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Thursday, August 29, 2019

A FABRICATED RECESSION?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Is the timing too much of a coincidence?

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I have been hearing about an impending recession which my Democrat friends insist will happen either later this year or in 2020. The media reports likewise and I suspect these prognosticators will become louder as we get closer to the 2020 election. On the other hand, Republicans are at a loss as to what all the hubbub is all about, as our economy is still chugging along just fine. One cannot help but wonder if this is real or politically motivated.

First, let's be clear what we mean by a recession. "The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) defines a recession as 'a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real gross domestic product (GDP), real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales.' A recession is also said to be when businesses cease to expand, the GDP diminishes for two consecutive quarters, the rate of unemployment rises, and housing prices decline."

So far, none of this has occurred, nor are there signs it will.

The United States is currently the economic engine of the world. Our GDP is up, unemployment is down to record levels, and consumer confidence is up. It is true, people are concerned about a trade war with China, but this is something that needed to be corrected in any event, unless we prefer kowtowing to the Chinese. Some are suggesting Europe is behind, but the reality is only Germany is showing signs of changes in production. In Asia, there is concern regarding trade between Japan and South Korea, but it is likely these differences will be amicably resolved.

So where are the accusations coming from regarding a potential recession? One prominent source is Diane Swonk, the Chief Economist for Grant Thornton in Chicago. She recently told Fox Business' Liz Claman, "I think (a recession) is highly probable. I do have a recession in 2020." She sees Brexit and Japan/South Korea trade as contributing to it.

In sharp contrast, Sonal Desai, Ph.D., the Chief Investment Officer at Franklin Templeton Fixed Income claims, "the economic data show no evidence that either the United States or the global economy is approaching a recession." She adds, "The markets and the Fed seem to be looking at each other, feeding each other’s fears, and completely ignoring what's actually going on in the real economy."

So, who are we to believe? One thing we should consider, Diane Swonk has made campaign contributions to Democrat candidates, and her father, Jim Swonk, was well known in the Livingston County Democrat Party, Michigan. In other words, she undoubtedly has sympathies for Democrats and the party may be trying to capitalize on her notoriety.

The biggest asset Donald Trump has going into the 2020 presidential election is our robust economy, and this is the Achilles heel of the Democrats. They have tried to gnaw away at his other accomplishments, but if the economy falters, they believe they can defeat him. This is why these rumors of recession are spreading, even though there is no factual basis to suggest it will occur. So, the drumbeat from the far-left and the media will be "Recession, Recession, Recession..." The Trump bashers believe if they say it enough times, people will believe a recession is actually in the works when, in reality, it is not. Meanwhile, American business will continue at a rapid clip, and workers will benefit from this prosperity.

For years, economics has had a role to play in politics, but I never dreamed it could be manipulated for political gain. It is rather sad when political strategists would rather put people out of work and cause misfortune for business, all for political gain. This goes beyond mere pessimism; it is just plain reckless and dangerous.

Interestingly, President Trump welcomes talk about a possible recession. He understands why the rumors are spreading, but it gives him a chance to tout how well his economic policies have worked. As usual, he fights fire with fire.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2019 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

ANTIFA UPDATE

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- It is getting worse.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

It has been some time since I last spoke about Antifa, the self-proclaimed anarchists/communists who have adopted violent tactics to attack anyone not agreeing with their political agenda, which is nothing less than to subvert and overthrow the government of the United states. Their tactics are well recorded on film, everything from Berkeley, to attacking conservative writer Andy Ngo, to the recent confrontation in Portland, Oregon, and much more.

They are anti-capitalists, anti-religion (particularly Christianity), but they are also very organized. The scary part is they are misguided, armed, and view themselves as international terrorists, a true recipe for disaster. Interestingly, aside from former VP Joe Biden, I am told all of the other Democrat presidential candidates have yet to condemn Antifa and, as such, it is presumed they are soliciting the support of the group which is considered far-left and sympathetic to Democrat causes. In contrast, the Trump administration has openly condemned the group.

Recently, Republican Congressmen introduced resolutions to declare Antifa a terrorist organization. In the Senate, Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA) and Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) introduced Senate Resolution 279 (July 18, 2019). One week later, Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (PA-1) introduced House Resolution 525 (July 25, 2019) based on the language contained in the Senate version. The Senate version was referred to the Judiciary Committee for review, and the House version has moved to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. It will be interesting to see how these two bills progress through the two chambers, and if anyone opposes them.

Two people have already voiced their displeasure with the proposed legislation. The first is Hina Shamsi of the American Civil Liberties Union, who told The Washington Post she opposes labeling groups as domestic terrorists, seeing it as a threat to the freedoms embodied in the First Amendment. The second person, Rep Debra Haaland (NM-D) claims Antifa represents "peaceful protesters" trying to "safeguard their city." I have trouble with this in lieu of the recent developments in Portland where the Antifa protesters came to provoke a confrontation.

Should the legislation pass, this will mean Antifa can be treated as any other terrorist group and subject to prosecution under the Patriot Act. Some suggest this is too extreme, that they are just misled kids who don't comprehend the legalities of their actions. Their behavior though is reminiscent of the Gestapo which came to power in 1933 in Nazi Germany. The biggest difference between the two groups is the Gestapo was an arm of the government, but not so with Antifa. Nonetheless, their tactics were similar in they both attacked anyone who did not conform to their ideology.

You may think classifying Antifa as a terrorist organization is a no-brainer, that everyone would like to be rid of them. Not so fast. It has become a political football for the Democrats who do not want to alienate this far-left group of voters. Yes, I think they deplore the actual violence they create, but they are looking to groups like Antifa to loudly strong-arm and neutralize groups on the right, just as the Gestapo's "goon squads" did in Germany. Likewise, they may be sharpening their skills for political intimidation at the voting precincts. So, do not look for any significant action to pass on Antifa until after the 2020 elections, if at all. It is not in the best interests of the Democrats to do so at this time.

By the way, I find it interesting the "Anti-Fascists" (hence the origin of their name), still do not know what a fascist is. Rather, they should just look in the mirror.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2019 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

SO YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR, EH?

BRYCE ON MEDICINE

- A little something for physicians.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

A good friend, who happens to be a doctor (internal medicine), recently retired. As such, I penned this brief analysis of the world of physicians as a tribute to him on his departure. Young people should take heed.

"So You Want to be a Doctor, eh?"

Hmm...

It's not about physiology, anatomy, biology, clinical reasoning, genetics, chemistry, disease analysis, medical neuroscience, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, psychology, respiratory, etc., all of the things inspiring you to become a doctor.

It's about insurance, government bureaucracy, certification, financing, managing staff and the office, litigation, technology fads, pharmaceuticals, listening and empathy, frustration, depression, fears and phobias, mileage, long hours and sleep deprivation. This is the reality.

But if you've got patience and endurance, the ability to accept pain and not complain, to adapt and overcome adversity, and possess a respect for the human spirit, it can be personally rewarding and the world will marvel at your fortitude.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2019 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

OUR CHANGING TASTES

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Noting changes in how we eat.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I've got a friend who owns a family style restaurant offering basic comfort food. It's not cheap, nor is it expensive either; just a family-run restaurant that offers basic home cooking. I'm sure you know such a restaurant in your neighborhood.

Periodically, I help my friend update his menu. In the course of doing this I've asked him why he no longer offers certain items on his menu; things like lamb shanks, beef stroganoff, beef tips on noodles, Chicken a la King, Salisbury Steak, stuffed peppers, Sausage and peppers, pot roast, casseroles and the like. These were items I remember well from my youth but are disappearing from menus across the country. The only rationale my friend could offer was that people's tastes were changing, and such items were more identified with the older generation than the new. The younger people seem to relate more to burgers, chicken and pizza; items that are more associated with fast food franchises as opposed to anything else. Consequently, the idea of a home cooked meal is becoming more of a nebulous concept to them.

Bread is another commodity that has been changing as well. Instead of white, rye, and whole wheat, people now want shibata, muffala, and panini. I remember a time when sourdough was considered the epitome of exotic bread, now it is generally regarded as nothing special. The new breads are nice, but somehow the idea of a PB&J on panini doesn't sound right.

Our cuts of beef and chicken haven't really changed, but fish has. At one time, your only choices were cod, haddock, swordfish, flounder, and maybe some tuna (in a can). Now we ask for tilapia, grouper, mahi-mahi, ahi tuna, and orange roughy. As an aside, years ago grouper was considered a "garbage fish" that fisherman routinely discarded, but somehow we developed a taste for it.

