they found out that Buster had a "cousin" that went to the other elementary school.  It was through the above connections that they first met the hero of our story, Craig.  Now, Craig played every sport that they did.  In summer programs they either played with or against him.  Other boys came into the picture from time to time.  A skinny kid named Robin that could run fast. You see, all the other boys were not "fleet of foot". There was a pretty boy named Kenny and a bad kid named Alton. There was this giant, hairy guy named Raymond. Later, another pretty boy named Robert with two L's. Sports were the thing to do. They all played. They would compete for anything.  They would invent games. Whatever the game there would be a winner and there would be a loser.

  Talking SMACK began in the 50s somewhere near Highland Ave.  George was the best.

Craig was considered the "rich kid" of the five boys.  He lived on a street named "Zavalla". It had curbs and concrete driveways. The other boys lived on streets named for unheard of people, like Boyd, Clark, Park. They had ditches in the front.  Craig's house was big. It had a den and a two-car carport. His Father was famous.  His name was  on the back of every team photograph any of us ever had.  They were in awe of Craig.  He always got the good jobs, working construction for $2.00/hr, while the rest of the boys mowed yards for minimum wage.  He was the MAN!

The competition was intense.  Craig was the most intense of them all.  Later in life he would make his mark as a top Salesman.  This started on the sidewalks of Highland Avenue.  Craig once sold hundreds of tickets to a "Big John and Sparky" Show at Lamar Theatre.  He was a salesman as a preteen.

He could not stand to lose.  He took it harder than the rest of the boys.  In the sandlots he once almost decapitated his little brother trying to reach home. Somehow he thought the game was football and not baseball.  But, he had compassion; he never blamed someone for their failure. Many times he would throw a perfect pass to one of the other kids only to see them drop the ball.  Rather than blame them, he would whine and say "My fault"! Knowing good and well the other kid should have caught the ball.

,

As they grew older and the competition became more serious, Buster was the one that would train the hardest. The others would do the minimum and then hit the sandlots.  As time went by it became obvious that Craig was the one with the most talent.  When they would choose sides, he was always the first one taken. They soon learned that they did not want to be on George's side if Craig was on the other.  George would talk SMACK and Craig would become incensed.  Then Craig would take it out on George and everyone else on the opposing side. George never learned.

As the fifties turned into the sixties, the boys were changing. They started to notice girls, but not Craig.  As a senior at South Park High School, he was elected TWIRP King, but refused to show up for the coronation.

He never left his roots.  Even while playing football for Rice, he would come home on Sundays and play in the Alice Keith Park touch football game.  When he came to town as a business man, he would go by Jimmy's house on Saturday morning, wake him up for a five mile run and then go visit his Mother.

There are many more examples.  But, I believe the reader can see that the way the boys grew up along Highland Ave. shaped their lives.  They all have good work ethics, high values, and will help  a friend any time the chips are down.  When these boys tell you they are going to do something, you can take it to the bank. A handshake is all they need. Today you can see those values in all of them as they approach 60.

George: Will do anything in the world someone needs. He still talks SMACK and is still obnoxious.

Buster: Still self-disciplined.  The Ultimate Marine.

Bobby: Has traded his weird shoes for weird cars.  The ultimate "friend".

Craig: The ultimate warrior. Successful in business. Successful in life. Standing on the edge and refusing to jump. Defying the obstacles. Still a competitor. Staying a winner!

Jimmy: Well, he is still in awe of Craig.

 





All American Cooking Team

Super Bowl 50 is just two weeks away.  The NFL Pro Bowl is this weekend.  While watching ESPN today I started thinking about the different all star teams that are selected.  All the major sports have all star teams, MVPs, etc.  The local newspapers tout high school and college athletes.  We have academic All Conference players,  top ten plays of the week,  best cities for retirement and even the three best places one of the Kardashians had sex.


Since part of Super Bowl celebration involves copious amounts of food, I got to thinking about food I have eaten.  I recalled my early days in Chattanooga, TN when a neighbor shared some of the best potato salad I had ever eaten.  I never forgot her and the sharing that took place in those days.  Therefore, I offer my All Time best food not cooked by my wife.


