It's Our Own Damned Fault

 Once upon a time, it was a matter of civic duty and personal pride to participate in the right to vote.  People were politically aware, politically active, and most importantly, educated in how our republic works.  Over the last century, things changed.  People became more inwardly focused and selfish.  They became less tolerant of difference and dissent.  This had the two-pronged outcome of disenfranchising the majority of America, and the other half became entrenched in partisan bickering.

Our electoral system exacerbates the situation.  By and large, only Republicans can select a Republican candidate, and only Democrats can select a Democratic candidate.  The natural outcome of this is that in order to be elected to office, a candidate needs to play to the most rabidly loyal to the party platform in order to be selected as the party candidate, and then, they need to moderate their tone to appeal to the masses.  But even that has changed over time, because moderates continue to become disillusioned with the process, eventually dropping out and leaving only the most partisan to vote for their candidate.  This has resulted in an entrenched group of legislators who refuse to compromise, for fear of being voted out of office.  Since most judges are selected and confirmed by partisan politicians, our courts are becoming partisan as well.

The silliest thing is that it's all our fault.  There are more than two political parties, but collectively, we want to back a winner, and we believe that it's less offensive to select the lesser of two evils, rather than voting for the best candidate.  We have collectively bought into the lie that following your conscience results in a "wasted vote."  Bullshit!  Politicians who lose an election when a third party candidate is involved invariably say that the third party candidate "stole" votes from them. This would indicate that the vote was theirs in the first place, and that's flat out wrong.

Think of your vote as a piece of candy.  You may choose to give this piece of candy to anyone you choose.  This, of course, means that you have the choice to not give the candy to anyone.  The politicians conveniently dismiss this, however, instead choosing to blame their loss on those who gave the candy to someone other than them.  What a selfish, egocentric perspective.

We are the ones who buy into the lie that only two choices exist.  We are the ones who select the most partisan candidates.  We are the ones who punish elected officials who cross party lines.  We are the ones who throw up our hands in disgust and give up when we reap the consequences of our actions.  In other words, it's our own damned fault. 

Partisan Bickering is Nothing New

 It seems most Americans believe that we're in a unique time in our history.  That's not completely correct.  I recall history lessons from my younger days that were full of yellow journalism.  Sensationalistic newspapers seem to have been the norm from the founding of our country until well into the 20th century.  Though I don't have enough scientific evidence to back up my hunch, I suspect that journalism really took a turn toward neutral professionalism around the age of radio, and improved with the advent of television.

I distinctly remember what I would call the golden age of journalism, where Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Peter Jennings and countless other reporters would investigate and report facts, counting on the public to discern the truth.  The big three television networks (CBS, NBC and ABC) didn't make money from the news.  The TV stations considered investigative journalism a civic duty, and the people were able to trust the information they consumed.  Then came Fox and CNN.

The concept of a 24/7 news channel was unique, but it had (and still has) a critical flaw.  These stations came into being for the purpose of making money.  The only way to make money is to keep viewers engaged.  The best way to attract and retain interest is through emotions.  Fear, anger, outrage, and moral indignation grab our collective attention and keep it such a manner that it's difficult to disengage once you're pulled in.  As a result, sensationalistic reporting returned to prominence.

I do believe there are a couple of noteworthy differences in today's society.  We have a world of data at our fingertips, and it's easy to fall prey to the constant barrage of information, which can easily lead to a virtually constant state of fight or flight.  This, in turn, can reduce the brain's analytical ability, and a vicious cycle results.  It's also easy to fall into an echo chamber, where your existing biases are confirmed and alternate possibilities are ridiculed.

Unfortunately, I don't see an easy way out of this.  It seems that we collectively enjoy being outraged and tribal. It's the one thing that we have in common.  Our partisan bickering is nothing new.  The only thing that's really changed is how efficient we've become at doing it, and how effectively the media leverages that into increased profits.

I'm Still Alive

 Yes, it's been ages.  I've been having fun with other activities and living.  I kind of stopped writing because I felt like I had run out of new observations.  Since then, the world seems to have gone sideways.  I get that nobody reads this blog anymore, which is kind of perfect.  I'm now in a place were I can write my stuff with a semblance of anonymity.  Don't get me wrong... I'm not afraid of being found out, and I do not plan to hide behind anonymity.  I hope to write with the same sort of honesty and respect for my fellow human that I did before.  I will also, at the same time, be my same irreverent self that I've always been.  I will not be politically correct.  I will piss off everyone.  This is who I've always been, and to do otherwise is to sell myself out. 

I Hate Mothers Day

I recently came to the realization that I hate Mothers Day.  My distaste for the 'holiday' started when I was married to my first wife.  She was quite self-centered, and always insisted on a big to-do.  We went to big, expensive brunches (which we really couldn't afford at the time,) then she got upset when the young kids weren't mature enough to behave in a prim and proper manner for hours on end.  Or she'd get cranky when the lines were too long, or when the restaurant was out of her favorite food - even temporarily.

