Common Sense lived a long life in Canada and the United States but died from heart failure on the beginning of the new millennium.
No one really knows how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense.
He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life isn't always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language, and "new math." But his health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person- it's-worth-it" virus.
In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well intentioned, but overbearing regulations. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers.
His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero-tolerance policies.
Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.
It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parents when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals receive better treatment than their victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to professional sports.
Finally, when a woman, failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, was awarded a huge Settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel.
As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic, but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations, such as those for low flow toilets, rocking chairs, and stepladders.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by two stepbrothers: My Rights, and Ima Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone
-Author Unknown
------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
If I had been born 20 years later I guess I would be in jail for the rest of my life.
I just read an article that kids are now fooling with a new drug called GHB. Two teen-agers landed in the hospital. The drug is made from drain cleaner and floor stripper or engine degreaser. One of the kids claimed that someone spiked his water bottle. Oh? Seems to me the water would smell kind of funky, and taste the same. But he drank it anyway. Common sense? HAH! I doubt if both of those kids had any.
If someond did spike his drinking water, where was the common sense of the spiker? The spikee almost died. Nice friends.....the kind you don't need.
People who use drugs are dumb. People who don't use drugs are smart!
------------------
This one time, at Projection Camp, I stuck a xenon bulb....
True, in some areas the water tastes like something you might expect in a cow shit trough in some damn barn in the mid-west.
Whatever, the stuff is dangerous, has been deadly, is used as a date-rape drug at near-lethal dosage and as an alcohol-like intoxicant at lower doses.
It can be added to any drink or food but would be noticeable in water, not so with many flavoured drinks.
I'll have you know the water from the trough in our theatre tastes pretty good most of the time. And the cow shit just helps the popcorn we all love grow nice and tall.
------------------
"Asleep at the switch? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk!" - Homer Simpson
------------------
"Asleep at the switch? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk!" - Homer Simpson