Another child taken

I am never sure why some child abductions and murders make the national news and others don't, but this is a picture of Sarah Haley Foxwell, 11, who was found dead near Salisbury, Md., on Christmas. It's been a story in the Washington area for a few days but doesn't appear to be making national headlines. A registered sex offender has been charged with kidnapping. It seems Sarah was taken from her Eastern Shore bedroom and later killed.

Unfortunately, it's a common story in America but one in which the national media seems to have no set criteria for covering. At times, the major networks will play up these stories almost too intensely, while other times cases like this barely make it into the briefs column on page 27 of a national magazine or newspaper. It's hard to figure how news judgment is so wildly random in these instances. What distinguishes one tragic kidnapping or death from another in the eyes of newsroom editors across the nation?

Regardless, there are simply too many cases of child abuse, abduction and murder in this country. It seems to me that serious sex offenders should never get a second chance at freedom and that parents or guardians who put their kids in danger should be held more accountable before tragedy strikes. Click to read the story.

George Michael dies at 70

George Michael died of cancer today. Nationally, he was known for hosting The George Michael Sports Machine on Sunday nights for many years. Locally, in Washington, D.C., he was the sports anchor at the NBC affiliate (WRC) and a well-known, high-energy media figure.

The thing I remember most about Michael is how he walked away from a new contract offer in 2006 in order to save the jobs of several of his staffers who were going to be laid off by NBC Universal.

"NBC made me an extremely, extremely beyond-my-wildest-dreams offer to stay and sign a new deal," Michael, then 67, said in 2006. "If I have to lay somebody off . . . I have to take the first bullet. It's that simple."

You don't see that sort of selfless integrity much anymore -- at least not in the workplace or when it involves a lot of money. The NBC 4 evening sportscast has never been the same since Michael left.

Keeping it simple escapes us

Healthcare reform has been a noble fight. But it also underscores why this country is so divided and increasingly dysfunctional. It illustrates why whenever you get a large group of people together (in this case Congress) to try to fix something that's broken, you often end up with an even worse result. I saw this same phenomenon while working for a large company.

The longer the fight and the more revisions to the various proposals are dragged out, the more we are moving away from true reform and the closer we are getting to actually creating new financial hardships for millions of people.

In the world of design, simple is often considered best. If designed well, it's more elegant and functional to keep things clean rather than to create clutter. Some mental-health therapists advise folks with anxiety issues to reduce the clutter in their lives. Yet, in most large organizations, including the federal government, simple is never an option. Just look at the tax laws to see a prime example of what happens when the concept of simplicity is abandoned.

At the same time, there is a group of folks in America who would like to do nothing about reforming healthcare. They believe in every man, woman and child for themselves. If people fall through the cracks, so be it. And these hardliners call that liberty. They are usually the same folks who think people should be allowed to smoke in public places and drive at whatever speed they want.

With these opposing forces constantly clashing, it is difficult to create or revise laws to improve our country. Too little government intervention leads to corporate corruption and epic levels of greed. Too much poking around by the feds infringes on the constitution and the reason why this country was formed.

So what's the answer?

I honestly don't know anymore.

Redskins a reflection of owner

John Riggins recently said that Washington Redskins owner, Daniel Snyder, isn't a good guy. Monday night's beat down by the New York Giants is proof of what Riggo was talking about. You see, the Redskins had some momentum late in the season. They were improving. Then last week, after a rare victory in Oakland, and with three games left for players and coaches to make a case for themselves and their jobs for 2010, Snyder brought in a new general manager. And with that odd timing, the end of the coach Jim Zorn-era was all but signed and sealed. Therefore, the team had less motivation to play for Zorn on Monday night. The team lost its incentive, its edge. The distractions created by the front office became too heavy to overcome. And Zorn, a genuinely nice guy, got caught in the Snyder web.