It got worse after we divorced.  Even if it was my weekend, she insisted on having the kids for 'her day.'  But come Fathers Day, she'd want the kids for vacation.  In all fairness, I've never cared a lot about Fathers Day.  It's just the double standard I dislike.

Fast forward a few years, and my relationship with my mother has become, well, complicated.  I find it difficult to celebrate the day when I don't even want to celebrate the relationship.  I find it difficult to to call her, because she always wants to talk, usually complaining about her latest physical ailment.  That previous sentence may sound a bit selfish, but let me put it in perspective.  On multiple occasions, I have tried an experiment where I don't say a word after a quick greeting.  I've frequently been able to go for over ten minutes at a time without saying a single word, and my mom doesn't notice.  I can go even longer if I allow for non-committal responses such as uh-huh.

I'm remarried, but we celebrate step-mothers day a day earlier.  We do this because the ex had a cow if my daughters recognized the wife on mothers day.  This allows me to celebrate her contributions, without 'infringing' on Mothers Day.  Over the years, it became our tradition.

My daughters both have kids of their own, and they're great moms.  I'm okay with celebrating them, but I'd rather do it on virtually any other day.  Fortunately, my kids commemorate the occasion with their families, and are content with me sending a quick text.  They get that I'd prefer to give them love and attention for no reason, rather than do so because some greeting card company created a tradition in the name of capitalism.

Star Wars Squadrons VR Setup

TLDR:  Skip to the TLDR section below for instructions.

Courtesy of my lovely bride, I received a copy of Star Wars Squadrons for the XBox One on the day it was released, and I've been loving it!  Over time though, I started getting my ass kicked by players on other platforms.  A bit of research revealed that I was holding my own against other XBox players, but was getting demolished by PC players... especially those with VR and HOTAS.  (HOTAS is Hands On Throttle And Stick... a flight joystick with no foot pedals.)  After a while, playing just wasn't as much fun.

I did some digging and got my hands on a pseudo VR setup, using an older Oculus Rift.  This setup didn't get me into full VR mode, and I didn't have the HOTAS setup.  However, the pseudo VR setup placed the screen much closer, and gave me a lot more real estate (translation: larger screen.)  I was sold, and decided to spring for the full set-up.  Yeah, I'm a geek... I bought a new gaming rig, an Oculus Quest 2, and a HOTAS joystick.

This setup arrived over the course of the last week.  Oculus Quest 2 arrived first, and I had a blast!  HOTAS arrived second, so I connected it to my XBox and got used to the new controls.  New gaming computer arrived last, and I put it all together last night.  There were a few hiccups, and a bit of a learning curve to getting the full experience set up.  I figured that I'd write this all up with the hope of saving others some of the learning curve I went through.

TLDR:  Here's what you'll need to play Star Wars Squadrons in VR using a PC, HOTAS, and Oculus Quest 2.  This will discuss wireless connectivity as well.

It's assumed that you have the hardware...

You can download Star Wars Squadrons from Steam, or from EA Origin.  I did it through Origin, because I had an Origin account, but not Steam.

In order to play the game in full VR mode, you will need either Oculus Link, and/or Steam VR.  Oculus Link will work fine if you're okay with using the Oculus connect cable.  If you want to be completely wireless, you will need Steam VR *AND* Virtual Desktop.

Either way, you will need to allow your Oculus Quest to play games that weren't downloaded through the Oculus store.  In order to do this, open Oculus Link on your PC, go to Settings > General and allow Unknown Sources.  Once that's done, you can play with a cable.  If using a cable, Connect the Oculus to the PC with the cable, open Oculus Link and start the game.  In the base options, you will see VR Settings... select Toggle VR and follow the instructions.

If you want to run wirelessly, you will need to purchase Virtual Desktop and configure that.  You will also need to install SteamVR and configure that.  After configuration, you will launch Virtual Desktop and run Squadrons.

At one point during all of this testing, I didn't have sound through the Oculus.  I had to go into the PC sound settings and enable the oculus audio.

Oh yeah... if you're using the Thrustmaster T.Flight, make sure that you download the software, and make sure that you configure things as needed in the game's settings.  I had no thrust using the thruster stick at first.

This is NOT designed to be a step-by-step tutorial.  I am assuming that you have a bit of technical ability.  Additionally, settings will likely change over time... that's kind of the nature of technology.  Also, I'm not really prepared to answer a bunch of specific questions.  My goal here is to give you a bit of general guidance for this specific question.

Call Me Paul Harvey

... because this is the rest of the story.

Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of my best friend's death by suicide.  It's becoming increasingly difficult to continue calling him my best friend... not because his place in my life is diminished, but because other friendships have gorwn in significance since his death, and I don't want to understate the value of these relationships.  (You know who you are.)  So yeah, it's becoming tougher to continue calling him my best friend, because time moves on...  but I'm digressing.

I'm also finding it increasingly difficult to remember what he looked like... and other day-to-day details.  In some respects he IS fading into my memory.  But then again, there are many aspects of our life together that are indelibly seared into my mind... again though, I'm digressing.