Soft drinks have changed as well. Whereas we used to live on colas, lemon/lime drinks, root beer, ginger ale, ice tea, fruit juices, and Kool-Aid, now we have power/sports drinks in a variety of colors and tastes to hydrate us, and others loaded with caffeine and sugar to shock our system. Orange juice was orange juice. Period. Now we have varieties with pulp, without pulp, with added vitamins, lower acid, and of course the blends with other fruit juices. Ice tea is no different; now we have a wide variety of flavors to suit different tastes. Coffee has also changed in this regards, instead of a basic black cup of coffee in the morning, we now have all kinds of ingredients to make it look like a hot fudge sundae or some other dessert.

Speaking of desserts, cakes and pies are still around, but are a little harder to find. Then of course there are items like tapioca pudding, rice pudding, and other flavored puddings, most of which the kids turn their noses up over. Ice cream is still a favorite, but we've come a long way since basic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. The competition in the ice cream world is fierce and consequently many new varieties have been introduced with strange names (and higher prices). I have to admit though, I am a sucker for Graeter's Black Raspberry Chip or their Pumpkin Pie which comes out around October.

For breakfast there was oatmeal, farina, Maypo, Cream of Wheat, Malt-O-Meal, Pancakes, Waffles, and, of course, bacon and eggs. These have all been replaced by such things as Pop Tarts, Granola Bars, breakfast drinks, and other instant snacks. Heck, basic cereals are even struggling as people are rushing out the door in the morning.

I'm not suggesting our tastes are any better or worse today than yesteryear; I'm just noting the change. However, I wonder how much of this push to multiple varieties and instant meals is a result of our changing tastes as opposed to creating a higher profit margin for the vendors; I suspect the latter. More than anything, I believe our tastes change because of vendor competition and the need to make a buck. No matter how you slice it though, there is nothing better than "mom's home cooking." The only problem though is that a lot of people today think baking and cooking are two towns in China.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2019 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

THE PROBLEM WITH PROGRAMMERS

BRYCE ON TECHNOLOGY

- How they affect society.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Years ago I wrote a technical paper titled, "Theory P: The Philosophy of Managing Programmers," which was aimed at providing assistance to managers in reigning in their people. In a nutshell, I contend the best way to improve programmer productivity was to give them better specifications and create a uniform process (methodology) for them to conform to. I received mixed reviews on the piece; whereas managers loved it, a furor ensued among programmers. Nonetheless, I still stand by the conclusions of the paper.

It occurs to me though, programmers have a profound impact on society. Perhaps the most visible sign of this is our addiction to smart phones, where people are plugged in and tuned out. For example, we see people preoccupied with them on the road, which is quite dangerous, in stores, in the office, even in the gym where they are "tuned out" while they exercise. As an aside, I learned a long time ago not to try and strike up a conversation with anyone in the gym as they are all "plugged in." This suggests our socialization skills are changing.

There are many other examples, such as remote control devices for TV, cable, DVD, radio, and Yes, old tape machines (e.g., VHS), all of which are as "user friendly" as a Ouija board. In my family room, I have four devices; one for the television, one for streaming channels, one for my DVD/VHS player, and one I'm really not too sure about. I hesitate to dispose of it as it might serve some purpose, kind of like an old metal key you do not want to throw away yet.

As an aside, you would think they would have invented a universal remote by now, but they haven't. Actually, it shouldn't be that difficult, a button for power, a button for volume, a button for tone (treble/bass), and a button for channel selection (Gee, it kind of sounds like the old TV's and radios, doesn't it?). This should be followed by a series of programmable function keys as on a keyboard (e.g., F1, F2, F3, etc.) which could include device selection, fast forward, reverse, pause, stop, etc.

This brings up a point, people use only a fraction of what these devices are capable of performing, primarily because we have specific needs and only use the devices as such. In addition, programmers tend to make such devices robust, with little consideration for "ease of use." This is not new as we noted this phenomenon years ago with computers; we simply do not use them to their full potential.

You must remember, programmers are detailists who possess a myopic view of their particular problem. No, they do not see the big picture, just their small part of the overall puzzle. This is why it is important to provide the programmer with precise specifications, which has historically been the responsibility of Systems Analysts to provide. Unfortunately, such people are an endangered species and programmers are left to figure out both the problem and solution on their own. Not surprising, they will inevitably do what is easiest for them to do as opposed to how the end-user will implement it. This explains why devices appear complicated to the rest of us.

You should also understand programmers typically abhor standards as they consider it inhibiting their creativity. Let me give you an example, years ago IBM devised the Systems Application Architecture (SAA) standards which was intended for use on all of their computing platforms, including mainframes, minis, and PCs. This included standards for Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) for window design. The intent was to design windows in a uniform manner so that if a user mastered the use of one window, the user would know how to use all windows, thereby simplifying training and improving productivity simply by developing a common "look and feel" to all windows, regardless of the computing platform. Frankly, it was brilliant, but alas programmers resisted it and fought the standards until IBM backed away from them. Today, there is little continuity in how web pages work, much to the chagrin of the end-user.

We see other examples of technical snafus all around us:

* Web pages simply do not work correctly with no explanation (Help text is severely lacking). How many times have we seen a web page die on us, particularly when we are ordering something on-line? Quite often, the data we entered earlier has to be re-keyed into the page, only to die a second time, maybe because we didn't upshift or downshift a letter in the proper sequence. Such editing rules should be accommodated by the programmer, but again, they ignore this and take the easy way out.

* In the event there is a power outage, or some other problem with television cable, we have to re-boot our cable box. This takes us down a cryptic path whereby we do not know what we are doing, and have no clue whether the repair process is occurring properly. I still find it rather amusing when customer service reps admonish us to unplug the device, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in (whereby it takes us on a countdown to nowhere).

* Voice Mail jail is still the norm for just about all companies. I cringe when I hear, "Press-1 for this, Press-2 for that, etc." Even after you entered your name, rank and serial number two or three times, the customer service agent will inevitably ask you to repeat it all over again, assuming someone returns your call. They throw up these electronic walls intentionally as they do not care about Customer Service.

Instead of simplifying the user experience, programmers make it more complicated, again, because it is what is easier for them to program, not what is convenient to the end-user. Such a mindset forces us to expect less, not more, from sales and customer service.

Here is the point: Instead of adapting technology to human behavior, humans have to adapt to the technology. We are the ones truly being programmed, not the machine. This is like putting the cart before the horse, all because we bow to the creativity of the programmer, not because it is right.

All of this influences social behavior. For example, we are less likely to engage in conversation, we lose respect for the human spirit, we lose patience, and we become more irritable and prone to heated arguments and fights. All because we resist properly managing programmers and allowing them to do whatever they please.

One last note, I recently had to swap out the SIM card for my mom's aging flip-top phone, a process I estimated would take maybe five minutes, at most, to perform. First, I discovered I couldn't lift off the back cover as easily as the instructions indicated. I basically needed a hammer and chisel to break in, but I also considered a little nitro. I then pulled out the battery to access and replace the SIM card in the back. After reinstalling everything, I turned on the phone, only to discover it claimed the SIM card wasn't installed. I again brought out the hammer and chisel, pulled everything apart, and found I had indeed installed the SIM card properly. In desperation, I called the company's customer service who explained to me the phone had to be activated. Note: There was no mention of activation in the documentation I received. Nonetheless, the phone finally became operational. So, a five minute operation ended up taking just over an hour to complete. Is it any wonder why I despise programmers?

"As the use of technology increases, social skills decrease."
- Bryce's Law

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2019 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

WHO IS CREATING THE CULTURE OF HATRED?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- President Trump or the Democrats?

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Following the mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso last week, President Trump came under fire by both the Democrats and Media for encouraging the incidents which, of course, is baseless. There was no consideration for the wackos who actually shot the people. In the minds of the Left, the President pulled the trigger, or at least that is what they want us to believe.

Campaigning at the Iowa State Fair last week, former Vice President Joe Biden claimed, "We have a problem with this rising tide of supremacy, white supremacy in America and we have a president who encourages and emboldens it."

Biden went on to say the president "has fanned the flames of white supremacy in this nation," in both "language" and "code."