Main Courses:


Chicken Fried Steak                                                          Babe
Fried Chicken                                                                    Mrs. P
Pulled Pork                                                                        Jennifer Wright
Gumbo                                                                               Maggie Parks
Chicken and Dumplings                                                    Judy Patton




Side Dishes: (Some may have been eaten as main course)


Potato Salad                                                                       Carolyn Brumlow
Crawfish Cornbread                                                           Vivian Metoyer
Any fresh Vegatable                                                          Mrs. P
Red Beans and Rice                                                           Linda Katz
Some kind of Corn Relish                                                 Kathy Cordray




Desserts:


Fried Pies (mainly apricot)                                                Babe
Pie (Blackberry and/or blueberry cheesecake)                  Maggie Parks
Cake (Italian Cream Cake)                                                Mrs. P
Candy (Tie)      Pralines                                                     Sarah Wright
                          Fudge                                                       Maggie Parks


I am sure that I left some off.  If you have a particular dish you think deserves the list, let me know when it is ready and I will evaluate it for future consideration. 

It Was A Little More Than Lagniappe, Brian!!

"Lagniappe" is a word that originated in South Louisiana and has spread to Southeast Texas.
It originated as a gift someone was given with a purchase and today has been expanded to mean
 "a little something extra".  


My old childhood friend, George, once gave me a T-shirt that said, "The Older I Get, The Better I Was!"  He was suggesting that I embellished some of the exploits of my younger days.  In fairness to George, maybe my high school batting average was .299 instead of .325.  In fairness to me, I was always better than him in anything we did.  But, I digress. 


Let's be honest.  Who among us has not embellished some accomplishment.  Who has added 2 ounces to the 4 pound 14 ounce bass they caught?  Who has thrown a 90mph fastball before radar guns were used?  Who saved $10,000 on the new car they just bought?  Who had a date with the homecoming queen and lied about the outcome several years later? 


Embellishing the truth is a common ritual among most men.  No harm is intended.  It's more of a competitive thing among friends and acquaintances.  Usually the people hearing the story know that some degree of exaggeration is taking place, but rarely challenge the story, knowing they will be extended the same courtesy when they gussy up their own phenomenal accomplishment.


My hunch is that Brian Williams was just enhancing what was really a extraordinary experience in Afghanistan when he added the RPG and AK47 fire hitting his chopper. 


Brian's comments probably started in some informal venue.   It may have started with conversations to super impress some of his buddies.  But, Brian made two major mistakes.


1. He is a trusted newsman and his job is to report events to the public as accurately as possible. He repeated the story to the nation.


2. He dishonored the men and women of the US military by insinuating that he was in more of harms way than he actually was when they are faced with dangerous situations everyday.


Lagniappe is a good thing.  Brian, your story had no lagniappe.

The Beauty and The Beasts of the Bayou

Living on the bayou has many pleasures.  This weekend, as I was sitting in my shop looking toward the bayou, I saw a beautiful axis deer.  Although the white tail deer are native and abundant to this area, the axis buck is not.  It probably belonged to someone that had exotic animals and they escaped during either Hurricane Rita or Ike. 


Every evening we are greeted by a dozen or more white tails awaiting the deer corn feeder to go off.
The red tail hawks can be routinely seen landing in the pasture to garner some tasty morsel.  Most evenings around dusk one or more great horn owls can be seen flying from tree to tree. 


The birds are plentiful.  Cardinals, bluebirds, mockingbirds, blue jays, hummingbirds and my favorite of the woodpeckers, the pileated woodpecker are present.




On occasion I have seen a gray fox, coyote, feral hogs and footprints of a "really big cat".


Squirrels, rabbits, turtles possums, raccoons and armadillos will make an appearance of a frequent basis.  A Texas rat snake was even responsible for blowing an electrical fuse to the main transformer.
A beautiful Sonoma Mountain king snake lives in my barn.  They are very colorful snakes, but, you gotta make sure they are "Red next to Black" before you admire them.


If you love nature, you will love living on Pine Island Bayou.

HOWEVER

With all of the beauty to observe, there are some drawbacks.  If you have ever felt the sting of a hundred fire ants biting you on the ankles, the evening bite of the marsh mosquito or a horsefly, you start to wonder about the beauty of nature's creatures.  The sting of a red wasp can last for hours and  then  itch for two days.  Just yesterday I was stung by a yellow jacket as I was trying to eradicate the nest it had made between the brick and siding at my front door.  My daughter once disturbed a bumble nest while mowing and had over fifty stings requiring a trip to the emergency room.  Cleaning up after Hurricane Rita, I was bitten by a copperhead snake. During certain times of the year you can be annoyed by little biting flies and gnats. 

Considering all of my encounters with Mother Nature on the Bayou, my worst encounter occurred 800 miles away on Lake Chickamauga outside Chattanooga, TN.  We were entertaining some new friends for a day of picnicking, water skiing and swimming.  I brought the boat up from the marina and tied it to the pier.  As I was walking to shore on the pier, I felt something buzz into my nose.

