Day 282 (OWS = Socialist Inaction)

For a couple weeks now we have seen this Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement playing out in the media... kind of. For the most part, what has been publicized about this "protest" is the police brutality. What is talked about were these cases of brutality, mainly from videos posted on YouTube, but how much credence can we really put into such videos? With current events being what they are, even YouTube videos that "document" social unrest have to be taken with a grain of salt. Keeping that in mind, U2's Bono was way ahead of his time when he wrote, "when fact is fiction, and TV a reality" (from the song "Seconds" on the 1983 album War).

Though the OWS movement doesn't have anything "official", they do, however, have certain "proposed" list of demands that some would like to see met. An acquaintance of mine, whom I know through Twitter (now no longer an active account), Facebook, and the posts on her website, Jillian gave her view on yesterday's post, which, unlike most of those actually taking part in the OWS "protest" in NYC, was thought out... well thought out.

However, what makes me shudder is how OWS - should they succeed in whatever it is they want - will affect the Dagny Taggarts, Francisco d'Anconias, and Hank Reardons of today... even more chilling is how the work of Ayn Rand has become almost like an outline or a blueprint for this "new and improved" society which they have envisioned... only for them to (once they get what they want) propel it to one that's an Orwellian perversion. Though we have a plethora of media sources (not just network news) to refer to, we must still scrutinize most of what we see. For example, yesterday there was an article in the U.K.'s Daily Mail which tells of how OWS has created such an increase in the accumulated waste on the streets (it was Sunday, so sanitation workers and garbage trucks will not be running), even showing images... to include a picture of a "protestor defecating on a police car." Is this a legitimate story? Are the pictures authentic, or have they been "doctored"? Too many people take what is in the print media, or on the evening news as fact... If you don't believe me, try arguing the existence of UFO's with someone who gets their news from the magazines found in the check-out isle at Walmart. What has become fact is that a large portion of the news that is "fed" to us has some sort of slant or bias already "pre-loaded" (at this point, you may have those words of Bono's echoing through your head). When we lost the likes of Walter Cronkite and Edward Murrow, we also lost true, unbiased reporting. I could still take issue with this, but I'm going to leave this picture at face-value:













- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 281 (A Few More Days, Then Home)

As you had by now noticed, I was absent yesterday in observance of Yom Kippur. First, I would like to extend a special "Thank You" to Julie Mollins of the blog Telling Tales (you can also follow her on Twitter: @tellingtales).

Yom Kippur was very pleasant, though it was a bit of a struggle (trying going without food or drink for over 24 hours), but at the end - before I ended the fast - I felt quite exhilarated, energetic.

James and I are having to play a little bit of "catch up" with this load. Normally, it would get loaded in Lewiston, ID around lunchtime on Thursday, then delivered in Tulsa the following Monday, but since the customer didn't have enough of an order to build a full load, we didn't get it put on until Friday... but it still delivers on Monday. Fortunately, it's not due until 1230 Monday (instead of first thing in the morning), so we have a little extra time. We have been able to make up for lost time, as we are traveling through Kansas right now. I was impressed with James yesterday. Being as he's never driven a truck before, his focus & determination was outstanding. We started from Rocker, MT (on the west side of Butte), and we switched over (I had a couple hours more than he available to drive) in Casper, WY - just over 500 miles away, which he drove nonstop. I drove us from Casper in to Cheyenne. About 40 miles north of there, we noticed signs of a recent snowfall... shortly thereafter driving into a snowfall ourselves. It was very pretty, but this was no light flurry, as you can tell from this pic taken this morning as we were leaving Cheyenne:






From Cheyenne, we have 780 miles left to cover by lunchtime tomorrow. If we can't cover all of that tonight, we will at least be close.

I did get some Starbucks today, which is always a nice little treat after a fast. Speaking of coffee, my friend, Lauri Rottmayer (whom also has a blog and is on Twitter) had recently returned from her birthday trip to Spain... and brought me back some Spanish coffee! When she mentioned (via Twitter) that she was there I jokingly commented to bring me some back... and she did! I am humbled, grateful, and a bit embarrassed that she brought it back (not to worry, Lauri... I will savor & appreciate EVERY drop).

I guess that is why I have chosen a motto for myself: Carpe Java (Seize The Coffee)!

- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 280 (Julie Mollins, Guest Blogger)

During my absence (in honor of Yom Kippur), I am very grateful for Julie Mollins filling in for me (especially since I asked her at the last moment). Julie, aside from being a London-based journalist working at Reuters (AlertNet) with an interest in the arts, also has a couple blogs of her own: her self-titled Julie Mollins, and one she calls Telling Tales. Clearly, she's a very busy woman, which makes me even more honored that she agreed to cover for me... so without further ado, here's Julie...




Battling borders

I’ve often thought about how much more difficult setting up a new life in London would have been without social media.

Through Twitter, since moving to London from Toronto in 2008, I’ve been able to make new friends in England and keep in touch with old friends in Canada.

When I was a child, my mother -- who is English and emigrated to Canada with my Canadian father in the 1960s -- relied on snail-mail letters from family and friends to stay in touch.

I’m lucky because I have a Canadian and a British passport, which means I can travel freely to Canada, Britain, the United States and the 27 countries of the European Union without needing a visa.

Last weekend I went to Berlin, where invisible and visible borders destroyed so many lives in the 20th century.

Nazi rule in Germany after 1933 destroyed Berlin’s roughly 200,000-strong Jewish community by enforcing exile to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp or to death camps.

After the Second World War, Berlin was divided first into four sectors among Russia, France, Britain and the U.S. and later, in 1961, split into communist East Berlin and capitalist West Berlin.

The Berlin Wall, constructed to prevent an exodus from east to west during the Cold War, separated families and friends again until it was smashed in 1989.

Now the city commemorates the Holocaust with the dramatic Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, designed by Patrick Eisenman, and engineer Buro Happold, made up of concrete slabs, and via tributes in the decade-old Jewish Museum, designed partly by architect Daniel Libeskind.

The divisive wall is also commemorated throughout the city with markings on the ground, pieces of wall and a museum at Checkpoint Charlie, which marks the border crossing between the old East and West Berlin.

Estimates vary, but between 100 and 200 people were killed trying to escape from east to west.

To a tourist, reconstruction, reconciliation and remembrance characterise modern-day Berlin.

Old scars remain.



- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 279 (A Family Visit In Idaho, And Yom Kippur)

Today James and I picked up a load in Lewiston, ID (the same place I've been to the previous 2 times I've been up here). Once the trailer was loaded, I took us to the south end of town, parked at an old Walmart building, and met up with my niece and her husband & son at IHOP:



It was a nice visit, seeing as I haven't seen her in many years. She tried getting in touch with her mom (my sister-in-law) to join us, but had no luck... perhaps next time. It was a very enjoyable gathering, and one that was long overdue.

Tomorrow is the Sabbath, as well as Yom Kippur (Day Of Atonement, the highest of the Jewish holy days). With many things going on in my life at present (which I may fill you in at a later time), I didn't plan accordingly, so I may have to do a post on Sunday to cover the weekend (as I will be "unplugging" tomorrow). I hope you will forgive the absence of a post tomorrow, then again I doubt if it will be missed. At times, my post can be rather droll and mundane, but I try to make it interesting... and many times I fall short. As my friend Terri Nakamura once said, "it takes a lot of dedication to blog every day." That it does... as well as an equal amount of discipline (to keep a deadline) and creativity (i.e. interesting content). Will I take this blog in a different direction? Will I end it after this year? The answer to both of the questions is: I don't know... yet.

I don't get very much feedback, even though I have had over 3,000 page views to date, so there's no telling what will happen.

I must close... have a blessed Sabbath and a successful - and repentant - fast this Yom Kippur.

- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 278 (The Passing Of A True Icon)

It's no longer "breaking news" now, everybody knows of the passing of Apple's co-founder/former CEO/Chairman, Steve Jobs. I won't go into any type of analysis, nor diatribe, of Mr. Jobs' life and/or legacy. I will, however, just direct you to a couple posts of note I came upon while perusing the webosphere (yes, on my iPhone). A few articles that caught my interest were The Daily Dose blog, and the article 10 Things To Thank Steve Jobs For, both of which are from the Entrepreneur.com website, and a very incredible story (not to mention the re-designed homepage in tribute to Mr. jobs) on Wired.com.


"The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented."
— President Barack Obama


Sadly, though, there is another side to this sad story... one that only fills me with contempt and disgust - but not for Mr. Jobs. It has been reported on the Inquisitr.com website that those (whom we Jews can only describe as meshuga) folks from Westboro Baptist Church have decided to protest Steve Jobs' funeral. Protest? Really?! Here's the funny - and hypocritical - part: Megan Phelps (daugter of the "church's" pastor) tweeted these plans from her iPhone!! Need I say anything more about how misguided these folks are? Yeshua (Jesus, in Hebrew) taught about love... the only thing WBC ever seems to speak is hate.