Other Democrat presidential hopefuls made similar accusations. The Main Stream Media also made similar assertions:





There was no interest in the rationale of the shooters, they just used it as a political opportunity to blame President Trump for anything going wrong, everything from tragedy to hemorrhoids. I still insist the Democrats and Media would do this to any other Republican elected president in 2016, had it been Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, et al. They would have been smeared and vilified as much as Donald Trump. To illustrate, consider how they disparaged the character of President George W. Bush. By the end of his term, he was one of the most despised presidents, which opened the door to Barrack Obama.

The big difference though, President Trump is willing to push back, unlike other Republican presidents and much to the surprise of his opposition. Whenever they attack him, which is now a daily occurrence, he counter punches on Twitter or on camera. Whereas other Presidents accepted the abuse, President Trump does not.

The Democrats and Media are fully cognizant the president is not a racist, xenophobe, white supremacist, or whatever the adjective du jour happens to be. For example, Andrew Stein, a long term Democrat from Manhattan who has known the president since 1973, insists he is no racist. Far from it.

The Democrats and Media would have us believe the president's rhetoric "emboldens" people to become white supremacists. In reality, it is the rhetoric emanating from the Democrats, with their lies and deception, that is angering them and causing people to form allegiance with Mr. Trump. There are simply a lot of people today who have had enough of these shenanigans and are forming ranks behind the president. The Left may like the accusations, but moderates and conservatives have had enough.

These false accusations spread by the Democrats, of course, is an old trick from the Saul Alinsky playbook, the legendary radical community organizer. Under his approach, all is fair in politics, regardless if it is ethical or not. In fact, he openly supported dirty tricks to mislead the public and elect his candidates.

In all likelihood, this approach will backfire on the Democrats in 2020. For every false assertion they make, they drive another nail into their own coffin. Should the Democrats in the House vote to impeach the president, this will not be met with enthusiasm by the public, thereby causing the president to clinch the election.

This is what happens when you do not have a bona fide party platform with positive ideas and programs to improve the country. Instead, they resort to dirty tricks. Make no mistake, it is not President Trump who is causing hate in the country, it is the Democrats, the same people who embraced slavery and Jim Crow laws, not the Republicans.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2019 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

Friday, August 9, 2019

BRYCE LAUNCHES NEW BOOK, "HOW TO RUN A NONPROFIT"

BRYCE ON NEW "HOW TO" BOOK

- It doesn't require rocket science.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

PALM HARBOR, FL (August 9, 2019) – Author and freelance writer Tim Bryce of Tampa Bay is pleased to announce the publication of his newest book, "How to Run a Nonprofit - It doesn't require rocket science," which is a how-to book designed to assist people in nonprofit organizations. Bryce is well known for his blog, "The Bryce is Right!" (timbryce.com), which includes essays published elsewhere in the press. In addition, he has authored several books including both fiction and nonfiction.

According to Bryce, "This is my fifteenth book, the purpose of which is to act as a guide to effectively run a nonprofit organization, be it a charitable, fraternal, religious, amateur sports, civic, social, veteran, political, professional trade, or homeowner/condominium association." According to Bryce, he often hears from officers of such organizations, all complaining of the same problems, be it related to leadership, organization, membership, attendance, finances, records management, excessive politics, or whatever. He contends most of this is unnecessary and can be avoided with a little patience, common sense, and some good old-fashioned management.

There are obviously distinguishable nuances for each type of group, but this primarily resides in their mission statement. Otherwise, they are all fundamentally the same in terms of their operations and challenges.

Even worse, the press frequently writes horror stories of embezzlement, adversarial relationships with management companies, problems with lawyers, and primitive or nonexistent records management. True, these are fast-paced times in terms of changing technology, but it has always been so. However, Tim contends if you pay attention to the basics of management and have an eye for detail, you should be fine.

Bryce argues, "Let's put our cards on the table; the biggest problem with most nonprofits is they are run by nice people, who mean well, but haven't a clue as to what they are doing. This book is for anyone involved with a nonprofit, be it a new person, or someone about to assume an officer position. As such, it is a GREAT GIFT IDEA."

Over the last 45 years, Tim has served on well over fifty Board of Directors for a multitude of nonprofits, serving in a variety of capacities, everything from President to Historian, Secretary, Finance Chairman, Division Director, Communications Chairman, and just a simple helper. As such, he hopes to describe the lessons he learned over the years. By profession, Bryce is also a management consultant who has taught planning, systems design, and project management to a wide variety of companies around the world.

This book is organized into the following sections:

CHAPTER 1 - A NONPROFIT IS A BUSINESS - some legalities to consider.

CHAPTER 2 - THE HUMAN SPIRIT - being sensitive to people.

CHAPTER 3 - MEETINGS - how to conduct properly.

CHAPTER 4 - MANAGING RECORDS & FINANCES - describing administrative details, including "checks and balances."

CHAPTER 5 - COMMUNICATIONS - how to effectively communicate with the outside world.

CHAPTER 6 - BRYCE'S PLANNING SEMINAR - a special seminar to determine a nonprofit's purpose and objectives.

CHAPTER 7 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT - how to plan, estimate, schedule, report and control projects.

CHAPTER 8 - ANOMALIES - describing difficult situations we often face in nonprofits, such as "Dealing with Deadbeats," "Dealing with Politics," "Management Companies," handling "Vacancies in the Board," "Improving membership and attendance," "Feasibility Studies & Bids," and much more.

Details on the Book:
ISBN: 9781082722172
151 pages
Price: $15 for printed version; $7.50 for Kindle e-Book (ASIN: B07VNT61CM) or PDF versions.
Published through Amazon, printed in the United States.

Where to place order; click HERE.

Mr. Bryce is available for lectures, book-signings, interviews, and after-dinner talks. He can be contacted at timb1557@gmail.com

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my other new book, "Tim's Senior Moments" now available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2019 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

TIN HEADS - EPISODE 5 - "THE GETAWAY"

BRYCE ON FICTION

- A little escape to Montana.

This is a chapter from a book I wrote back in 2010, "Tin Heads," which is a work of fiction and reminiscent of the many stories we watched on the "Twilight Zone." The book is still for sale as a PDF file, click HERE, or for a Kindle e-Book, click HERE. For more info on what is a Tin Head, see the INTRO. I hope you will enjoy it.
 
"THE GETAWAY"

"Tin Head" - slang expression for the TN-2020 Personal Drone developed by TN Industries, San Jose, California. A "dumb" robot resembling human form with special sensors enabling humans to visit remote locations without having to leave their home location. Unit is distinguished by its domed head, hence the nickname.

Have you ever been engrossed in a job demanding your utmost attention to detail for an extended period of time? Harry Dobin knew it well. He was the lead architect for a major new system for North Carolina's Department of Transportation. The state had undergone a major upgrade of its highway infrastructure and, as part of the effort, wanted to revamp the highway's information system by studying and calculating traffic volume, accidents, and rerouting traffic to assure proper flow. This was no small task as it was a major system and had to interface with other state systems. The feasibility study alone took several months and, as point man of the project, Harry spent an inordinate amount of time studying the geography, specifying requirements, and designing the various business processes involved with the system.

It was not unusual for Harry to put in 70 to 80 hours a week on the project, sometimes more. Fortunately, Harry was still single so there were no family attachments to distract him. He loved his work and didn't mind the hours, but he tried to pace himself so he could keep his mind focused on the project. To do so, Dobin found solace in fly-fishing. He kept his pole and gear in the trunk of his car in case an opportunity presented itself for him to wade into a stream. As the project took him around the state, he knew just about all of the streams and rivers. It was the perfect distraction for him, as well as giving him an appreciation for the beauty of the state and an understanding of the needs of its citizens.

The highway system was now at a critical juncture whereby the data base was being constructed and specifications passed over to programming for implementation. Even though the system design was well documented, Dobin was concerned about the transfer to the programming staff, which meant he felt it necessary to hover nearby to oversee the staff and answer questions. This demanded more time than he had planned and he found himself working at the office night and day for most of July. When he grew weary during the day, he would close his eyes and think about climbing into a cool stream to fish, but knowing fishing was slow during this time of the year, it remained nothing more than a pipe dream to him.

One day over lunch in the government cafeteria, Harry happened to sit with a couple of the programmers on the project. He always wanted to keep track of the pulse of the project and found sharing lunch with the programmers a good way to do so, plus he could answer questions if necessary. On this particular occasion, Harry was introduced to a new programmer who had just joined the team earlier in the week, Wayne Tripplett.