Don't get me wrong -- the previous GM, Vinny Cerrato, needed to be replaced -- but the timing of it appears suspiciously manipulative. It seems feasible that Snyder didn't want Zorn to succeed in these final weeks. A few late wins could drum up public support for keeping Zorn, which Snyder doesn't want to do. So he more than likely had his boy Vinny resign to create a new layer of uncertainty for the head coach and players. It's textbook corporate-like nonsense by another rich guy who thinks messing with people's lives and professions is a birthright. Why didn't Snyder just fire Zorn? Read on.

It's been apparent that Snyder wants Zorn out so he can bring in yet another big-name coach, even though few top-rated coaches would work for Snyder, which should be further evidence of all not being right in the owner's box. But Zorn is a smart cookie and isn't going to leave money owed to him on the table by resigning. Snyder should do the right thing and put Zorn out of his misery. And he should pay Zorn for his remaining contract year.

So when Riggins, the Hall of Fame running back, said disparaging things about Snyder, he was indicating that this is the way some people in power go about their business. They try to embarrass subordinates into quitting so they don't have to pay out contracts. They hide behind lies and deceit. They create an unfair playing field for those who fall out of favor and have an uncanny ability to create a climate of fear and mistrust. And ultimately, the product suffers from all these smoke-and-mirror tactics that have become all too common in businesses of all kinds. In a larger sense, this is why big business in America is failing. Too many top dogs have forgotten how to be human beings first and CEOs second.

The egos of some owners are large enough to believe they can repair the damage they create (see Jerry Jones of the Cowboys). Well, it hasn't happened for this team under this owner as coaches come and go like the seasons. Thousands of fans sat in FedEx Field in freezing temperatures Monday night to watch a team that has been directly or indirectly undermined by its own owner for years. It's not that Snyder wants to have losing seasons or drive away support for the team, it's just that he is pretty much what Riggins said he is. The Redskins are a toy for Snyder who doesn't seem to have that intuitive touch needed to be successful in sports. Being smug doesn't work in sports. It might work on Wall Street or in corporate board rooms for a while, but sports rely more on honesty, hard work and sincerity to motivate employees to physically perform. You have to know that the boss (owner, GM or coach) has your back in order to put your body at risk. Money generally doesn't buy championships in sports that require bravery and heart. "The Dan" confuses desire with heart. He might be a fan of the team, but he's not a good leader of men. His team is a reflection of himself -- profitable and well marketed, but without substance. It doesn't matter who the coach or general manager are as the years under Snyder have proven.

There was no fight in the 'Skins Monday night. They embarrassed themselves on a national stage. A large part of that is on the players. This was not a professional effort. If at least half these players aren't replaced next year, expect a similar record under new GM, Bruce Allen.

By the way, it seems rather obvious that the hiring of Allen was yet another public relations stunt. Allen's father, George, was a beloved Redskins coach, and his brother is a popular Virginia politician. I don't believe Allen's NFL track record is as stellar as Snyder claims. But Snyder knew few would question the hiring. Like many folks in power, Snyder appears to have some sort of need to be liked more than respected. Some folks might even applaud Snyder because of the ties Allen has to the Redskins and Ashburn, Va., where the Redskins train. But is Allen really the answer?

Hopefully, Zorn will soon get back to his native West Coast, either California or Seattle. Two years in D.C. has aged him. The lines on his face have become more obvious. Some bosses and jobs aren't worth that sort of stress, especially as one begins to get older. Zorn is still a hero in Seattle where he is remembered as the best quarterback in Seahawk history. He's still a straight shooter despite two years in Washington -- a place where spin and backstabbing are epidemic. Zorn might not be head-coaching material, but under Snyder, who is? The main reason the inexperienced Zorn got the job two years ago was because no one else wanted it. For the elite, seasoned coaches, there isn't enough money in the world to work for a dysfunctional organization under an owner who has failed to deliver a serious run at a championship or even a decent game-day experience for fans.