I'd better go get a coffee (no nearby Starbucks) before I really go on a tangent.

- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 277 (Burnaby, BC: Done... Plus A Visit To The Hot Spot)

This morning James and I got up around 0530 (0730 CT), walked down to Starbucks for the morning fuel, then made our way up to Blaine, WA (right across the border from British Columbia). I dropped him off at the truck stop then went into Canada. I've been to the customer a couple times before, so finding my way around is no longer a problem. What became the problem was getting through Customs on the way back into the U.S. Not any major problem, just a long line of trucks doing the same thing I was. In all, the wait was about 1 hour, 45 minutes (that's not counting the 10-15 minutes I spent in the Duty Free store, to get a couple bags of wafer cookies for my Tikvah).







Once I made it back into the U.S., I hooked back up with James. I told him about a wing joint just walking distance away that has a wing challenge: 3 wings/dollars/minutes. The owner, Mike, has a sauce - which he called "Stupd" (not a typo) - and consists of Jalepeño, Seranno, & Habenero peppers, onions, garlic, and Frank's Hot Sauce. However, there is one other ingredient involved: pepper extract. The extract Mike currently uses for his sauce/challenge is 6,000,000 Scoville Units. To give you and idea of how hot this can be (and you can compare it to this handy, dandy chart), the average Jalepeño ranks 3,500-4,500 Scoville Units; the Habenaro: 200,000-300,000. If you happen to stop in and take the challenge, Mike does require you to sign a waiver. They can be found at:

The Hot Spot
1733 H St. #260
Blaine, WA
(360) 656-5489

... or you can "like" them on Facebook, as well. By the way, I didn't take the challenge... I went with the Chipotle/Garlic wings.



- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 276 (In Washington State)

James and I left around 0730 (CT) from Jerome, ID and began our trek up to Woodinville, WA. Traffic hasn't been too bad, and the weather has been just a little cool. Along the way I've been able to get some good shots:


(Baker City, OR)



(La Grande, OR - using the Instagram app)



(Kamela, OR - just before the final decent down the west side of "Cabbage", a.k.a. Deadman Pass)

We made it safely to the bottom, which, as any truck driver who has ever driven knows, is not always an easy task, especially a 6% grade winding around for about 6 miles... not really the type of task you would want to undertake if you've never driven a truck in mountains before... just ask James:




the good thing is we both had coffee (to calm our nerves) beforehand... imagine if we had not.

Today we are going to try to get to Woodinville before we shut down for the night. Tomorrow, after we unload the first drop there, I'll drive us up to the border and drop James off at the truck stop there, then deliver the rest of this product in Burnaby, BC, head back across the border, and, hopefully, start heading to pick up our next load. Chances are, we may be heading out to Lewiston, ID (as I had done the previous two trips out here). If so, I'd like to get out there tomorrow night and pay a visit to my sister-in-law and niece.

We shall see.


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 275 (Getting My Re-Start In Idaho)

James and I are parked at the Flying J truck stop in Jerome, ID, just north of Twin Falls. Since we are getting a re-start on our logbooks - and have all day to wait - I figured I would take a walk into Twin Falls and head to Starbucks... which is where I am at as I post this. Needless to say, I will be sleeping well tonight. It's times like this I really wish I had a Specialized Camber Elite mountain bike (I may have to look into some possible sponsorship). I did however get some really good shots (from an iPhone... not quite as good as a Canon Rebel, but it'll work) of the Snake River as I crossed the bridge going into Twin Falls:





(Taken from the north side of Perrine Bridge, facing west)





(Taken from the north end of Perrine Bridge, facing east)





(Taken from the south side of Perrine Bridge - at the Buzz Langdon Visitor Center)

For those of you who may remember (as I do), the second photo is a view of the Snake River, facing east, which, just 2 miles from that spot, was where stuntman Evel Knievel made his famed - and failed - jump in 1974.