"Where you from?" Harry asked trying to be hospitable.

"A little town out in northwest Montana, you've probably never heard of it, called Kalispell," Wayne replied.

"Montana? Really?" Harry had heard a lot of stories about fishing and hunting in Montana, but had never been west of the Mississippi River.

"What's the fishing like out there?" Harry asked.

"Actually, it's pretty good right now, "Wayne replied, "The winter runoff is over and the rivers should be relatively stable."

"What do you catch?"

"Mostly cutthroats (trout)."

"What's Montana like this time of year?"

"Actually, this is my favorite time of the year," Wayne began, "It's warm, but the humidity is low, making it a lot more comfortable to walk around than here in the East. Normally, I get up early in the morning, check out a section of the Flathead River and work it until midmorning. I'll then head home, work on something, then come back around 7:00pm for a couple of hours of fishing. Sometimes I'll take a book and a pipe with me and just sit and read for the afternoon. I might even close my eyes for a spell. The air and scenery is simply magnificent. If I stumble upon wild huckleberry, I'll pick some and snack on it, but you have to keep your eyes open for bears as they like it too."

"Bears? What kind?"

"Black bear and grizzlies. They generally keep to themselves but it's wise to give them a wide berth. The last thing you want to do is sneak up on one and surprise him. They don't have much of a sense of humor, if you know what I mean. Some people wear bells when they're hiking in order to let bears know they're coming, and they'll generally get out of the way, but you just never know what a bear will do."

"Something else, Kalispell is just outside of Glacier National Park. Have you heard of it?"

"Frankly, no," answered Harry, "I've heard about Yellowstone and Yosemite, but not Glacier."

"Well, Glacier is not as well known as those, but it is one of this country's great parks. It's in the northwest corner of Montana and extends down from Canada. The mountains, glaciers, and wildlife are beautiful and if you're into fly-fishing I would heartily recommend a trip up there."

"Sounds great," said Harry, "But I won't be going anywhere for a while until this project takes off. I simply can't get away right now."

"Hmm..., have you ever thought about a simple weekend getaway up there?" asked Wayne.

"Are you kidding? It would probably take a day just to get up there and another day to get back. No, I'm stuck here at least until the Fall."

"Why not rent a Tin Head instead? At least you could see the place and get in some fly-fishing. You might not be able to eat it, but you could at least relax."

Harry studied Wayne's face, "You mean, they've got Tin Heads up there?"

"Of course they do, where do you think Montana is, Mars? They've had Tin Heads up there for at least the last five years and I hear it's a booming business for them as people like you just want to getaway and visit the park. I have a good friend up there who is an outfitter and also has a Tin Head license. I can give you his number if you're interested."

"Yes, please," Harry said as his curiosity continued to grow. "This could be the perfect weekend escape," he thought to himself. And Wayne scribbled the name and number on a slip of paper for Harry.

Later that night, Harry went home and researched Kalispell and Glacier National Park on the computer. He quickly became familiar with the geography, the layout of the area, and the fishing. It all sounded great, but Harry felt handcuffed to the project and dropped the idea.

Harry worked hard the next week, putting in at least twelve hours at work each day. When Friday finally came along, Harry was pretty burned out. Just before lunchtime he found himself staring at his computer screen with a blank look on his face, seemingly mesmerized. Jeff Bondo, the Project Manager happened to walk by Harry's desk and noticed the blank look on his face.

"Harry, what are you looking at?" Jeff asked.

"Huh, what?" Harry said as he started to snap out of the trance.

"You've been putting in a lot of time lately. I can't afford to have you burn out on me. I want you to take the weekend off and recharge your batteries. In fact, why don't you quietly close up your desk and just take off right now?"

"Really?" Harry responded, "You're probably right. I think I'll just slip out and go home."

Harry drove home to his apartment where he thought he would close his eyes for a few minutes, but before doing so, he thought he would logon to the computer one last time to check the status of the project. Before he could turn on the screen though he spotted the card Wayne had given him for the Tin Head outfitter in Montana. He picked it up and paused to think about it.

"Why not?" he said to himself, and he dialed the number. He spoke to the manager who assured him he had Tin Head units available and could arrange a great getaway for him, complete with river rafting, fishing, and a tour of the park. He gave Harry his TN license number to use when making the Tin Head reservation.

Harry went on-line and booked the Tin Head reservation. The rental of the suit and the special outfitter package came to $300, but Harry used a coupon which brought the whole getaway package price down to just $250. Having booked the trip, Harry turned off the lights, closed the drapes and fell fast asleep in his bed. He slept through dinner and the night, nearly twelve hours in total. The next morning he awoke refreshed, ate some breakfast, and went on-line to check weather conditions in Kalispell. It was going to be a beautiful day with no rain in the forecast, and temperatures in the mid-80's.

He arrived at the local Tin Head outlet where his reservation awaited him. It was now late in the morning Eastern Time, but it was still early in Kalispell which is on Mountain Time.

Harry produced his identification card, along with the reservation number, all of which checked out with the local TN staff. He then got into a home unit uniform and sat in the prep chair. The unit then swung down from the ceiling on to Harry where he was then snapped in by the staff. The unit then hoisted him out of his chair and suspended him in the air.

"Equipment check Mr. Dobin, can you hear me?"

Harry gave a thumbs up.

"Okay, standby, your screens and audio will go live in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."

Harry suddenly found himself sitting in the Glacier Outfitters store located just outside of the park.

"Mr. Dobin?" an attendant addressed Harry, "Are you okay? Does everything check out?"
Harry gave another thumbs-up.

"I'm Matt Stimson, I believe we talked on the phone yesterday. Welcome to Montana," and he helped Harry to his feet.

"Looks like we've got a terrific day today. Let me check on a few other arrivals. Make yourself at home and I'll be with you shortly."

Harry wandered around the store. His eyes were drawn to a vast collection of artificial flies for sale in the store which he examined closely.

Stimson made a general announcement to gather the group, "May I have your attention please? Welcome to our Glacier getaway package. Please come closer so you can hear me."

Six Tin Heads assembled near Matt.

"First, I want to thank you for booking your trip with us. We have been in this business for thirty years now and have extensive experience in and around Glacier National Park. My name is Matt, and I'll be your guide today. We're going to begin with a tour of the park, followed by some white water rafting, and ending with some fly-fishing on the Flathead."

"Before we begin, I want to mention the Tin Head suits you have on today have been slightly modified. Yes, they are normal Tin Head suits, but they have also been made water proof. You can get them wet and it won't hurt a thing, but like most Tin Head suits they are not indestructible. Remember, this is not a space suit, it is a Tin Head. Please act accordingly and think safety first."

"During the day, we will take some scheduled breaks so you can relieve yourself back at your Home unit or to eat. If you've got a special problem though, please see me and we will try to accommodate you."

"Since you are all dressed identically, we have put different colored tape on your arms and marked your name on the front of the suit and back of your helmet. Your fishing licenses have already been obtained for you and are in your top breast pocket. Any questions? Okay, great let's go outside and get in the bus."

It was just 8:00am and the sun had already come up casting long shadows. Waiting for the group was an old red bus with a black open top. This was no Greyhound, but rather a short, squatty bus which, they were told, was a classic trademark of the park for many decades. It was a good thing the roof was opened at the top, as the Tin Head helmets required headroom. When loaded into the vehicle, the group heads poked out of the top. As they traveled down the road, their heads jiggled like a strange set of bobble-heads sitting in an egg carton. Matt always found this rather amusing.

They entered Glacier Park through its west entrance and began their climb up Going-to-the-Sun Road which cut through the park. They passed by Lake McDonald and because of the Tin Head sensors in the suit, they could feel the cool winds coming off of the lake and smell the sweetness of the air. The bus continued to climb up through the mountains. People along the way would inevitably turn and laugh at the bobble-heads as they drove by, such as hikers and others on bicycle. The driver of the bus, whom Matt had hired, hated driving Tin Heads around as everyone would giggle and point at the bus as if they were crash dummies who had somehow come to life. Although embarrassed, he said nothing and raced to complete the trip so as not to prolong his agony.

