Articles written by Chris Messner - Page 5

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About me - Chris Messner

Hi,

My name is Chris Messner. I'm a native New Yorker (Let's Go Mets!), married with 2 adult children, retired military, currently working in hi-tech manufacturing.

I often daydream about writing short stories but I never seem to be able to recall the ideas

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Sports & Recreation > Baseball (Other) The destruction of Shea Stadium: 1 of 1
All things must pass, and ballparks are no exception. This year marks the 45th and final season of Shea Stadium, the latest in the line of fairly new ballparks to be bulldozed. Apparently, the lifespan of any ballpark built from the late '50s to the late '70s is only about 3 to 4 decades. That just doesn't make sense to me, ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Economy How big a deficit and debt can the US sustain each year without losing its superpower status?: 1 of 1
Deficit spending is a way of life for the US federal government. How do I know? Because I looked it up. Uncle Sam proudly makes available all the data any individual, group, or institution might like to have, and his spending figures are no exception. "Deficit spending" means that, during the federal fiscal year, which runs ... More..
Personal Finance > Taxes How many tax exemptions can you claim?: 1 of 1
Ah, one of life's great mysteries - deciphering the monstrosity: United States Code, Title 26 (26USC), popularly known as the "tax code". It seems intimidating, but it really isn't. The entire United States Code (popularly known as "federal law") is available on line, and, while it is both extremely lengthy and verbose, it i... More..
Food & Drink > Pasta, Grain & Rice Recipes Recipes: Orecchiette with chicken and escarole: 1 of 1
Orecchiette ("little ears") pasta may not be available in your local chain supermarket. DiCecco brand orecchiette is available at Whole Foods stores. Farfalle ("bow ties") should be a more widely available substitute. Escarole is a green that looks like spinach when it is cooked, but it has more body and a mildly pungent, pl... More..
Arts & Humanities > Political Philosophy The difference between Democrats and Republicans: 9 of 17
Beginning in 1994, Republicans were handed a golden opportunity to shape America's future, and they blew it. They started out with lots of verve, led by Speaker Newt Gingrich, pledging to implement a list of promises they called the Contract With America, that laughably turned into the "Contract On America". Instead of conce... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Soldiers & Veterans Should the draft be reinstated?: 32 of 60
Military conscription in America was necessary for more than one reason. Lots of people were needed in the military during the Korean and Vietnam wars but, another, and more significant reason, in my opinion, was the fact that military service in the United States, all the way thru the Vietnam War, was a hardship, and did no... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Leaders (Other) Expectations for Obama's first 100 days: 5 of 9
March 20, 2009 One hundred days? How about the first 2 months? It's been 60 days and Obama is doing his best to show his contempt for George W. Bush and piss off conservative Americans. But he's also proving, day in and day out, the assertion I made in a couple of my other articles, that he's nothing but a rank politician. O... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Elections (Other) US elections: Should military officers be allowed to appear in uniform supporting a political candidate?: 6 of 10
Officers are a small minority in the military, but they are certainly not the only military members with political convictions and affiliations. Plenty of enlisted people are highly educated and sophisticated, perhaps even brighter than some officers. So, I'll address the issue as though the question pertains to all military... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: My most memorable Fourth of July: 39 of 64
My most memorable Fourth of July was spent at a baseball game. The Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies) always put on a fabulous fireworks display after their games on Independence Day. In 1999, the game ran late, but the fireworks went off as planned, disturbing a lot of nearby residents wit... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory Solving the U.S. national debt: 8 of 13
Without question, the very first thing that must happen for the United States to begin paying down its (our) national debt is for our federal government to stop, immediately if not sooner, spending more money than it takes in. Why is it important to reduce or eliminate our national debt? Consider your own situation. If you h... More..