fighting for air

This isn't my dad's content, but I thought now is a good time to encourage anyone who loves a smoker to donate to the American Lung Association.

My dad told me that he started smoking when he was 15. That would have been 1960, and I don't think the public was really aware of the health risks involved at that time. He was addicted quickly, and by the time I was born 18 years later, he was chain smoking. He tried a few times to quit, but he was never successful until he had a heart attack in 2001.  After that, he never smoked again. Pretty amazing, if you ask me. I wish that was enough to save him.

But, he had lung disease, and that is basically what he died of. Respiratory failure. He couldn't breathe on his own anymore, and he didn't ever want to be hooked up to machines. He didn't die of lung cancer. That's what everyone is afraid of, isn't it?  Well, cigarettes offer a little high, and more than one horrible way to die.

from the old blog: EMAIL

And in particular spam. There have been a lot of laws proposed and passed concerning spam. That’s a politicians answer to most things–but they don’t usually consider how to enforce their myriad of laws. I have been getting more garbage since spam has been “outlawed”. It’s annoying. Yahoo puts unrecognized mail in a bulk folder–I suspect most mail hosts do this or something similar, but they don’t really have an effective way to deal with it. I get over 100 pieces of junk in my bulk folder every day. I still have to look it over since sometimes legitimate mail sneaks in there. Yahoo also, with a premium account, allows you to block 500 addresses. Hell, I could fill that up in two days. And I don’t want to look through all that crap in my bulk mail folder. I just glance through to make sure nothing valid slipped through, but it’s still a waste of my time. 

The solution seems obvious to me–send it all back to the senders. Gmail has the closest thing I have seen to this idea. You can set filters to send an email to a different address. I’ve taken some of the spam there and tried it, but even gmail has a problem–it still sticks a copy in my in box. I want it just sent back to the person, I don’t want to see it or deal with it. It shouldn’t be too hard to incorporate this into an email program. Laws aren’t going to stop it. But if these people get their mail boxes filled daily with their own crap, maybe they’ll quit. It’s worth a try since nothing else is working.

*This was originally posted on June 27, 2006, and was the last post on his blog.

from the old blog: New bitches

I was talking to my favorite ex wife last night on IM and she mentioned a tv show that I might like to see--Broken Trail on AMC. She was right. At last something new and fresh to watch. But 'twas not to be. Something to see and the cable went out---and with it my internet connection. "Service" was finally restored this morning around 6AM. That was about 7 hours worth of outages--and this happened last week too. I'm wondering if the Cox Cable bill will reflect at least 14 hours of no service. I somehow doubt it.

Why is tech support for Microsoft and Dell in India? I had problems with Microsoft (I know, who doesn't) and I tried all their self help documents--I don't have the proper degree to read those things. Anyway I called tech support and got India. I explained my problem and he started going through what I should do. It all sounded familiar and then I realized he was reading the same documents I had read on the internet---and I was getting the same results. I told him I had tried all that but it didn't slow him down. He was determined to read the documents to me. I tried for two days to deal with these people and they just wanted to read the online documents. I finally got an operator at Microsoft and demanded to speak to tech support in either the U.S. or Canada. I got Canada---and 4 minutes later my problem was solved. Two days wasted on a four minute problem. What got me going on this---yesterday a friend who is less computer literate than I called Dell tech support--and got India. She had a problem running some programs. Now, I'm not real great at this, but I don't think the solution was to remove her virus software. Instead of changing a few settings, they had her remove it. And since she's a hill billy, she did it. MOVE TECH SUPPORT BACK TO THIS COUNTRY. We spend a lot of money on your damn computers and software, we deserve to get the help we need. 

The last time I checked, I still live in the United States in spite of efforts by some to change this. The language in the United States is English. This is for all you PC companies who feel obligated to tell me to press one if I want to proceed in English---of course I want to proceed in English. Try this "If you want to proceed in Spanish go home".

*This was originally posted on June 26, 2006

*Just want to reiterate that my dad and I disagreed on a lot of things. That last sentiment is something I never would say, but I just want to keep all this content the way he wrote it. It's him, and I want to preserve his personality and beliefs as best I can. 

from the old blog: Back, maybe

It's been a long time since I've been here--computer quit on me and lack of interest. I'm going to lose interest again if I can't find out what my rss feed is. But that's another problem. Anyway, I'm just here so I don't entirely forget everything.


*This was originally posted on June 25, 2006.

from the old blog: New slant on the news

I just read a Reuters report that says thousands protest Bush in Argentina. The population of Argentina is around 36 million. So if the headline "Thousands protest Bush in Argentina" is impressive, how much more impressive would it be if they told the truth in the other direction? "MILLIONS don't protest Bush in Argentina". 

*This was originally posted on November 4, 2005.

from the old blog: Dad

Today my dad died. He was a sergeant Major in the U.S. Marine Corps. He fought in WWII and Korea.

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass. 
 
"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.


But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
 
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell." 

~Author Unknown~


*This was originally posted on September 21, 2005.

from the old blog: Cowboys

Cowboy's guide to life

* Your fences need to be horse high, pig tight and bull strong.

* Life ain't about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

* Meanness don't jest happen overnight.

* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

* You cannot unsay a cruel word.

* Every path has a few puddles.

* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.

* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway

* Don't judge folks by their relatives.

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.

* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

* The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm, 'cause the colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.

* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

* It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every mornin.'

* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

* Always drink upstream from the herd.

* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it in.

* Don't squat with your spurs on.

* Never fry bacon naked.

*This was originally posted on September 16, 2005.

from the old blog: Gougers

*This was originally posted on September 11, 2005.

old blog

My dad had another blog, but I can't get into it to continue it, so I had to start this new one. To keep everything in the same place, I'm going to copy all those posts and put them here.  So the next several posts will be from that old blog - he didn't keep up with it for very long.  He called it "Ramblings of an old man with some family history thrown in for laughs."  

a quote

My dad was conservative.  I'd go so far as to say he was really conservative.  We disagreed on a lot of things.  So I think it's interesting that he put this quote from JFK on his website's homepage (it definitely speaks to his beliefs about guns, but it comes from Kennedy!):

Today we need a nation of Minutemen; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of America, cannot succeed with any lesser effort.  -- John F Kennedy Jan. 29,1961 

Come in Stranger

Stephen E Harlow
February 23, 1945 -- March 20, 2009

My name is Leah Harlow - I'm Steve Harlow's youngest daughter. It breaks my heart to say that he passed away on March 20, 2009. In his last years, he worked on his website tirelessly, updating it for holidays and newsworthy events, posting all the embarrassing photos of his children he could find, and discussing one of his greatest passions - his country and its politics. It brought him a lot of happiness, and it was full of images, memories, and love.

I kept his website alive for several years after his death because it was such a joy to him, and because it is perhaps my best reminder of him and of my family.  But I've come to a point where I need to cut costs, even with the little things in life.  So, while the website has to go, I am going to move all of its content to this blog so that it's still here for me and my family and anyone else who wants to look.