As it turned out yellow jackets had a nest under the pier.  One flew up my nose  and stung me inside the nose.  I don't think I have ever felt greater pain.  By the end of the day I was breathing out of my mouth.  If I hadn't been with family and friends, I would have probably laid down on the bank and cried. 

So if you think about the beauty of living on the bayou, you better be prepared for the little beasts as well.

The Bow Tie

After finishing college I went to work with DuPont in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  I accepted a job as a First Line Supervisor in the textile fibers.  The dress code was implied.  A short sleeve shirt and a tie.
Due to the safety regulations, the tie had to be tucked between the second and third button of the shirt.


My Dad had taught me how to tie a half and full Windsor knots when I was a teenager.  I preferred the full Windsor and can still tie a pretty mean knot. For fourteen years I wore a tie to work every day.  Upon transferring to the Beaumont plant, I continued to wear a tie to work.  The dress code was a lot more casual and eventually I quit wearing ties.  Today I rarely wear a tie and like not doing so.


But, my story is about a bow tie.  During my college years I had many occasions to wear a tuxedo. Since my Dad and I were similar in size, he bought a tux that both of us could wear and not have to rent one for every wedding or formal occasion.  My Dad wore bow ties most of the time.  He refused to wear the "clip-on" type and tied his own ties.  Every time I had to wear a tux, my Dad would tie my tie. 


At one point in my senior year of college, I was in a wedding in Houston.  I took the tux along with all of the accessories with me.  It was not until the night before the wedding that I realized I did not know how to tie a "bow tie"   None of the people, adults included, that were  around, knew how to tie it.  All I remembered was Pop mentioning that you tie one just like a shoe string.  So, after the reception, I stayed up most of night practicing.  It was a lot harder than the full Windsor.


I finally got an acceptable knot.  Only problem it was a little crooked.  Fortunately, the bride was beautiful and no one cared about my tie.


Today, I am an expert at putting on a clip on bow tie.

Is There Algebra in Baseball

If you have read more than one of my blogs, then you know that I am a huge baseball fan.  Today you can watch multiple games on TV at almost any given time.  The basics of the game are still basically the same.  The presentation, marketing, analysis and a plethora of talk shows are new, but nothing beats the excitement of the game itself.




I prefer attending games in person.  However, watching the action on TV can be very entertaining.
But, radio broadcasts hold a special place in my heart.  It all started listening to the local minor league team on my crystal set.  As a result I have become fond of radio baseball analysts.


My three favorite radio baseball men of all time are:


1. Ed Dittert.  Among other sports, I best remember him for his late night play by play of the Beaumont Exporters in the 1950's.  He made me feel  like I was in the stadium with the Knot Hole Gang.


2. Loel Passe.  He was the Houston Colt .45s/Astros color guy in the 1960's.  He was a "homer" and full of enthusiasm.  I can still hear him shouting, "Now you chuckin' in there, Turk"


3. Harold Mann. The voice of Lamar University.  I always catch his radio broadcasts whenever, I can't be in the stadium.  On occasion he will give me a shout out.


As I was driving to work this morning listening to Harold and another radio guy talk about teachers having to take Texas History in order to teach in the State, when the subject shifted to Algebra.  My radio guy adulation suddenly screeched to a halt when both agreed that Algebra was useless and no one ever used it.  Well, Harold, this is a little baseball algebra for you.


Mathematician, Bill James, thoroughly analyzed baseball statistics to better measure and value players performance.  Billy Beane put the sabermetrics to practice with his Oakland A's.  How do you value performance? Is it Batting Average, RBIs, home runs, etc. Some people suggest that the most telling stat is OPS.  So, Harold and Jim Love, here is some Baseball Algebra for you.


OPS (Y) = OB%(X) + SLUG%(Z)


Variables:


T=At Bats                                          h=total hits (s+d+t+r)
s=singles                                            w=walks
d=doubles                                           p=hit by pitch
t=triples                                              f=Sacrificed Flies
r=home runs (aka round trippers)
Y = X + Z


Y =   h+w+p                   s+2d+3t+4r           
        T+p+f+p        +              T




Therefore,


Y = T*(h+w+p)+(s+2d+3t+4r)*(T+w+f+p)
                             T*(T+w+f+p)


A couple of Lamar U. examples.


Mike Ambort(LU single season HR record)           2005  OPS = 1.068
Erik Kanaby(LU single season batting avg record  2006   OPS =   .876


So, Harold, take this algebra to the air waves!