Mother Nature exposes our softness

I don't think we have the right stuff anymore. We don't know how to cope with inconveniences or how to tough it out when things don't go according to plan. Take this weekend's snowstorm. Washington has never been a city that reacts well to bad weather. Rain sends people into a frenzy here. You would think Washingtonians would be accustomed to foul weather, but they aren't. I lived in this area in 1979 for one year and it was the same deal then as it is now. No one can drive in anything other than perfect conditions in Northern Virginia, the district or Maryland. Schools close even if there is a forecast of a few inches of snow. And federal offices...well, forget about it. Biggest wimps in the country.

I wonder what it is about Washington that causes panic whenever it snows? Is it because metro-D.C. is a region with people from all over the globe, many of whom might not have ever seen snow? Or is it just a town with too much entitlement?

As I traveled about today, traffic was thick, restaurants and stores were full, and parking lots had very few empty spaces. It appears all those people who couldn't get to school or work found a way to get to other more fun places. It was particularly noteworthy to me because over the three decades of my working life, which ended abruptly last year, I didn't miss work because of bad weather. I drove through snowstorms at all hours of the night and took my responsibilities seriously. I didn't feel better or more special than anyone else. I just felt I was paid to show up at the office and not take the day off to stroll around the mall. It was on me as to how I got to work in bad weather. Just part of being an adult and earning a paycheck. Not everyone I worked with subscribed to my values and saw snow in much the same way a fourth-grader would -- as an opportunity.

I am guessing that people in Albany or Buffalo deal with snow that is far worse than what the mid-Atlantic saw this weekend. And they deal with it several times a year. They go to work. They go to school. They don't whine nonstop on around-the-clock television news reports. I am thinking that folks in Killington, Vt., somehow find their way to their jobs at the ski lodge offices, restaurants, shops and hotels there. And our friends farther north in Canada probably think Americans are totally lame when it comes to coping with bad weather.

We've gotten soft. We panic about everything. We worry about more 9/11's every time a plane soars a little too low. We get sick over the idea of the cable TV going out during Survivor.

Our sense of entitlement and unfounded fear has no bounds. Americans fall apart if the fireworks are rained out on the Fourth of July or a sale item is sold out the day before Christmas. People in the media turn every death from H1N1 into a sensationalized national catastrophe, as if things like "The Plague" never existed. One beheading in the Middle East or a kidnapping in North Korea equals the entire media coverage of World War I.

What are we going to do if a real emergency occurs? Can we handle it? What if an asteroid hits Kansas City and kills 1,000 times more people than 9/11? When the "big one" finally slices through California, will our entire country fall apart? How about if we have to go to war against a real nation with a real military and not just a cult? Could we man up against China? I doubt it.

We better get comfortable with the idea of hardships and toughen up a bit. I see troubling days ahead. If we stop sticking our heads in the sand we might be able to avoid some problems, but not all. Many experts agree that we will get hit by a nuke one day. A lot of people feel the deficit is going to lead to class warfare or worse. Some think factory farming is going to sprout viruses that wipe out millions.

It's a shame that in order to regain perspective and backbone we're going to have to face something much more challenging than a foot or two of snow.

A Larry King-like post

Larry King of CNN wrote weekly columns for USA Today at one point during his career. The columns consisted mostly of a string of unrelated, brief statements and opinions. The columns were mocked by various folks for being shallow. Running the risk of being equally shallow, here are some random thoughts of my own.

I am tired of television news reporters, with zero authority, telling me to stay off the road when it snows or to remain indoors on hot, humid days... If every study imaginable has proven that talking on a cellphone impairs drivers much the way being intoxicated does, it seems beyond obnoxious that so many people continue to do yack away behind the wheel... Bruce Allen, the new GM for the Redskins, has nothing on his resume that tells me he's a winner, despite what team owner, "The Dan," was selling us last week about his new hire... Air conditioning and light bulbs remain the best inventions ever...

Ninety-five percent of what is on television is unwatchable... There is only one "LT" in pro football and that is/was Lawrence Taylor... Former NFL coach, Jon Gruden, praises everyone, which makes him a terribly boring color commentator on Monday Night Football broadcasts... Our country hasn't learned a thing from this recession... Americans and the media place way too much importance on the office of president and don't pay enough attention to the people who really call the shots... I recall my favorite beer being whatever was on sale... Key West was very cool before it became trendy and filled with condos and cruise ships...

