Putting 4 New Shoes on The Pony.

 Purchasing items off of the inter web thing can be a great test of patience.  I've recently ordered a set of 4 tires for my CRV Pony through Walmart, and as is the case with many internet organizations Walmart doesn't actually own the products it sells.  Especially through the World Wide Spiderness.  Walmart is one of the or rather the largest company in the world that acts as an agent for the manufacturers and sellers of products of all kinds from food stuff to electronics, and in my case automotive.  You order your products and Walmart places the order through the originator and your funds are split between the two organizations.  Symbiotic capitalism at it's best.  

My tires are on the way and are expected to arrive within the next few hours.  They originated in a company from Phoenix AZ called Simply Tire.  I got a real good deal and saved almost 142 dollars due to my affiliation with the Wall Giant organization.  So, the purchase price was extremely reasonable.  The best blessing is that I have a time booked for the students of the automotive program at the Berlin High School to install and balance my tires.  A double savings.  The teacher of the automotive program at the High School is a young man that is the past master mechanic from a local car dealership.  He's very good at his job and the kids under his tutelage are learning a real trade.  

The same program has just recently replaced the front brakes on my Pony and I am very happy with the job they've done.  In the long run for both jobs, the brakes and the tires, I have spent less than I would have if I would have had the local car dealership do the whole show.  Being an employee of the local High School has it's bennies.  

This arrangement, the Master technician and his students using the vehicles of the  staff as teaching and learning tools is very symbiotic and resembles an old fashioned Taoist Temple.  The Master teaching the Students who in turn offer their assistance to the other Masters of the Temple.  My Driving has become the product of the modern Cha, or Zen experience of the Taoist old world.

This is called Balance and within it is great Peace.

Peace and Balance,

John

Walk On The Wild Side, NO...

 I'm of the age that can tell who is a girl and who is a boy.  When I was a kid if you liked a girl you had a conversation with her and asked her to a movie, or whatever.  There was a definite distinction between the genders regardless of any specific orientation.  

Today I work at a public High School and, especially this year, have walked away from certain conversation either because I don't understand what I'm hearing or seeing, or I don't want to engage in a conversation that might put me in a position where I would have to defend what I'm saying vs. what I'm hearing.  Kids these days seem to be very comfortable with their fluid ideas of gender and sexual orientation.  

I just don't understand.  Some of these kids are definitely boys or girls, but switch and decide or choose  to portray the opposite sex.  Just like the Lou Reed song says, "Boys will be Girls, and Girls will be Boys."  I remain confused.

We have a couple female students that are actually very attractive young ladies, and dress all girly, girly, but who call themselves boys, and expect to be approached in same manner.  It's hard to have a conversation with a student who is definitely one gender as the opposite gender.  Especially when that student dresses obviously on purpose the opposite gender that they want to be addressed as.  

I understand that there are certain psychological disorders that make it impossible for the patient to accept or confirm genders that they were born with, however I don't believe that the majority of students are afflicted with this disorder, nor do I believe that the number of students that are, "Flipping" genders are going to remain in the one being, "Acted" out.    I just find this all very odd.  

An observation that I have been pondering is that most of these non-gender conformist students were born female verses male.  I wonder if that is a reflection of the stress levels, and or stressors that society is imposing upon our women.  There must be a study out there somewhere.  

So, this old man is going to have to learn new ways, However I refuse to, "Take A Walk On The Wild Side."

Peace and Balance,

John