Why? do I own a Kansas State Bill Snyder signed football

Well the answer is quite simple. The Topeka Capitals( 11 year old baseball ) held their annual fund raiser. It was a Texas Hold Em poker tournament combined with a raffle and silent auction. One of prime silent auction items was a Kansas State University Coach Bill Snyder signed football. My daughter, Kristi made sure she got it for me. Some might not understand, but it was an act of love and my feelings are a bit mushy. We hugged afterward. It was a special moment. I thank her for it.

Why? I like Bill Snyder. He autographs a football

I contacted Kansas State Athletic Director John Currie about obtaining a Bill Snyder autographed football for the Topeka Capitals(11 year old baseball) fund raiser silent auction. He directed me to Joan Friederich, Coach Snyder’s longtime administrative assistant. Arrangements were made and I hand delivered this ball to Coach Snyder’s office on the morning of February 16, 2010. At the time, I requested a “letter of authenticity” from Coach Snyder’s office. I received a phone call from Joan Friederich that afternoon of February 16 that the football had been signed. I asked about the letter of authenticity and here is the direct quote from Coach Snyder relayed to me by Joan. And by the way this is pure coach Snyder. “My signature is good enough and If anyone wants to know they can ask me”. As I am the same age as Coach Snyder I can tell you that he is exactly right. We both come from an era where a “man’s word was his bond”. So Bill Synder’s signature is good enough and I provide my signature to authenticate the signing of this ball. And also, a big thank you to Coach Bill Snyder for his support.

Kurt Heaton, Kansas State 1964.

Why? it begins so early

My 5 year old grandson is standing next to his mother who is sitting in a rocker. He pulls his pants down and looks at this penis and says "girls have different penises than boys" and so it begins and I have been chuckling ever since.

Why? The story of the Lady Be Good means so much

The recipe is being considered. It will bake at a high rate and be intellectually delicious. Soon to be served hot. Sorry, just put it in the oven. It will be served at 130 degrees. You will soon find out why?

The Lady Be Good has been called the "Ghost Bomber" of World War II. I discovered the story while reading the November 1981 issue of American History Illustrated. I read the story to all my World History classes until my retirement in 2003.

In 1959, an oil exploration airplane discovered the remains of a World War II bomber 400 miles south of the African Mediterranean coast in the middle of the Liberian Shara Desert. Day time temperatures were 130 degrees and night time temperatures were near freezing. The plane, broken in half on impact, was perfectly preserved, but no flyer's bodies found. All the flyers had parachuted out thinking the plane was over water, not desert. The plane, a B-24 Liberator, had over flown it home base in northern Africa while returning home from a scrubbed night bombing run on the Naples Italy harbor. The inexperienced crew made the mistake of asking for a flight bearing after having already overflown the home base(strong tail winds). They eventually ran out of gas and bailed out.

The story is one of human suffering and the courage to go on under extreme circumstances. The largest air and ground search in history began and a desert survival expert estimated that given all the water a man could carry, a person could hope to walk no more than 25 miles in the searing conditions. A person couldn't last for more than 3 days. They had 1/2 canteen of water for 8 men. Eventually, 5 bodies were found in a small encampment 74 miles from the plane and 65 miles from the bailout site. A diary was found. It had 7 days of entries. "Its terse, understated entries told and almost unbelievable story of courage in the face of death" "1/2 canteen of water, 1 cap full per day...no help yet, very cold nite"." "Shelly, Rip, Moore separate and try to go for help" "still waiting for help, still praying, eyes bad, lost all our wgt. aching all over, could make it if we had water; just enough to put our tongue to..." The last entry"No help yet, very cold nite"

Two of the three who went on for help were later discovered. Sergeant Ripslinger was found 21 miles from where the first five were found and Sergeant Shelly was found 6 miles beyond Ripslinger. "Shelly, calling upon some incredible source of stamina, had walked more than ninety miles from the spot where the crew had landed after bailing out. After traveling five days, on five canteen cap fulls of water and practically no food, he had then walked another twenty-seven miles with no food or water at all". Moore was never found.

The lesson of this story is if you find your self in a very difficult position and you tell yourself you just can't go on, you can go on. We have within us the force of human will. It is powerful beyond belief. Believe it

I remind you of my philosophy - you may beat me,but I am not beaten. I cannot be defeated or beaten by anything or anyone. I will never,ever give in or give up. Even in death I am not defeated.

Quotes are from this great article - Ordeal of the Lady Be Good - written by William Hanna, American History Illustrated, November 1981

Why? does wisdom really mean wise? You decide

We are what we think do you understand? If you think miserable thoughts you will be miserable. Think good things and you will be happy. This is an absolute Truth

I am telling you now, the most important thing you will ever do is school. it is not what you learn, but knowing how to learn -Tell your kids - enforce it with your will

The separation of Church and State means democracy reigns why? The dogma of religions will not allow democracy or freedom - Proof Taliban

Capitalism is selfishness unfettered,but"build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door". means a better life, but it does need some fettering or depression will arrive

Our cells are bathed in the same salt solution as the ocean of a few hundred million years ago. we carry the ocean within us - proof of ?

The clash between the haves and the have nots has been going on since the beginning of time. The haves are afraid of democracy, but they can control it by swaying the masses through media. or so they think

It has occurred to me that twittering to no one is still therapy. If you knew my tragic life you would understand the need for therapy.