Terry Unger - Author

Monday, September 28, 2015

Inspiration

In life, wonders just keep coming. After I finished my workout at the gym today, I followed routine and headed to the locker room. When inside I saw an old man in obvious distress; he was wincing a bit in pain. I asked if I could be of assistance. He politely declined, telling me he just had some cramps in his stomach. One thing led to another with me telling him that I was 65 years old. He smiled at me and said, "You are are young man with many years left before you get to my age - 92." He didn't look it. His voice was firm and his eyes and mind were clear. He went on to tell me that he comes to the gym everyday, although his normal comings and goings were in the evening with this day being an exception. Somewhere in our conversation he mentioned that going to the gym every day helped him to feel better.

It's been a while since someone referred to me as a young man (picturing in my head my best Mr. Muscles imitation). But the real message is clear : Never Give Up. That message is for all of us, regardless of what we wish to accomplish. NGU - Never Give Up. I forgot to mention that the older fellow had a great walker, one of those with a seat, wheels, and hand brakes.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

My Amazing Electric Clock Radio

For my fourteenth birthday, I asked my parents to gift me with a clock radio, a specific model; it is pictured above. I took a big chance in asking because you did not dare ask for too much from them. But come my birthday there it was. That was almost 50 years ago. It has been with me from house to house, city to city, and state to state and always is to my left on a bedside night table. It's amazing because it still works, perfectly.

My AM/FM clock radio is ancient technology - transistors. But when I plug it in and turn it on, it works. For almost 50 years, this antiquated radio has entertained me and always got me up and out of bed on time. And, the mechanical on/off/alarm switch is just as firm today as when I first turned it on. Of course the sound is not high definition or even simple stereo, but it is crystal clear, and loud when I want it to be. This amazing radio just works and I truly expect it to work long after I am gone from this life; it will make a fine gift for one of my grandchildren after I pass on. But this radio is not and cannot be the totality of my legacy.

The older I get, the more I strive to leave a lasting legacy that my family will be proud to inherit. And it is not easy. As you age, the tendency is to slack off and relax. Constantly I remind and push myself to positively excel. The big question, Terry have you done enough? Will my words and deeds be praised by those left behind? Will my words and deeds delight my Ancestors? Or will I fail my living family and Ancestors? I don't know; that's why I must keep moving forward and striving to be the best I can be. So what about you? Are you satisfied with yourself?

And you thought I was going to rant about some kid in Texas who ripped the guts out of a circa 70's Tandy radio, stuffed it in a pencil box and claimed it as his very own. Nope.

Copyright @2015 Terry Unger

Friday, September 18, 2015

Megaphone Man

Social media can give us many things: the football teams your face book friends favor, the latest dirt on someone you don't like (let alone never met), the best in gossip about the rich and famous plus so much more. Then we have the cry babies who feel it necessary to tell the world about their problems. If life has treated you so bad, please seek professional help; the majority of your "friends" don't care, although there always is a handful who feel the need to dole out their advice. But none are professional mental health care providers. It is amazing how people will take to the social media center stage with metaphorical megaphone in hand and announce to their hundreds or even thousands of "friends" their deepest angst. So what would compare to this angst ringing in real life? Here is one far fetched thought.

It is half-time during the Super Bowl. A person runs out onto the stage, megaphone in hand, and begins to whine. The lion's share of the people may not even notice; to busy watching the show to see who will be next to have a wardrobe malfunction. But a handful out of the 100,000 plus people will hear,see, and whisper, "that poor man." Then security wrestles megaphone man to the ground and hauls his ass of to jail. At his arraignment hearing the judge determines that megaphone man needs a psychiatric evaluation and off he goes to the funny farm. In cyber space the whiner is left to his or her own devices, normally more whining. That raises these questions: could a social media whiner, "Oh poor, poor me," be a megaphone man in real time? Are they "for real" or just looking for attention, some emotional strokes? And finally, what makes people do this?

From the "for what it's worth department and my humble opinion," 95% of these folks are lonely and want someone to talk to; they need a real friend or two. If they had a friend that they could trust and confide in, cyber space would be less bitchy. What about the remaining 5% you ask? They are the lunatics and should be avoided; the 95% will not do as above, but the 5% will. So don't be a megaphone man - go out and find a good friend that you can trust or fork over the dough to see a shrink. And let the rest of us in peace to watch who will have the next wardrobe malfunction.

Monday, September 14, 2015

My Latest Book Published

I am pleased to announce that my latest book, The View - Act II is now available. Act II is a continuation of the work started in The View - One Man's Living Asatru With Help From The Havamal. Both books look at the human condition through a Heathen/Asatru lens.