The view from the Going-to-the-Sun Road was simply spectacular and showcased the majesty of the park, particularly as the bus ascended the mountain. At the summit of the road was Logans Run, over 6,000 feet above sea level and the destination for the bus. Matt instructed the group to disembark. Even though it was now late July, it was still chilly at this elevation and with the wind whipping over the mountain. So much so, there was a large sheet of snow uphill from them but within walking distance from the bus and Matt walked them up the mountain to it. Kids were sliding down the snow which gave Harry an idea; before Matt could catch him, Harry sat down on the snow pack, gave himself a push, and whoosh went down the hill on his back for at least 100 yards. Harry yelled "Yaa-hoo!" as he slid all the way down the hill and landed at the bottom of the slope near the bus where it was parked. Before Matt could stop the others, the remaining Tin Heads lined up on the snow and slid down the hill like kids. From afar, the sight of five screaming Tin Heads sliding down a hill covered in snow looked like space invaders run amok. It just didn't look right.

Matt walked down the hill and scolded the group as he was concerned about accidentally puncturing the Tin Head suits. Fortunately, no damage was done and the group found the experience exhilarating. They then re-boarded the bus and acted like giddy school children. The trip back down the mountain seemed to go faster than going up, maybe because the group was becoming more adventurous and stood up in the bus in order to call and wave at passerbys. "God damn Tin Heads," the driver thought to himself. Normally he would tell human passengers to sit back down in their seats, but because they were Tin Heads he hoped one or more of them would fall out of the bus and tumble down the side of the mountain.

It wasn't until noon before they finally returned down the Going-to-the-Sun Road, exited the park and made their next stop, a white-water rafting trip down the middle fork of the Flathead River. Matt instructed each Tin Head to put on a life vest. Even though the Tin Heads were waterproof, it was company policy for everyone to wear a life vest. He then introduced the group to Dave Franklin who would be their guide down the river. Dave provided them with paddling instructions and assigned people to specific seats in the raft and gave each a paddle. He then took his position at the stern of the raft where he would navigate from. Matt waved to them from the bank as the group departed. He then got back on the bus which took him to the ending point of the raft trip, down river, where he would await them.

The Tin Heads were in good spirits as they began their journey and kidded each other. In particular, Harry was impressed with the clarity of the water and he could see an occasional trout or whitefish swimming under them. He was starting to become anxious in anticipation for fishing later on.

The starting point of the rafting trip was smooth and the group paddled leisurely along thereby affording Dave the opportunity to explain the area and provide additional instruction in what to do when they came upon the white water later in the trip.

"Very important," Dave said, "You depend on each other. Keep an eye on your buddy next to you and don't let him fall out of the raft. Grab on to their vest if necessary. Second, do not let go of your oar; they are critical tools for us and we don't want to lose them. Third, stay off the rocks. This raft is made of some very durable material, but we don't want to get hung up on a rock or have someone fall out and hurt themselves. Finally, should you fall out of the raft, just turn over on your back and float along until we can pick you up."

Like the bus driver, Dave didn't particularly like Tin Heads as passengers. They didn't move as quickly as human passengers and tended not to take instruction well as they didn't show fear, and most acted like drunk louts. Bottom-line though, he saw them as nothing more than machines and just plain creepy.

Harry was particularly enjoying the ride. He had ridden over white water rapids in Tennessee and was familiar with what to expect. He was surprised though, how the sensors of the Tin Head suit allowed him to feel most of the bumps and rolls of the water.

The group approached their first set of rapids which Dave deftly navigated them through using his oar as a rudder. It was a small set of rapids which helped to indoctrinate neophytes who had never rafted before. All exclaimed their fondness for the ride and now wanted to try something a little stronger. Fortunately, they didn't have long to wait as they quickly found themselves in the second set of rapids, which dropped them down a couple of feet in the river.

"If you liked that," said Dave, "we've got a class II set of rapids coming up next. I want everyone to 
be on their toes. It is now going to start to get interesting."

As they approached the next set of rapids, Harry could see the water speeding up and some nasty looking rocks in the water. He encouraged the group to paddle in synch. Again, Dave did a good job navigating the raft but this time it rode over a hidden boulder in the river causing one side of the raft to jerk up in the air. As it came back down, Harry's partner started tumbling backwards and at the last split-second Harry grabbed his vest and pulled him back into the raft. The rest of the crew was rattled and wet from the experience. Although the ride had been fun up until now, the Tin Heads realized this was going to be harder than they had envisioned.

"Is everyone all right?" Dave asked. All shook their heads affirmatively, but Dave could tell they were also becoming apprehensive about the trip. "Rookies," Dave said to himself, "this is nothing."

"Now, if you thought that ride was wild, we still have a class III set of rapids to go through in a couple of miles. Everyone relax for a while until we hit it." And the group calmed down as the raft slowly drifted down the river.

As they approached the rapids, Harry was the first to hear the whoosh of the rapids ahead and could tell this was going to be more intimidating than the rest of the rapids. As they got closer, Harry could see a substantial drop in the river, a lot of white water, and some tight spots in the rocks to maneuver through.

"Come on, this is going to be fun," said Dave to encourage his passengers, but as he looked at their faces, he only saw fear. "Oh, oh," he said to himself.

By this time, Matt Stimson had already made it back to the disembarkation point of the ride about an hour earlier, had a snack for lunch, and sat reading a book on the river bank while waiting for the Tin Heads to come out of the final turn of the rapids. It was a quiet spot for reading; very peaceful. In the distance, he thought he heard some laughing coming from upstream but, looking up, he didn't see anything. It must have been his imagination he thought.

The laughing sounded louder and as he looked upstream at the final bend, he saw a Tin Head come floating down the stream on his back with his life vest on. Then a second Tin Head shot out of the turn, then a third, fourth, fifth, and finally the sixth. All six were now resting on their backs lazily floating down the river like some kids playing hooky from school. It was a strange sight even for Matt.

"Where's Dave?" he shouted at them as they floated by.

"He's coming," they yelled back to Matt and pointed at the final turn. They continued to float down the river to the final station where they got out of the river.

Then, all of a sudden, out shot the raft down the final turn with Dave alone at the stern. As he got in earshot range Matt shouted, "What happened? What's going on?"

Dave guided the raft over to the bank where Matt awaited him.

"That's the last time I ever take a raft load of those Tin Idiots on the water," Dave said visibly upset. "You know what they did? They were a little shaken by the first few rapids. As we approached the last one, some panicked and started to back paddle and began to argue with the others. They then spun the raft around and around; I told them to shut up and start paddling together. They just kept bickering until I couldn't stand it anymore, so I maneuvered us over to the bank and I got out. I told them there was only two ways to get through the final turn, either the hard way or the easy way. Since they didn't want to do it the easy way, I flipped the raft over and told them to enjoy the 'hard way'. They of course started to bob around in the water like apples, then one-by-one they slid down the rapids. It was only then that they found out it was fun and splashed their way home. I hope they're all right."

"Thank God those suits are waterproof," Matt said and ran after the Tin Heads before they got into any more trouble.

After cleaning up the group and returning their life vests and paddles to the rafting company, Matt collected them and shuttled them off for their last stop of the day, fishing off another branch of the Flathead. It was now early evening, about six pm, and although the sun was starting to set, there was still plenty of sunlight left to fish.

Upon arriving at their destination, Matt assembled the group and inquired about their fishing proficiency. With the exception of one, all had suitable skill in using a fly rod. He then described the terrain around the river and where he wanted them to go. "There is basically two rules I want you to observe here," he said, "always stay in sight of another person, and do not wade into the water. The rocks are very slippery and we do not want anyone to fall into the river; it can be dangerous around here."

Matt then distributed the fly rods, nets, and small plastic kits containing extra flies.

"You're fly rods are all ready to go and we've got a good dry-fly tied on it for you. Should you need to change a fly, we've added special clips onto the tippet line which will be easier for you to handle with your Tin Head hands. Should you break a line, come and see me and I'll fix it for you."

"I'm going to take our rookie here over to this gravel shoal and give him some instruction. The rest of you can spread out along the river and we'll come down and join you in a little while. Good luck."

And with that, the group dispersed down to the river which was lined with gravel on one side where they would stand. In particular, Harry hustled along to find a good spot as this is what he had waited for. The river was only three-to-four feet deep, about thirty yards across, and was moving at a good pace. Harry had fished bigger and deeper rivers before, but he decided to heed Matt's advice and stay out of the water. The rest of the Tin Heads finally caught up with Harry and took up positions behind him along the river.

Harry spotted a good hole in the river behind a submerged rock which looked like a good place for a fish to hide and he cast into it. Nothing. He then started to work the river bank moving methodically upstream. Finally, snap, he had a hit and watched a cutthroat breach the water. It wasn't a big fish, maybe just ten inches, but it gave a splendid fight before Harry reeled him in. Harry was in heaven. He never thought fishing through a Tin Head suit could be so realistic.

