...Pursuit of Happieness (Updated 6/30)

When was the "right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" modified to the "right to life, liberty and happiness?" Every time something happens negatively to someone, it seems that someone else is to blame. This seems true when not achieving desired goals and of injuries, accidents and all sorts of personal interactions. To be protected from countless law suits, manufactures put silly warnings on everything and people are generally afraid of being sued for any manner of things. Not having a heavy liability insurance umbrella is like asking to be taken to the cleaners.

A perfect example of this occurred last weekend in Grand Central Park. An unfortunate family was enjoying the day and the mother and baby posed under a tree for a picture. At the moment, a tree limb fell on them, injuring her and killing the baby. This is a terrible thing for anyone or any family to experience and we all feel their grief. According to the report, the tree and the limb were in good health. Who do you blame? If it had happened in a National Forest, or private woods, who do you blame? Is there any difference? Does the fact that the Park is in a city change anything? Why? Trees fall.

Folks - COMPOST HAPPENS!

Further, some people are not nice and others are idiots. To prevent most of these types of negative things, keep alert, learn, "be prepared," and stay away from unknowns and things you can't control.

To finish this off, every educational institution I know and most others now has some sort of extreme security procedures in place, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, to prevent the next shooter, sniper or bomber from killing someone at that facility. I am not saying that none of these are appropriate, for some institutions or building are prime targets and a prudent level of security is always appropriate. But, until you can tell me that through these activities my life has been made substantially safer then my riding in a car, I'll take my chances with the snipers. So save the money, put it to better use and get realistic.

If you want "happiness," work for it. If you want complete safety, you can't have it! Even at home.