SMALL CONSIDERATIONS

This page is where Ridgeway employees exercise their constitutional right to free speech, and to add key words and thoughts to bring visitors to the boss’s pages. The following are the best of minor gripes. If you have any to suggest, tell Sara about it.
The thoughts expressed on this page are not, nor could they ever be, the thoughts of the boss, or the investors; the thoughts on this page do not impact the quality of Ridgeway Products and services, the health and safety, or political/social/economic philosophies, of their users. But they *do* clear the air!

But first, the Boss has something to say about the subject that follows:
After believing that homosexuality is a psychological phenomenon for many years, a question occurred to me that resulted in a change of opinion: how can a man ejaculate eleven million sperm cells, all the same except for the few with a different instruction regarding gender?
After a few weeks of cogitation, I have drawn the conclusion that every cell is different than all others in some manor, within each gender, if only an extremely minor difference within a single cell’s structure. Which explains homo-hetero-undecided-or non-existence of drive. So my opinion is now that homosexuality is mostly physiological, but with some people having a psychological cause, acquired in childhood. The question is now settled!
The Boss

I HATE "GAYS."

There was a time in my youth when I went to gay parties, had gay times, and was known far and wide as a Gay Caballero - sombrero and all. Since homosexuals started using the word, I have not been able to claim the title, and it has made me, over time, a grouch. I am tired of frightening people with my angry face, and want once again to be “gay.“ Naturally, it will be necessary for homosexuals to release the word, so I ask all people to stop using both "Homosexual," and "Gay," interchangeably. Here’s a challenge: Define the word, “Gay”, without reference to anything, just it’s basic meaning, then ask yourself how you could say, “Gay Marriage.”
To me, “Gay” means happy-go-lucky, light-headed, irresponsible - in the sexual sense, promiscuous - a Whore; marriage is a commitment, so “Gay marriage” is an oxymoron.

Jonathan Kellerman, the prolific producer of excellent psychological detective novels told me that “gay” referred to whores in the 19th and early 20th century; Ernest Hemingway, in, “Islands in the Stream” uses it in dialogue in an Havana scene. To be Gay is to be a whore. To claim gayness, and demand respect is being ridiculous.

Heteros who agree with me, please join me in my campaign to reclaim the "G" word, and use the "H" word - in full, or abbreviated - exclusively. This is war!
Harmonious Saullie.

I BELEEVE

“I” comes before “E”, except after “C.” Why? You don’t know, do you?
Well, after years of typing beleive, instinctively, which matches the speeking (sorry, speaking) of the word, it should be no different than receive. So why is it believe?
When I was doing research for Mr. “R’s book, “The FECMA Conspiracy,” ( see breef, sorry, brief, “Campaign financing”) in the dictionaries of the eighteenth century, seeking the meaning of the word, speech, in that era, I came across the spelling, beleeve, as an alternate to believe. I suspect the word stems from “lie.” Now that’s a brilliant discovery for a person who never graduated high school.
Now, get this! Whenever there are two vowels within a word, no matter the language, it is the *second* vowel that rules, so that is the reason, I believe, “believe” is said with the second vowel ruling; so why is the *first* vowel ruling in Lie? See! It is confusing, because the second vowel rule has merit!
I think we should grandfather/mother the spelling of such words by teaching all kids starting school; receeve, beleeve, retreeve, breef, I’ll feel so much better, because whenever I complete a project, one of the things I have to do before printing is to kick in the Replace button and change all the beleives to believe. It is a headache!

Harry

PRIVACY AND SUPERMARKET MEMBERSHIP CARDS

Yes, Bunky, you don’t like your name appearing on the screen to the check-out clerk, and you don’t like the idea of giving them a record of your personal purchases, and you don’t like their selling your name, however. . .Consider:
(1) You pay a lot less for the same groceries than non- card-carriers,
(2) I assume they sell our names - but it reduces prices.
(3) If you don’t pay by check, you don’t have to give - and should not give - your bank, employment, or phone numbers, just a false name, and false address, or a false name and true address - for mailed discount coupons, leaving all other questions unanswered. They’ll give you a card, on the spot, without even examining your completed form.
Don’t let paranoia get in the way of thinking.
Sara

I want to begin a campaign to establish democracy in the construction of human dwellings in private homes. The issue of the seat in throne-rooms has reached a crescendo in our employee discussions during coffee breaks and I think, though it far exceeds those foremost in the national psyche at the moment, it need to be discussed.
One gal says that we men have the obligation to put the seat down after use; I say that we men have as much right to respect as women, and women should put the seat up after use. I offered a compromise: both should return the seat to the way in which it was at first address. That way it is left to chance; the gender with more frequent need, receives the most courtesy.
She countered with the idea that all private housing should be provided with urinals- it’s a natural thing for men to think of because men do the building. I tend to agree. So we’re both writing to begin the campaign, and intend to contract for the making of large banners to hang from the tallest buildings in the country, “Urinals in all homes or die!” Maybe it’ll take our minds off George Bush for a while.