I talked about Greg's death yesterday at church, and I sang Fear is a Liar by Zach Williams.  I didn't set out to sing the song.  Indeed, I didn't set out to do anything special.  Generally speaking, I'm at a point where I'd rather quietly note milestones like his death, birthday and so forth.  But that's not how it happened this year.

I'm the leader of my worship team at church, and we (the band) decided to learn Fear is a Liar as a new song.  I started listening to it with the goal of figuring out how to honor the original intent, but still make it our song.  Part of this process included watching the official video.  The video has two references to suicide.  I knew right then that I had to do the song yesterday.  I coordinated it with my pastor.  I told him that I needed to talk a bit about Greg.  We bantered about what I'd say and how I'd say it.  The pastor and I came to a loose framework agreement about what I'd say.  I went off script.

I ended up talking about the Greg-shaped hole in my heart... and how there's a God-shaped hole in our hearts as well... and how God has an us-shaped hole in his heart... and how he rejoices when these holes are filled... and how he mourns when we walk away from Him, leaving an us-shaped hole in His heart.  Saying this hurt... I cracked a few times while speaking.  I also don't know exactly what I said... I usually speak extemporaneously instead of planning in advance what I'll say.

Then I sang.  It was pretty good until the bridge... when I broke down.  Fortunately, I prepared for this possibility and had another member of my worship team play guitar and sing with me... when I faltered, he stepped in... and the congregation was singing as well.  Hearing them hurt and healed, and I regained my composure.  As the bridge built, I found my voice and managed to continue.  I channeled my anguish into my voice, and it felt powerful.  Someone from the congregation came up and put his hand on my shoulder as I continued to sing.  It made it more difficult to continue, yet easier at the same time.

The song ended and I was spent.  I left the podium and took my usual seat toward the back of the sanctuary.  I hope I reached someone.

During this entire process, I noted a little bit of irony in the whole experience.  Greg was a pretty avowed atheist, though I'd like to think I was getting through a bit before the end.  Most likely, he'd have been a bit horrified to know that I used this story to talk about God.  If he hadn't been cremated, he'd probably have rolled over in his grave.

Applying Marine Corps Leadership Traits to Everyday Life

Though it's been half a lifetime since I left the Marine Corps, I proudly carry the values and practice the discipline of the Corps to this very day.  In most respects, age and wisdom has allowed me to grow and reflect, making me a better Marine today than I was on active duty.  I'm certainly a better man, and a better leader than I was all of those years ago.  But looking back, it was the Marine Corps that instilled in me the the leadership traits that have helped me become the person I am today.  In my experience, it's difficult to be a good leader if any one of these traits are missing... even moreso if two are missing.  It's virtually impossible if three or more are missing.  Let's take a quick look at these traits and briefly discuss their importance:

Justice: Impartial adjudication of conflicting claims; Assignment of merited rewards or punishments
Without justice, subordinates will spend their time and energy currying favor or avoiding blame instead of focusing on the task at hand.

Judgement: The ability to reach intelligent conclusions
Without judgment, subordinates cannot be sure you providing the best course of action.

Dependability: Capable of being trusted
If your subordinates cannot depend on you, they will not take risks for you.

Integrity: Firm adherence to a code of moral values; Incorruptibility
If you do not exhibit integrity, those you lead will lose their own integrity.  In combat, in life and in business, a moral compass is critical.

Decisiveness: Having the power or quality of deciding; Unfaltering; Resolute
A decent plan now is better than the perfect plan next week.  An indecisive leader is worthless.

Tact: A keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others
Words are as important as weapons.  It is foolish to mock and alienate people.  You never know when you will run into them again, nor can you know whose assistance you will need in the future.

Initiative: The ability to act independently and without oversight
Initiative helps prevent problems that occur due to inaction.

Endurance: The ability to withstand hardship or adversity
You cannot expect those around you to persevere if you yourself give up at the first sign of difficulty.

Bearing: The manner in which one behaves
As a leader, your subordinates will behave as you do.  It's important to keep your cool and press on.

Unselfishness:  Not selfish; generous
Everything you do should consider the needs of those in your charge.  It is morally wrong to take the lion's share and leave only scraps for those under your care.

Courage:  Mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand danger or difficulty
Courage is more than the ability to face physical danger.  It's also the ability to step up and say that something is wrong, even when you know it's unpopular.  It's the ability to challenge your superior when you know they're incorrect.  It's the ability to have a difficult conversation with a trusted advisor or friend.

Knowledge: The range of one's information or understanding; becoming aware of truth through reasoning
Are you the subject matter expert in your job?  Do people trust your ability and talent?

Loyalty:  Faithfulness; Devotion; Commitment
Loyalty is holding to the principles you hold dear.  Do not confuse loyalty with blind allegiance.  In fact, it is more loyal to NOT look the other way.

Enthusiasm:  Strong Excitement of feeling; Passion
Enthusiasm encourages those around to excel.  Conversely, apathy and negativity discourages high performance.

If you wish to succeed as a leader, and in life, you must work diligently to cultivate all of these traits.  Accentuate those characteristics which come naturally, and endeavor to improve your weaker attributes.  History is littered with those who chose easier paths.