Fortunately the weather is rather mild, and a nice breeze blowing. It's only about 85°, but the headwind on the walk down here did make for more of a workout than just a casual stroll. By the time I get back to the truck, I will have walked just under 12 miles. It may be quite a stretch, but I look at as an experience, a stretch, of what I am capable of doing. As some of you already know, I'm not like most truck drivers because, a) I am a Starbucks aficionado, where most truck drivers are satisfied with the swill that is often trying to be passed off as "coffee", and, b) I'm willing to walk (though I'd rather cycle - hint, hint) several miles, not just for Starbucks, but to explore the areas I'm in, where most truck drivers consider it an inconvenience to walk all the way across the truck stop parking lot, because they couldn't find a parking spot closer (and they wonder why they can't lose weight).

- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 274 (What A Long And Productive Day)

James started driving this morning from Limon, CO (about 60-70 miles east of Denver), where we shut down last night. Driving up around the north eastern side if the Denver area, up to Cheyenne, WY (making a pitstop in Laramie), then west to Evanston for another quick break. Evanston, WY is just a few short miles from the Wyoming/Utah state line. When we left there I took over the driving duties, since I had just under 4 1/2 hours to drive, while james had 2 hours less than that.

I just finished fueling and parked about an hour ago (2105, to be exact) here in Jerome, ID, just about 4 miles north of Twin Falls. When we pulled in here I had only 4 minutes left. So you can see that we covered quite a bit of ground today; a grand total of 794. Which leaves only 635 to cover by 0900 (1100 CT) Wednesday morning. We are shutting down here to get our 34 hour re-start, then leave out Tuesday morning to finish this trip. Before I start heading back east too far, I'll have to stop in a grocery store to pick up some more Mocha Mix creamer (which is the absolute bomb - if you've had it before, you know exactly what I mean). The bad news is the truck cannot move for that full 34 hours... and the nearest Starbucks is 4 miles away (guess who may be going on a "walking tour" tomorrow).

At least this blog won't be posted late tomorrow... I hope.


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 273 (On The Way To Woodinville)

We left this morning from Tulsa, OK to make this trip up to Washington state, then up to British Columbia to finish off. By the time we arrived in Tulsa and did what needed to be done, there were only 37 minutes left on our logbooks... which would not have gotten us out of the Tulsa area and into some sort of a parking spot, so we just parked at the customer's facility for the night.

James has been doing pretty good these last (almost) 2 weeks. Once we get this delivered, he will be taking care of everything needed; checking in at customers, route planning, fuel stops, etc. while I just observe (and offer advice where needed). The bad thing about this trip up to the northwest is, due to the inadequate efficiency of the employees when we loaded in Davenport, IA, we will be unable to get a restart on our logbooks. At least I (hopefully) will be able to wander around Woodinville for a little while on Tuesday.

It was nice waking up to 47° weather this morning. Another beautiful Sabbath as we make our way the the mountain regions, which, of course, will provide for some good training for James. Once we get up to La Grande, OR if he doesn't feel confident enough to drive over Emmigrant Hill (a.k.a. Deadman Pass, a.k.a. Cabbage), I won't force him to. After all, I don't mind driving it, since I have done so on several occasions, and in different types of weather. I do plan on making a few stops along the way for my coffee drink (grandé triple Marble Mocha Machiatto) from Starbucks.

I still want to get a Specialized Camber Elite mountain bike.

I'm accepting donations...

... anyone?

... anyone?

... Beuller?


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 272 (What A Day)

James and I left from Dexter, MO this morning about 0745-ish. We had gotten loaded last night, but due to being out of hours, we couldn't leave until this morning. We made our way through Missouri, into Arkansas, delivering in Berryville. On our way, we passed through Branson, MO (which, in my opinion, amounts to nothing more than a hillbilly version of Vegas - but that's just me), then along U.S. 62 west which took us to our final destination.

Once we left Berryville, I drove down S.R. 21 south to U.S. 412 west and made a stop in Springdale, AR - which is where Tyson's Corporate Offices are. I stopped there to tend to some business with my bank, then back-tracked about 2 blocks to a truck shop to pick up some tire chains (we are required to have them on us when going through Colorado this time of year). Oh yeah, I didn't tell you the cool news... I'm on my way to Tulsa, OK to get a load going to Woodinville, WA/Burnaby, BC.

Needless to say, I haven't had any decent coffee in the past couple days, and I absolutely refuse to abuse my body by consuming that dredge that Pilot truck stops pass off as "coffee." You can probably guess (and you would be right) that my lack of good coffee only slightly affects my temperament:



As the sun in preparing to set, and some of my friends are preparing for the Sabbath, I will bring this post to a close. I hope the Sabbath finds you all filled with joy and peace. I may have a busy weekend ahead, but I will still bless and thank HaShem, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for what He has given me, and that I can enjoy the beauty of His creation as I travel up to the northwest region.

- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 271 (Done With The Baloney, Now I'm Being Given The Bird)

This morning James and I left from Pevely, MO (a town about 15 miles south of St. Louis) and made our delivery in Memphis, TN, arriving just a little over an hour before our re-scheduled appointment. Fortunately, there was no lumper charges for unloading, as it was pre-paid by Kraft. We are now on our way to pick up the next load... Tyson chicken. It's a short run, due tomorrow afternoon at 1500, but knowing the facility we are picking up at, it may not be ready until about 0630 tomorrow morning. It's going to Berryville, AR (a "podunk" town), which would get me closer to Tulsa, but probably not close enough to be sent out there for a load bound for Woodinville, WA/Burnaby, BC.

I'm really trying to keep a positive outlook on things, but it's pretty difficult after this past 1 1/2 weeks. This being Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year), I'm trying to not get frustrated and let HaShem do what He does best (which is, basically... EVERYTHING).

On another note, my wife, Tikvah, mentioned the other day how I haven't been reporting on the baseball scores... especially the Red Sox. Well, my angel, here you go: the Red Sox are OUT of the post-season playoffs, and the Yankees are IN (after clinching the division title a few weeks ago). As far as I'm concerned, the baseball season is now over. If it turns out to be a Yankees vs. Phillies World Series, I'll quietly support Philadelphia - JUST to see New York lose!

Now I need to go get some coffee.


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 270 (What A Load Of Baloney)

Well, at the time of this writing, James and I are still in Davenport, IA. We actually had gotten loaded last night, but due to being out of hours, we couldn't do any driving, or even scale it out (since the nearest CAT Scale was 10 miles away). As it is right now, We left this morning to scale this load, and as of 1300 (CT) I have returned to this customer for a second time to get re-loaded... and yes it is a load of baloney - literally! This load is sliced bologna being shipped (eventually) to Kroger in Memphis, TN.

I think the most frustrating thing I've had to deal with is the woman in the shipping office insinuating that I don't know what I'm talking about. She says the product was loaded according to the load plan - with 2 single pallets in the nose of the trailer - and I'm trying to explain to her (and keep my cool & composure at the same time) that there are no single pallets in the nose (something I have confirmed with my own eyes!)... but I don't know what I'm talking about. Because of this mess I'm dealing with, James and I have yet to get underway, and now the load is re-scheduled from 1000 to 1300 tomorrow.

I think I just need to make a stop to Starbucks.

On a lighter, and MUCH more pleasant note... this evening is Rosh HaShanah, also known as the Jewish New Year. If you celebrate it, may you have a blessed and joyous Shana Tova! Next week (on October 7th, to be exact) is Yom Kippur, or the Day Of Atonement, a time when we seek forgiveness and repentance. I'll close by saying if any of you, my readers, have been offended by anything I have posted on this blog... I sincerely apologize, and ask your forgiveness. My goal is not only to enlighten you with the many sights I see on the road, but in the hopes of opening your spiritual eyes, with my ongoing observations of the things I see going on, not only here in America, but also around the world - and especially in Israel. These are the times when we need to not only watch, but also support Israel (and her people) in every way that we can. Remember, The Lord is watching!


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 269 (Here In Eastern Iowa, Done For The Night)

James and I were up at 0430 again this morning, but we made our delivery in Cedar Falls. After we got unloaded, we went over to Walcott, IA and topped off the fuel, showered, then came over here to Davenport to load. Though when the trailer gets loaded, we will just have to park for the night, since we don't have any more hours left on our logbook for driving.

The good thing is this load isn't due to deliver until 1000 Thursday morning, so we still have some time. It's a cool night here in Davenport... probably cool enough to sleep with not even the APU running, though I may not try it. I figured since the weather was pretty cool, it was a good time to make some chili for dinner - which turned out splendidly, of course. I'm hoping to get something Thursday that will send us in the direction of Tulsa, perhaps I will be able to get the load that goes up to Woodinville, WA, then up to Burnaby, BC. At least I can hope, right. James has been doing pretty good, his backing skills are still a little shaky, but I see the improvement.

I would like to apologize for getting this post up past my deadline. I hope you can see your way to forgive me.