As of this date, the 6 x 9 softcover is available on the CreateSpace e-store. In 3 to 5 days it will be available on Amazon USA and Europe. Expanded distribution will be available in 6 -8 weeks. The Kindle version should be available in 3 days.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

A Simple Man's Guide To Fix Social Security

There are days when I have trouble cobbling together one or two sentences. Also understand that I am neither an accountant nor an economist. But I cannot help but think that our elected officials like to dramatize for press and votes. And the solvency of Social Security has many of them trying to yank your heartstrings. But does it have to be that way? Maybe not.

The other day I had a great encounter with a young man (mid twenties) who is working hard to secure his future. When it came to Social Security he flat out told me that there would be nothing there for him and his generation. He would continue to pay in, he said, but only to pay the "bill" for me and my generation. Those words were spoken without malice but with a certain amount of resignation; it was sad to hear. I believe that we can do better; we can solve the problem. There are three things that can be done "fix" Social Security once and for all (remember, I am not an economist nor an accountant).

Most people know that the federal government "borrowed" heavily from the Social Security Trust Fund to fund a variety of "things." Well, it's time for the government to pay up. Good luck with that. Pigs will fly before that happens. This does not mean that it's not impossible. It means that other methods are quicker and easier to implement (probably easier for our elected officials to get their collective minds around - AKA how many votes will it cost me).

Only a handful of states do not have a lottery program. The Federal Government could, through the Department of the Treasury, hold four lotteries a year. This program would generate capital well beyond the stated prize monies and expenses. These "profits" then go to the Social Security Trust Fund. And we did not raise personal taxes.

The so-called war on drugs is a dismal failure. How many billions a year spent - hold that thought. Personally, I have a very hard time with hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, PCP, Meth, etc. But these things are not marijuana, something that grows in the soil. Maybe it's time for the government to revisit the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, legalize nationwide medical marijuana and allow family farmers to plant and harvest Industrial Hemp (surprise - before the MTA of '37, this stuff was legal. Industrial Hemp has no active cannibinoids. It's the stuff our ancestors, founding fathers, etc., planted to make stuff with - google it). If the federal government would legalize medical cannabis and then tax and regulate it in the same manner that they tax and regulate booze and cigarettes, the lion's share of the monies collected could be funneled into the Social Security Trust Fund. Again, personal taxes are not raised to bulk up Social Security. But there is another step.

In the previous paragraph it was stated (my opinion) that the war on drugs is a failure but still has a billions a year price tag. Maybe it's time to declare victory and call it over. The federal government can take the monies now freed up from the war on drugs to pay down its debt to the Social Security Trust Fund - and pigs do not have to fly! Further savings can be had by folding the DEA and the ATF into the FBI. These ideas are radical; don't hold your breath for them to take place.

These ideas do not raise personal taxes, they do not increase the personal/employer deduction/contribution of the current 6.2 percent. They do not eliminate the current income cap. They are but simple ideas from a man who sometimes has trouble cobbling two sentences together.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

New Book Coming Soon - The View Act II

A snippet from my author's preface-

Author’s Preface – The View Act II

When asked what was on tap as my next project, my stock answer was a sequel to THREE TALL TALES. Over time, I simply changed my mind; I no longer wanted to go in that direction. But all the while, I was writing many relevant blog posts (or so I’m told). It seemed natural then, that I publish another View.

I chose Act II over part II for a particular reason. It appears to me that all of us, regardless of what religion we have chosen to follow, are actors in a grand cosmic scheme that can be and is altered by the actors themselves. For those folks who follow the ancient folkway known as Asatru, this is known as Wyrd and Orlog; we are our words and deeds.

Currently, we are looking at a publishing date of 10/01/2015 or sooner.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

The Man

Two thousand years ago men were responsible for the safety and welfare of their spouse, family, and home. In our 21st century, the responsibility remains the same, just the pathway to accomplish it is different (very few men have to plant or hunt to provide for their family). Today men can provide the material safety and welfare for spouse and family through employment or self-employment. But is providing food, clothing, and shelter enough? The short answer is no.

All humans need attention, affection, and love over and above the basic material needs. Men need to remain in total fidelity to their spouses; a man's spouse should always be the love of his life - his rose beyond all comparison, his pearl of great price. Daughters look to their fathers for strength and what is good in a man. And sons need to be taught by their father what it takes to be a good, solid, protective, and productive man and not a canker sore on the backsides of those responsible for a positive and productive society (something that is not lost on the daughters of today). Spouses and children need to be pushed up, not pushed down, loved and never ignored. These things are a part of a man's responsibility to his spouse, children, and society; it is a broad form of caring and loving. Weak men and men not ready or willing to sacrifice should not apply. It takes a tough man to love like that. When a man does this he can truly say that he is "The Man."