Glenn Beck isn't the answer... The best food and comedians come from New York... I hope Tiger Woods stays out of the limelight for the rest of my life... Radio is better than TV... If we really wanted to win the war in Afghanistan, we could do it in about a week... It's difficult for me to pray when I have no idea if anyone is listening... Chocolate ice cream sodas from Carvel are a great childhood memory... I don't get people who say they have no regrets... Seafood should be eaten near the water... Of the 10 neighbors who live closest to me, only four consider English their first language... Ray Romano should be getting better parts in movies...

1992-93 was the worst time in my life; 2008-09 is now officially second... I am in awe of how big and complex the universe is... If it has eyes and cares for its young, we probably shouldn't be eating it... See the movie Idiocracy because, as silly as it might seem, I believe it's a window into the future... Grown men wearing backpacks to work looks silly, particularly in white-collar office environments... Consensus doesn't always yield the best results... Grocery stores are getting too big and take up too much of my time... Something about Madonna's "Tell Me" video still appeals to me, though not much else grabs me about the pop star... The Shining is the best horror film ever made and includes Jack Nicholson's finest performance...

Sean Hannity plays the same tune over and over, yet people continue to listen/watch... The two-party political system doesn't work for us anymore... Anything that gets too big and successful inevitably fails... My pre-season Super Bowl picks (Giants vs. Ravens) aren't looking so good but aren't dead yet... Everyone agrees that the movie Office Space accurately depicts the absurdity of the workplace, yet we continue to accept all the occupational lunacy and cliches in real life...

Seems criminal that trans fat should still exist in any food product... I confess that I am rooting for Brett Favre simply because he's old... Sadly, friendships feel more like rentals than keepsakes... I miss real diners... I discover more clues about the nature of life and death as I get older, yet also have many more questions... Regardless of one's hands-on skills, education level or title, not everyone is suited to manage or lead others... Howard Cosell was right about many things, including the decline of broadcast journalism...

I am drawn to the lights and colors of Christmas but not the materialism... Charlie Brown and Looney Tunes cartoons still hold up very well today... There are too many flavors of almost everything from cheese cake to ice cream, and not enough quality in anything... Smarter phones will put the nail in the coffin of face-to-face, meaningful communications... The only sequel that was equal to if not better than the first movie was Godfather II... An inordinate number of parents these days call their young sons, "buddy"... Why hasn't there been a million-man march on Washington related to unemployment...?

Greed is the root cause of almost every societal problem, yet we continue to focus on the symptoms rather than the cause... Listening to a single song can change my outlook on things, at least for the moment, unlike anything else... I can't get through a week without hearing something about Sarah Palin and marvel at how someone so intellectually vacant might become president... There are some very smart people in the world who claim cures for most cancers would have been discovered by now if not for the misappropriation of funds for research...

I recall a time when it was common knowledge that the left lane was for passing... I kind of like Sen. Joe Lieberman's unwillingness to follow the herd... If money were no object, I'd probably live in Santa Barbara or the Florida Keys... Listening to Frank Sinatra while having a nice dinner in either Baltimore or New York's "Little Italy" is a good way for me to reconnect to certain parts of past... Coffee shops should ban notebook computers, phones and children, and promote reading, conversation and the arts... Sunday Night Football on NBC is a solid broadcast from start to finish...

No more houses should be built until the ones for sale are sold... Let's give a tax break to businesses that hire folks... According to a recent study, Florida is the third happiest state; Virginia and Maryland weren't even in the top 20... Hard to believe that much of the Washington-area will be closed this week as a result of the weekend snowstorm... Would Jimi Hendrix still be playing if he were alive today, or would he have taken the Grace Slick route and bowed out before he got too old...?

The morning after

My street after the storm. Sterling, Va., 20 miles from D.C., got over 20 inches snow. Our street was plowed on Sunday morning, but we have not ventured out of the neighborhood yet.