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 268 (On Our Way To Iowa)

James and I made it to our appointment on time at Walmart this morning, but since they took longer than they should have (plus the fact that Tyson fiddled about with the loading process for this load), our delivery to Cedar Falls, IA will be later than the original 0500 appointment. Things like this happen on occasion, so I just take the bad with the good. I managed to get some coffee from Denny's earlier, so that makes good out of the bad.

We have already been pre-planned on our next load. Once we get this delivered, we will head to Davenport, IA (which is on the east end of the state, just across the Mississippi River from Illinois) and pick up a load bound for Memphis, TN. That's not a bad run, at least it will get me about 2,000 miles for the week.

Being a truck driver is an easy job, but not an easy lifestyle if you are married. Being away from home for weeks - sometimes months - at a time can take its toll on a marriage. I have been fortunate (and blessed) to have an incredible woman as my wife. Though there are time when I question her mental stability... after all, she has put up with me for over 20 years (married for almost 19) - so she must be crazy, right? In all seriousness, I truly am blessed, especially since I have seen many marriages fail, both here in the trucking industry and in the military. It takes a special kind of man in both professions to hold their own and keep focused upon the mission at hand (as well as keeping their libido in check). It also takes a special woman whom is married to a man in either profession. I can honestly say that I am TRULY blessed, because Tikvah has been with me, through thick and thin, in BOTH professions.

Yeah... she's THAT special!




- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 267 (Just Waiting It Out)

We are still parked here in Bentonville, AR just waiting it out until we make our delivery at 0500 tomorrow, which, as some of you already know, I really don't care for those early morning deliveries - especially when I can't park closer to the customer than what I am now.

Last night, while hanging out here at Starbucks, I was fortunate enough to engage in some real conversation - intellectually stimulating. The gentleman whom I conversed with (mostly) was named Sherman, from Palm Beach, FL (not very far from my birthplace & "stomping grounds" of Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale). Our dialogue ran the gamut, spanning about 2 - 2 1/2 hours, when we parted ways 1 1/2 hours after Starbucks closed. We did share the same view concerning the recent Palestinian Authority bid for statehood, in that the whole media coverage of it is a farce. First of all, it's interesting how there are so many that seem to "forget" that the breakdown in the peace talks between the PA and Israel was not due to PM Benyamin Netanyahu refusing to negotiate, but PM Mahmoud Abbas! For one thing, Abbas is now talking about calling for a renegotiation of - which could very well bring an end to - the Oslo Accords.

Second, it's interesting that there is such a push for Israel to revert back to the pre-1967 borders. During that war Israel was outnumbered, yet were still victorious. Therefore, the message that is being sent by the Arab world is, "it doesn't matter that we lost the war we initiated, as well as the land (*note* also referred to as the spoils of war), if we cry "injustice" long enough and loud enough, the rest of the world will pressure the victors to give it back to us." Palestine doesn't exist as a country, but that's the "title" given to them ever since the British Mandate in 1920. Also interesting, that one of the terrorist organizations within the PA is Hammas. If you do a little biblical research, you'll find that G-d called Noah to build an ark, because "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." (Genesis 6:11)... but when you look at it in the Hebrew text (this excerpt is taken from the Hebrew Today website):

וַתִמָלֵּא הָאָרֶץ חָמַס (בראשית, ו, יב)

“. . and the earth was filled with violence” ( Genesis 5,11 )

The word “חָמַס “ ( chamas ) is translated into English as “violence”. The Hebrew word for “ violence” is “ אלימות “ ( alimut ). So what is the difference between the two? חָמַס is a much more severe type of violence. Violence which contains injustice. It does not have to necessarily contain physical violence. Theft , embezzlement and fraud are all considered “חמס “.

Both the Hebrew word AND the terrorist group name are pronounced the same! Just some food for thought.


What are your thoughts?


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 266 (This Trip Is Finished... Kinda)

James and I finally made it to Bentonville, AR. We are parked at a truck stop about 6 miles from the Walmart where we are delivering on Monday. The unfortunate thing about it is, with all the property Walmart has on any of their distribution centers, they don't accommodate, nor even consider, any truck parking. Granted, there are a lot of truck drivers that are trashy (thus giving those of us that try to project a positive image) and give the rest of us a bad name... but with all the inbound freight Walmart has on a daily basis (and few D.C.'s with even a nearby truck stop) you would think they would take us into consideration. Wait... what was I thinking... we are meaningless to them.