After releasing the fish back into the stream, he continued to work his way up the stream. Now and then he would look back to see his companions slowly following him. They too were starting to get hits and catch fish, but they all seemed relatively small.

Harry kept moving upstream until he came upon a quiet pool of water laced with boulders. There were woods on the opposite bank where wild grasses and flowers grew, along with wild Huckleberry trees abundant with fruit. Harry thought it was a very peaceful and serene setting, ideal for fishing. Quietly, he moved toward the pool, let out some line and cast his fly behind a boulder. Snap! He had another cutthroat on the line, this time one that was respectable in size, at least a foot, maybe more. The fish gave him a good fight but was finally reeled in by Harry who estimated it was at least fourteen inches in length, a respectable-size fish. He held it up to admire it.

Only then did Harry realize he was not alone. There on the other bank peering through the grass was a grizzly bear who had been enjoying a snack of huckleberries when the sound of Harry's fish splashing in the water distracted him. Harry saw the huge head of the bear and instinctively froze like a statue hoping the bear wouldn't see him. His companions down river also saw the bear and did likewise.

The bear lumbered out of the grass and down the bank. It was actually a beautiful animal with a thick brown coat and muscles under a layer of fat. The grizzly then crossed the river directly across from Harry and headed in his direction.

If Harry had been there in person, he would have been terrified, but he felt somewhat safe as he was in a Tin Head which, of course, had no scent to it. He prayed the bear would leave him alone Nonetheless, he maintained his silence and froze like a statue with the fish still in the grip of his left hand and the fly rod in the other.

The bear came right up to Harry and studied him for a moment. It was rather imposing in size, but showed no open sign of aggressiveness. Perhaps it didn't see Harry as human as he had hoped. The animal seemed almost friendly, kind of like a dog sitting next to a table. Thinking he had nothing to lose, Harry dropped his fly rod and with his right hand slowly reached over and petted the bear on the head. The animal offered no resistance and seemed to appreciate the token. The bear however, was less concerned with being petted than with the fish still flapping in Harry's left hand and in what seemed to be a blink of an eye, opened its mouth and tore the fish from Harry's hand and Harry's hand from Harry's left arm.

Harry stood there stunned by the bear's advancement. Back in North Carolina in the Home Tin Head unit, his left hand was, of course, still attached, but he felt no sensation in his left glove.

The bear spit out Harry's left hand and began to eat the fish. Harry figured this was an opportune time to make his escape and turned to leave. Startled by the motion, the bear swiped at Harry with a massive paw thereby tearing his left arm from his torso. Harry froze and looked down at his arm on the ground.

"Oh shit," Harry said to himself, "and I didn't pick up the insurance rider for the Tin Head."

Harry remained frozen there while the bear finished its meal. Slowly he knelt down and quietly picked up the severed hand and arm as he wanted to return it to the outfitter. The bear finished the fish and sat there watching Harry who was now trying to inch his way away from the animal. As Harry started to move though, so did the bear in the same direction. Step-by-step he slowly moved away with the bear shadowing him.

The others had fled shortly after the bear took Harry's fish (and hand). They had gone to get Matt and tell him what happened. After Matt heard their story, he rushed back to the shuttle van and retrieved a shotgun from the back and went running upstream towards Harry. "God damn Tin Heads," he mumbled to himself.

By the time Matt reached the bank on the river, he heard Harry yelling "Get out of the way! get out of the way!", then saw him running pell-mell towards him with the grizzly now in hot pursuit. As the bear got closer to Harry, he would turn and bang the severed arm on its head, unfortunately to no beneficial effect other than to add to the animal's displeasure.

As they got about twenty yards away, Matt fired two rounds loudly near the animal to scare it. The bear was surprised by the shots and stopped quickly, sat up and looked at Matt who was quickly reloading his gun. The shots had not deterred Harry who ran by Matt on his way back to the shuttle. Matt then shot off two more rounds and the bear finally retreated back up the stream.

"God damn Tin Heads," he said.

Matt then searched around for any fly rod or equipment that may have been dropped before returning to the shuttle where the group awaited him.

The sunlight was now disappearing as Matt loaded the Tin Heads into the shuttle and took them back to the outfitters store where their adventure had begun. On the way back, the van was buzzing with talk about the fishing, the bear and, of course, Harry's severed appendage.

When they arrived at the outfitter's post, they thanked Matt for a memorable day, and tipped him handsomely. Harry paid heavily for the severed arm and hand but didn't appear too concerned about it. After all, it had certainly been a memorable day. The Tin Heads bid Matt good-bye before sitting down in their chairs to be deactivated and return home.
 

Harry was back to work bright and early Monday morning. His boss thought he looked rested and invigorated. "Did you do anything special over the weekend?" he asked.

"Not much really," he replied, "Just slid down a mountain, got a little wet, did a little fishing, and fought a grizzly."

Harry then thought to himself, "And next weekend, Alaska."

For more information on the "Tin Head" book in PDF format, click HERE. For Kindle e-Book, click HERE.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Don't forget my new book, "Tim's Senior Moments" now available in Printed and eBook form.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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Tuesday, August 6, 2019

TIN HEADS – EPISODE 2 – "THE FINAL SALUTE"

BRYCE ON FICTION

- The last Iwo Jima veteran returns home.

This is a chapter from a book I wrote back in 2010, "Tin Heads," which is a work of fiction and reminiscent of the many stories we watched on the "Twilight Zone." The book is still for sale as a PDF file, click HERE, or for a Kindle e-Book, click HERE. For more info on what is a Tin Head, see the INTRO. I hope you will enjoy it.
 
"THE FINAL SALUTE"

"Tin Head" - slang expression for the TN-2020 Personal Drone developed by TN Industries, San Jose, California. A "dumb" robot resembling human form with special sensors enabling humans to visit remote locations without having to leave their home location. Unit is distinguished by its domed head, hence the nickname.
 
James "Bum" Sanders strolled down to the local barber shop for his weekly haircut, cane in hand. He didn't like carrying the cane but his daughter insisted he use it to balance himself as he was now 102 years young, although he certainly didn't feel like it. He made the trip to the barber shop once a week in his hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee not because he needed a haircut, he actually had little left on his head, but to kibitz with "Big Al" Smith, the shop's proprietor, as well as the other visiting patrons.

As Bum walked into the shop he was warmly greeted by everyone as he was well known. Bum was a bit of an institution in the Cleveland area and had run a transmission repair shop for a number of years until he was forced to sell it and retire in his 90's. He was also active in several civic, fraternal and veterans groups so it was no small wonder just about everyone in town knew him. He was best known though for organizing and managing the Memorial Day service at the cemetery in the Spring, and the local Veterans Day parade in the Fall. As a World War II veteran, these were very important events to him and he insisted they be commemorated with dignity and grace. His signature though was a crisp salute he would give at the end of each service, followed by the words "Semper Fi" to honor his fallen Marine brothers.

During the War, Bum served in the 5th Marine Division which invaded Iwo Jima in 1945. His nickname "Bum" was derived from a wound he suffered in his posterior by a Japanese marksman. Other than this, little was known about Bum's activities on the island as he was intensely private about the matter, not just to strangers, but to friends and family as well. Nonetheless, rarely did a day go by that Bum did not think of the horrors of war he suffered on Iwo, his friends and comrades he lost, and the enemy soldiers he killed. While on the island, he was assigned flame thrower duty to root out Japanese hidden in the caves and tunnels around Mount Suribachi. Their screams haunted him for many years, something he could not forget, and explained why he refused to talk about it. He served his country honorably, but was acutely aware of the brutalities of war.

Bum found his usual chair in the barber shop and began to chat with Big Al. He didn't recognize the customer whose hair Big Al was cutting and inquired, "You new around here son?"

"Yes, just moved into the area from Chattanooga. The name is Jeffries, Sam Jeffries."

"Pleased to meet you," replied Bum, "It's good to have another leatherneck in the area."

Jeffries looked surprised, "How did you know?"

"Not too difficult," began Bum, "The way you sit at attention in the chair, the crisp press of your clothes, the polish on your shoes, and that jarhead haircut Big Al is giving you. In fact, I would wager that ring you're wearing bears an eagle, globe and anchor insignia."