Jack and Jackie Kenady

BACKGROUND MUSIC

In the late forties, department stores installed to their public address system a music player. They called it “Background music” because it played sound we were mostly unaware of, but were soothed by it. Shopping was pleasant, so we bought more.
Now we get noise!
Instead of special tape players, they give us music that does in no way soothe the savage breast, or beast. I get the impression the music is selected by the employees who hate customers and get pleasure in driving us lovers of the soothe, nuts. We‘re not supposed to be shaken-up by “background” music, for heavens sake!
Then there’s the screeching cookers at McDonalds, Burger King, et al. Those of you who agree with me, join me in complaining. Say something! And don’t let them tell you they can’t get to the dial, or that the high pitched, “I’m ready! ! !” from the cookers, Attack ! ! !
Maurice

UFO’S

I’ve decided it is true that we have been visited by strange creatures in strange craft, not from out there, but from earth in the future. They are our grandkids, for heaven’s thake! Global warming will produce the creatures we now find visiting us.
Look! if it is true that what we could imagine, we could make real; forty thousand, or a million years in our future, instead of a planet of apes, or descendants of my cat, Max, it will be earthlings who discover time travel, and in a single year or two they will make trips back-and-forth in our time to discover the cause of their antecedent’s deformation, seeking the answer to the major question of their era: What made those damned fools tick?
That’s the only possibility I can accept, to support the belief in aliens with their basic structure exactly like ours, except no belly button or reproductive equipment. They’ve got to be our grandkids!
Steve

EARTHSHAKING QUESTIONS * Why would a bath towel, used to dry a body that had been soap-cleaned and scrubbed, ever need to be laundered?
Myron, Chief of Internal Security

In a word;
To regard, is to respect; “regardless” is to not respect; so what is it to “irregard“?
Is “irregardless” a double negative? Or just an invention of a relaxed mind
Jeff, Chief of external Security.

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A FACT OF LIFE

I believe there is no discussion group in existence that does not have a Know-it-all (KIA) in its membership.
This is a person who rarely accepts another’s contribution without questioning its source, or validity. At no time will he allow it to move on unchallenged if he could stain it in some way. He never compliments another member for the quality of an observation. He is not there to learn, but to teach; not to gain knowledge, but to impart it; usually not an original thought, or analysis.
When a new person enters the room, the KIA recognizes a possible challenger to his place in the pride - as in lion’s - and waits for the chance to attack. I am not a challenger, but I recently observed this action where, having identified this “fact of life“ some years ago, spotted the “lion” on my initial visit, and played “dumb”, but I felt lots of pain for lots of people along the way.
Because I am truly a know-it-all, but without the need to protect turf, I’m tired of restraining myself. So, I decided that instead of throwing him out the window, which I am built to do, I quietly left for the last time.
I add this commentary to this site, merely as a way to wrap him in the mouth, without actually doing so, Even if this will probably never reach him. I feel so much better!
Jack Mickelson,
Encino, Calif.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I am thinking that magazines like The New Yorker, and The Atlantic produce it slick, instead of regular paper, to permit long shelf-life for the reader.
In this day, when storage can be had electronically, as well as copying, it aint no longer necessary to give us grief trying to handle the slippery things that resist stacking. So I think you should put this on your site to promote public discourse.
Hank Job
Jacksonville, FL

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Do you have a gripe or comment? Write “Dear Sara”, at BR’s address below.
You do not have to be an employee, or follower of the Rev/Rab/Fr. Boss, Burton, nor do you even have to like him. ( One of the guys on the production line doesn‘t! Shhhhh. )

WE INVITE YOUR COMMENTS. Please be civil.

© 1997 burtonridgeway@yahoo.com

Please visit these other briefs; it will put the boss in a good mood, for a change.

A better way to secure our benefits:
Social Security
*
Another idea on:
Taxes
*
“Political leaders everywhere have come to understand that to govern they must learn how to act . . . who are we really voting for? The self-possessed character who projects dignity, exemplary morals, and enough forthright courage to lead us through war and depression, or the person who is simply good at creating a counterfeit with the help of professional coaching, executive tailoring, and that the whole armory of pretense that the groomed president can now employ? Are we allowed anymore to know what is going on, not merely in the candidate’s facial expression and his choice of a suit, but also in his head? Unfortunately. . . This is something we are not told until the auditioning ends and he is securely in office. . . As with many actors, any resemblance between the man and the role is purely coincidental.”
Arthur Miller, playwright.
A proposed end to the spectacle we tolerate
”The FECMA Conspiracy.”
*
Who’s body is it, anyway?:
Abortion
*
We need a better approach:
"The War on Drugs"
*
Our kids are in trouble:
Public Education
*
Are we destined to go on and on about the right to own an arsenal?
Guns and the 2nd amendment
*
Is it really a threat?
National ID Card
*
A commentary on the not-so-little things about our legal system.
Law and Order
*
The solution:
Health Care
*
Our cities are terrible!
*
Proposed changes in the Constitution
*
On Near-east problems
*
A commentary on miscellaneous issues and questions:
Misc.
*
Welcome to our Church
*
Home page

*If you are from Brownsville, Brooklyn, and remember a kid named Saul, Arthur, Annette, or Lila, Gritz, on Hopkinson Avenue.(449) tell SHGritz@hotmail.com. This is a favor for an opportunist friend of one of us. Blackmail actually!