Also, this truck stop - which is the closest - charges a $10 fee... which is rather ridiculous considering they only have enough room for 4 trucks. There is a Lowe's behind said truck stop, but I would have to leave by sunrise, which would ruin any chance of getting a 34 hour re-start on our logbooks. A good side to all this is James and I were pre-planned yesterday, so when we are done at Walmart, we head over to Tyson in Rogers, AR, do a drop & hook (considering the load is ready) and head up to Cedar Falls, IA for Tuesday morning... so at least this week is shaping up to be better than last week.

Well, I'm done ranting, I'll close this out... and enjoy my trademark coffee drink here at Starbucks.


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 265 (Soon To Be On The Way To Bentonville)

This afternoon James and I are picking up a load here in Chicago (a load of Tootsie Rolls) delivering in Bentonville, AR for Monday morning. It may not be much, but perhaps it will put is in a location that will produce better miles next week.

This week there have been several world leaders speaking at the United Nations, with the primary purpose being the possible creation of a Palestinian state. Today (being the final day) featured Mahmoud Abbas delivering his petition for statehood. The problem I see with his point of "Israel has occupied Palestinians for 63 years" is that in 1948, when Israel was given their land back by the UN... well, you can read the brief history for yourself. Palestinians are NOT a nation. To the Arab world, all they are is political leverage... something that can be used to further their own agenda. I'll put it in perspective this way: after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast region, all of a sudden Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were "concerned" for the safety and well-being of the people of New Orleans... but once the media hype died down, Sharpton and Jackson were nowhere in sight. They exploited the situations AND the people for their own means & agenda. That's the same way that Palestinians are treated by their Arab "brothers." Most "Palestinians" are Muslim, so the key discrepancy I see is why should they have their own "state" with Jerusalem as its Capitol. The cities that Muslims revere as sacred are Mecca and Medina... Jerusalem is meaningless to them.

The only bearing that Jerusalem would have in the Muslim world is they would use it for furthering their cause of eradicating the Jewish people, something that Mahmoud Ahmadinajah fully supports... even making that claim in the UN!

I'm, as yet, unsure of the progress of these hearings, but all I can say is please continue to hold Israel in prayer - this is the time where they really need it. May you all be safe, and may the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob bless you! May your Sabbath be blessed as well!


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 264 (This Week Is Shot)

We arrived here in Alsip, IL last night, and can't deliver this for another 47 minutes, because the broker scheduled it for 1600 today. All the years I have driven a truck, and all the different brokers I have had to deal with, this brokerage (Transplace) has to be the worst one yet. I say this because if you recall from Day 262, the load I was supposed to pick up wasn't there. This could not be chalked up to "a minor error", that was outright incompetence. I've lost 2 days worth of driving (in the line of work we are not paid by the hour, but by the mile - if the wheels aren't turning, you're not making any money) dealing with them and this load, only to find myself in the right place, but at the wrong time... my next load (thankfully not a broker) picks up tomorrow, but doesn't deliver until Monday in Bentonville, AR.

Besides having to deal with the incompetence at the brokers, I'm also grouchy because I haven't had any coffee today.


- Another rant via BlogPress

Day 263 (Almost To Chicago)

James and I finally got the trailer loaded and leaving out of Pine Bluff, AR around 2000 yesterday. We made it to Matthews, MO and shut down there. Since this load (as I found out from the broker earlier today) doesn't deliver until 1600 tomorrow, so there is no major rush... but I do intend to get to the customer tonight. I'm doing that so in case they don't unload us until 1600, then we won't have to even log on... also, I really don't want to deal with the Chicago area traffic frost thing in the morning.

I had James pull off here in Effingham, IL (about 90 miles east of St. Louis) so we could switch over (I'm gradually increasing his daily miles), and so I could walk over to Starbucks to get my coffee fix. The weather is definitely showing signs of the fall season we are in; cooler temperatures, and the fading/falling of the leaves. I'm really hoping our next load sends us in the direction of Tulsa, so I can get another load bound for Woodinville, WA/Burnaby, BC - I bet the temperatures have dropped a little more up in that region. If I do get one of those loads, I may have to either purchase some tire chains on the road (which the company will cover the expenses for), or get some from another driver that will not need them.

I'm really jonesin' to head back up to the northwest again, can you tell?


- Another rant via BlogPress