Jeffries laughed, "You got me, you've got a pretty good eye sir, and you are...?"

"Bum Sanders my brother; Corporal, USMC, Iwo Jima, 1945," he snapped, "Welcome to the area." 

And he rose to shake the man's hand. "What brings you around to these parts?"

"I'm opening a new Tin Head franchise here in Cleveland." Jeffries replied.

"Tin Head? What the heck is that?"

The rest of the people in the barber shop chuckled at Bum's ignorance as just about everyone knew of the popular Tin Head program. In his defense though, Bum had lost interest in the news a few years ago and, like a lot of senior citizens, tended to avoid new technology.

"It's something new that allows a person to visit just about anywhere on the planet," and he gave Bum a brief description of the Tin Head program.

Bum listened intently but asked few questions. He had never heard of such a device before, but the more the man spoke about it, the more absurd the notion seemed to him.

As Jeffries finished his haircut, he produced a business card and said to Bum, "Tell you what; we're planning on opening the store next week. Give me a call and I would be happy to give you a personal tour."

Bum thanked him for the courtesy, slipped the card into his shirt pocket, and quickly forgot about it.
 

Bum still lived at home, much to the concern of his children who worried about his well-being, but he had always been stubbornly independent and remained so after surviving not just one wife, but two. His children were grandparents in their own right and beginning to slow down themselves. At age 102 Bum was still relatively fit and alert, but he worried about losing his health and memory as many seniors do. He still tended to his yard, but finally acquiesced mowing the lawn just a couple of years ago to his great-grandchildren who he would pay generously. When he wasn't working in the yard, Bum could be found rocking in a favorite chair on his front porch where he would often talk to neighbors walking past his house.

As he settled into his chair, he thought about the Marine he had met earlier before slipping off to a short nap. His encounter with Jeffries caused him to dream about Iwo Jima... Even though he had suffered a shot to his derrière, doctors had been able to patch him together so he could return to duty with his flame thrower, a dangerous occupation with a high mortality rate. Somehow Bum found a way to not only survive, but became quite proficient in clearing the caves and tunnels on the island. If he didn't burn his victims to death, the flame would suck the oxygen out of the enclosure and suffocate them.

His dream became clearer as he found himself with his Marine squad on the island. It was nighttime and the battle for the island was coming to a close. Despite this, the soldiers were told to beware of desperate Japanese counter attacks. The moon was almost full which provided minimal light to detect motion. Half of Bum's squad stayed alert while the other half slept. Bum kept checking the forward positions but saw nothing. He then thought his eyes were beginning to play tricks on him and he rubbed them. Had he seen a shadow move or was it his imagination? Squinting to get a better look, Yes, something was moving out there, but what? He shot a flare into the air only to see hundreds of Japanese poised at the edge of the American lines ready to attack. As the flare lit the sky, the Japanese shouted "Banzai!" and lunged forward to attack the American position.

Bum suddenly found himself surrounded by Japanese engaged in hand-to-hand combat. One by one, he watched his squad decimated by the attack. Before he could reach for his weapon he found himself fighting with a Japanese in his foxhole. The attack was savage and even though he fought well, he suddenly felt the pain of a sword slicing into his side. Reaching for his bayonet, he turned to face his attacker and lunged the blade into him. Bum slumped over as he saw fellow Marines respond and scuttle the Japanese charge. "At last, I can rest, I can rest..."

Bum awoke rubbing his side where he thought he had been stabbed. An unfamiliar sharp pain shot through him causing him to sit up. Something was wrong and he called his daughter who lived nearby to take him to see his physician, Dr. Ferguson.

After a preliminary examination, Dr. Ferguson had Bum admitted into the hospital for further tests. The results confirmed the doctor's suspicions; Bum's kidneys had become cancerous and would begin to shut down soon. Offhand, doctors would operate for such a condition and the patient would either end up on dialysis or undergo a kidney transplant, but due to Bum's age and constitution it would be unlikely he would survive either scenario. It began to become painfully obvious to Bum that the end was near.

Word spread quickly around town that Bum was in trouble, including the commander at his VFW post, Charlie Simpson, who visited Ferguson in his office. "Doc, we've been old friends for a number of years right? I'm sure you know how important Bum Sanders is to the people of this community. I know he's old, but we have to do anything we can to help this man as I'm sure he would fight for any one of us."

"Yes, Bum is a great guy," Ferguson said, "but he cannot survive an operation and I don't want to be the one responsible for shortening his life."

"Doc," Simpson said, "I'm not sure you aware of this but I've been informed by the V.A. that Bum is the last survivor of Iwo Jima."

"Really? You're kidding me aren't you?"

"No. They're all gone...except Bum. We really need to do something special for him."

"Have you got something in mind?"

Simpson opened the door and said, "Sam, could you come in here?"

The same Sam Jeffries who met Bum just last week in the barber shop walked into the room and was introduced to Ferguson.

"Sam, tell the doctor what you have got in mind."

"I'm the manager of the new Tin Head franchise here in town," Jeffries began, "and I happened to hear about Bum's problem. I also heard from Charlie how important Bum is to the community and that he is the last survivor of Iwo Jima. I'm a Marine myself, and the battle for Iwo Jima was an important chapter in our history, and I'm sure to Bum."

"In all the years I've known Bum," Ferguson said, "I knew he survived Iwo but he never liked to talk about it."

"Well we talked to Bum about the idea," continued Sam, "and he would like to visit Iwo one last time before he checks out."

"No way, impossible," countered Ferguson, "he could never survive such a long trip."

"Maybe not in person," said Sam, "but how about through a Tin Head?"

Dr. Ferguson stopped in his tracks. He had never considered this.

"Doctor, you've been in a Tin Head before haven't you?"

"Yes. I was surprised how easy it was to use."

"Do you think Bum is strong enough to operate a Home unit?" Sam asked.

"I'm not sure. Don't tell me you've got a Tin Head franchise on Iwo Jima, do you?"

"No, but the Navy has plenty of units and I have some contacts which could enable Bum to use a Tin Head on Iwo Jima. Since the 1980's. the Navy has a program whereby veterans and family members once a year are allowed to visit the island. Over the years though, their numbers have understandably dwindled. Now we're down to just Bum, and in talking to my contacts, they would be happy to arrange a Tin Head for him, but we would have to confirm this soon as they will be visiting the island in two weeks."

"That's an awfully tight window we're looking at," said Ferguson, "frankly, I'm not sure he can last that long."

"Doctor," pleaded Simpson, "give the man a chance."

Ferguson paced the office and contemplated the options. "If Bum Sanders wants to take a shot at it, who am I to deny the last Marine of Iwo Jima?"
 

Bum Sanders still had a problem understanding what exactly a Tin Head was, but after much encouragement from Sam Jeffries and Charlie Simpson, he agreed to give it a try. He was growing tired and weaker with each passing day though. So much so, Jeffries decided to accompany Bum on the trip and assist him if necessary. Fortunately, the Navy was able to accommodate his request and made two Tin Head suits available for the visit.

Sam had to spend a number of hours with Bum explaining the Tin Head's capabilities and features. As these were to be military issued Tin Heads, Sam explained the suits had greater strength and dexterity which would greatly help Bum who was still in a weakened condition.
As the day of his trip began, Bum Sanders became a celebrity. Charlie Simpson leaked the story to the press and the media was on hand as Bum left the hospital for Sam's store. The media attention actually helped to raise Bum's confidence and strength as he was flattered by the attention. He stopped to answer a few questions from reporters:

"Mr. Sanders, when was the last time you were on Iwo Jima?"

"1945; I was with the Marines and I can assure you it wasn't a pleasure trip."

"What do you hope to see there today?"

Bum mulled the question over before answering, "I'm not sure, perhaps some old friends and a few old enemies."

They wished him luck and Jeffries whisked him off to his store where a team of his assistants awaited them. After they arrived, Sam showed the "Home" unit to Bum and reviewed its operations. "Bum, do you think you can handle it?"

"I'll give it my best shot," he said, but he was already feeling weak from the short trip to the store.
Dr. Ferguson was on hand to observe the proceedings and was on standby should anything go wrong.
Sam's assistants helped Bum into the suit which looked like a strange space suit cut in half. The suit was applied by having the person sit in the back portion. A machine suspended from the ceiling held the front portion which was slowly eased on top of the person and pressed together with special snaps thereby forming a single suit. The machine then raised the human subject and suspended him in midair to afford him the mobility he needed to move around.

"Equipment check, Bum, can you hear me?" asked Sam.

"Yes, I hear you fine Sam."

"Okay, my staff is going to insert our identity cards, program our trip and make contact with the Navy on Iwo. Your screens, audio, and other sensors will come on when the Tin Heads go live. Are you ready?"

"I guess so, as ready as I'll ever be."

"Okay, beginning countdown...10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."

Bum and Sam awoke on the black beaches of Iwo Jima. It was a sunny day and Bum could hear and smell the salt water behind him and turned to look at it.

"Bum, are you okay?" asked Sam as he approached him on the beach.

"Yes, fine.... This is unbelievable," he replied haltingly.

Back in Cleveland, the Tin Head franchise had setup screens in a sequestered room in the store for Bum's family, close friends and Dr. Ferguson to watch through the cameras mounted on his Tin Head.
Bum was startled by the clarity of what he could see, the vividness of the sounds, and the smell.

"Excuse me, Mister Sanders and Jeffries?" asked a Marine Lieutenant.

"Yes?" they said in unison.

"I'm Lt. Rice, welcome to Iwo Jima or 'Iwo To' as the Japanese call it. Thank you for coming. Is your equipment working properly?"

"Yes, everything seems fine," they said.

"Then if you're ready, I would like to take you to my Colonel who is waiting for us further down the beach," Rice said.

"If you don't mind Lieutenant," Bum said, "Can I walk the beach a bit? It's been a long time since I was here last."

"Certainly, take your time, I know what this means to you," and he walked ahead to meet his Colonel.
Bum was exhilarated by his Tin Head. He found he could move as easily as if he were a young man again. After coming to grips with his new physical freedom, he began to appreciate where he was.

He turned to Sam and pointed down the beach, "We landed down there in the southeast and were charged with taking Mount Suribachi. I was just eighteen years old. We were just kids." And Bum was flooded by memories.

Bum and Sam continued their walk down the beach. Bum explained troop movements during the battle and Sam quietly listened to his friend. The two finally caught up with Lt. Rice and his Colonel who warmly greeted them.

"Mister Sanders, I'm Colonel Benson, welcome back to Iwo Jima. It's a pleasure having you here today and an honor for us to host you as the last surviving Marine. Mister Jeffries I also want to welcome you and thank you for helping to set this up. What we would like to do is give you a brief tour of the island before we go up Mount Suribachi and visit the Reunion of Honor."

The Reunion of Honor was started in 1985 and represented a pilgrimage of battle veterans from both sides, Japanese and American. It was held on the summit of Mount Suribachi where a monument was constructed at the spot where Marines raised the American flag. The reunions had stopped three years earlier when it was falsely assumed all the survivors had finally died.

"Mister Sanders," asked the Colonel, "We're going to use this vehicle to give you a tour of the island. Is there a particular spot you would like to see?"

"Not offhand, but if I see something, can I ask you to stop?"

"Certainly. Shall we go?"

The party got into the military vehicle, an old Hummer which still ran remarkably well and looked in good condition. Beginning with a general orientation at the current air base operated by the Japanese, the group visited the two abandoned airfields captured during the battle. Bum's mind began to fill with memories as he recalled how the Marines sliced the island in two. Visions of fallen brothers flashed through his mind's eye causing his head to suddenly twitch as he recalled one tragedy after another.

After the airfields, the group headed for Mount Suribachi. As the Hummer began to climb the road to the summit, Bum suddenly asked Lt. Rice to stop the truck.

"Sam, help me out will you; I'm getting tired but I must see this," said Bum.

The group exited the vehicle and stood facing the foot of Mount Suribachi. Sensing Bum's weakness, Sam kept an arm on Bum to balance him. Bum grew quiet; he had been here before.

"It was here where I was shot," Bum said as he gazed into the general direction where he imagined the sniper had pulled the trigger.

He then pointed up the hill, "It was over there where I cleaned out the caves with my flame throw," and he could hear the roar of fire and screams of his victims.

"And it was just about 100 yards over there where we repelled the final Japanese banzai charge. It was nighttime, but if it hadn't been for the moonlight, they would have completely taken us by surprise and I wouldn't be standing here with you."

Bum could see the charge vividly; his shooting of the flare, the hand-to-hand combat, and the soldier he fought in the fox hole. The Japanese soldier appeared to be an officer even though he couldn't recognize his rank or decorations. He was approximately the same size as Bum whom he charged with a sword. His face was an interesting combination of determination and terror, just plain crazy it seemed to Bum. The officer fought ferociously, but Bum was in better condition and more athletic. In the end, the officer succumbed to Bum's bayonet. The surprised look on the officer's face as life drained from his body was indelibly impressed upon Bum, something he couldn't erase from his memory; something that had haunted him for years. He died valiantly though, a soldier's death.

"Thank you gentlemen, we can go now. Sam please help me get back in the car, I'm weak."

Back at the "Home" unit in Tennessee, Ferguson and Bum's daughter were monitoring Bum's vitals which were dropping noticeably. So much so, he was forced to call the two through the Tin Head communications channel.

"Sam, this is Dr. Ferguson, can you read me?"

"Yes, we copy just fine. What's up?"

"Bum's vital signs are dropping dangerously low. We're going to have to call this off and get him back to the hospital."

"No, don't stop it," insisted Bum, "I've waited too long for this. I must see it to the end."

"But your family is worried about you Bum."

"Worried about what? I've spent most of my life worrying about everyone else, now it's finally my turn to worry about myself. I must see this to completion. Whatever you do, I beg of you not to stop this. I relieve all of you of responsibility."

Reluctantly, Ferguson and Bum's family acquiesced to his wishes. All they could do now was watch the images he was transmitting back from his "Remote" unit.

The Hummer slowly made its way up to the summit of Mount Suribachi. Upon arrival, Bum climbed out with Sam's assistance. Despite the strength and durability of the suit, Sam could feel Bum's weakness.

From the top of Suribachi, Bum could see the overall island. He could see where the ships had been when they pummeled Iwo with shells as a prelude to the invasion, he could see the black beaches where the troops landed, the air fields that were captured, and the caves below.

Here, atop Suribachi was the memorial he had longed to see. It commemorated the battle with two monuments, one side for the Japanese, and the other for the Americans. It wasn't a massive memorial but it was still very dignified and marked the spot where the Americans had raised the flag denoting the capture of the island.

The group helped Bum over to the American side first where Sam read the inscription to him. They then walked him to the Japanese side. Although it was windy at the summit, Bum appreciated the quiet dignity of the memorial. He was finding peace.

"Please, take me back to the American side."

They slowly walked him back over to the American monument. He could hear the ocean below, feel the wind, and smell the salt water.

"Please, leave me for a moment, there is something I have to do myself," and they did so reluctantly.
Bum studied the words on the plaques for a few moments. Then, mustering what little strength he had left, he stood at attention and saluted the monument with his customary crispness. "Semper Fi" he whispered.

He then turned to pay homage to his Japanese adversaries. As he turned towards the Japanese monument, he was suddenly face-to-face with a Japanese officer in full uniform; the same Japanese officer he had fought to the death in his fox hole years ago. The soldier was emotionless and didn't speak, but snapped a salute to Bum and awaited the return. Bum was stunned. The soldier was impeccably dressed and, by the uniform, Bum could tell he held the rank of captain. The Japanese stood unwavering at attention, still waiting. Bum then drew himself up to attention and returned a crisp salute. As he dropped his arm, he suddenly realized he was surrounded by his squad in Marine dress uniforms quietly lined up behind him. Bum looked confused. He then looked back to the Japanese captain who was now standing with three rows of his soldiers behind him in dress uniform.

Bum's sergeant then barked, "Attention. Present arms."

The Japanese captain replied in kind in his native tongue.

Then, one last time, Bum snapped off a salute to his former adversary who returned the salute and slowly smiled at him. The last warrior of Iwo Jima was finally home.
 

At first, Sam Jeffries, Colonel Benson and Lt. Rice didn't realize what had happened, nor did Charlie Simpson, Doctor Ferguson, or Bum's daughter, who had watched the screens from afar; they all just saw Bum standing motionless at attention in his Navy Tin Head saluting the American monument. It was only then, that Ferguson noticed Bum's vital signs had plummeted. By the time they opened the "home" unit suit, they found a tired old man with his arm at salute and a tear on his face.
 
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Keep the Faith!

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Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

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